New Chandigarh, May 29:
After Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won against Punjab Kings (PBKS) by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025, captain Rajat Patidar said there is just one more game left, and then they will celebrate the victory with their fans.

At the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood took three wickets each, helping RCB bowl out PBKS for 101 runs in 14.1 overs. Phil Salt scored an unbeaten 56 runs, and RCB chased the target in just 10 overs, securing their place in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3.

Patidar said after the match,
“We practiced a lot during the tournament, so missing one day of practice is not a problem. I thank RCB fans everywhere — in Chinnaswamy and beyond — you are like our home crowd. We love your support. One more game and let's celebrate together.”

Patidar praised Suyash Sharma’s bowling, saying,
“We had a clear plan for bowling. The fast bowlers used the pitch well. Suyash’s bowling, his lines and lengths, were excellent. As captain, I tell him to target the stumps because that is his strength. His slower ball is hard for batsmen to read. I want to give him clear instructions, even if he gives away some runs.”

He also praised Phil Salt’s batting,
“Salt has been giving us great starts in most matches. I’m a big fan. It’s a pleasure to watch him bat.”

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer said despite the loss, their confidence remains high. He said they need to improve their batting strategy and prepare for their next match in Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad against the Eliminator winner.

He said,
“We lost many wickets early, and need to review our plans. I am confident about our decisions, but we failed to execute well on the field. It’s a low total to defend, so can’t blame bowlers much. We must improve batting especially on this pitch, which has variable bounce. We are professionals and must adapt to situations. We lost this battle, but not the war.”