PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Second Innings Highlights: Salt’s Storm Powers RCB into the Final in Just 10 Overs
Harshini 
Introduction: A Rampage in Reverse Gear
The second innings of the PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 clash was less of a chase and more of a statement. RCB dismantled the 83-run target with absolute disdain, storming into the final with a stunning 10-wicket win and 60 balls to spare. Phil Salt lit up the evening with a fireworks-filled fifty, while Rajat Patidar calmly iced the chase.
Powerplay Pulverized: Salt and Kohli Go Berserk
From the first ball, RCB showed they were in no mood to drag things out. Arshdeep Singh and Jamieson, Punjab’s frontline seamers, were greeted with authoritative shots:
- 0.2: Kohli pulled Arshdeep for a clean four.
- 0.3: Four leg-byes added to the flow.
- 1.3: Kohli glanced one to fine leg.
- 2.4: Salt top-edged a short one for four, and followed with a massive six over deep square leg.
- 3.2: Jamieson dismissed Kohli, but Salt carried on unflinching.
Salt’s blistering pull shots and calculated aggression ripped through Punjab’s bowling plans, ending the powerplay at a dominant 70/1.
Salt Ignites: A Fiery 23-ball Fifty
Phil Salt was untouchable. Every delivery bowled in his arc disappeared to or over the fence:
- 4.3 & 5.1: Salt punished Azmatullah and Jamieson with back-to-back fours.
- 6.2: Harpreet Brar tossed one short, and Salt muscled it over midwicket.
- 8.2: Salt reached his half-century in just 23 balls, one of the fastest in IPL 2025.
He finished unbeaten on 56 off 26, laced with 6 fours and 3 sixes. His fearless ball-striking dismantled PBKS’s hopes before they could even deploy their main spin threat effectively.
Kohli’s Cameo and Departure
Though Salt hogged the spotlight, Virat Kohli played a sharp cameo at the top:
- 0.2 to 1.3: A sequence of leg glance and flicks for fours helped him start strong.
- 3.2: He fell for 12 (12 balls) after edging one from Jamieson that bounced a tad more than expected.
Despite his early exit, Kohli’s intent ensured RCB had momentum from ball one.
Patidar’s Calm Finishing Act
With Kohli gone, Rajat Patidar joined the rampage but added a touch of finesse:
- 9.3: A gorgeous extra-cover lofted four.
- 10.0: Finished with a slogswept six over deep square leg to seal the match.
Patidar’s 20 off 9 balls was a clinical closing chapter to RCB’s most dominant playoff performance this season.
Moment of the Match: Salt’s Carnage in the 6th Over
Jamieson, after a wicket maiden, returned to bowl the 6th over. Salt punished him with:
- Four through covers
- Pull over midwicket
- A towering six over deep cover
That 21-run over turned the chase into a sprint, ending any hopes PBKS might’ve had.
Punjab’s Bowling in Disarray
PBKS, defending just 83, needed early wickets and perfect execution. They got neither:
- Arshdeep Singh went for 23 in 2 overs.
- Jamieson leaked 33 in 3 overs despite dismissing Kohli.
- Spinners Brar and Musheer Khan offered some resistance but were too late.
Musheer got the lone wicket of Mayank Agarwal, but his economy was bruised with Salt and Patidar’s late charge.
Impact Player Analysis: Punjab’s Gamble Backfires
PBKS opted for Musheer Khan and Brar as impact spinners, hoping to slow RCB’s charge. But:
- Musheer’s introduction in the 7th over was too delayed.
- Brar offered some control but couldn’t contain Salt’s momentum.
- Punjab had no pace off the wicket, no swing, and no Plan B.
RCB didn’t even need their own impact substitute to bat—a testament to the one-sided nature of the innings.
Strategy Breakdown: RCB’s Fearless Chasing Blueprint
RCB’s strategy was simple but devastating:
- Go hard in the powerplay, remove all scoreboard pressure.
- Attack the spinners early, don’t let them settle.
- Avoid any mid-innings stagnation by targeting short boundaries.
Salt executed the plan to perfection, and Patidar ensured the game ended swiftly before any risk of stalling.
Partnership Highlight: 67 in 6.4 Overs
The Salt-Patidar partnership of 67 off 40 balls included:
- 5 sixes
- 5 fours
- Strategic rotation to retain momentum
Their controlled aggression helped RCB maintain a scoring rate over 10 an over throughout.
Man of the Moment: Phil Salt
Undoubtedly, the Man of the Match was Phil Salt. His blazing 56* off 27 balls broke Punjab’s spirit and gave RCB a ticket to the final. His ability to adapt to pace, punish spin, and play unorthodox angles made him unplayable on the day.
Final Summary: PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025
- Result: RCB won by 8 wickets
- Player of the Match: Phil Salt – 56* (27)
🔍 Hidden Insight: A Masterclass in Modern Chasing
RCB’s victory wasn’t just about poor bowling from PBKS—it was a clinical blueprint for chasing low scores in the modern T20 game:
- Attack early, don’t wait for “bad balls”
- Utilize matchups aggressively
- Batting depth means license to hit from ball one
This win wasn’t just a semifinal—it was a warning shot to whoever faces RCB in the final.
Stay plugged into IPL 2025 with BiggSports News — your front-row seat to every twist and turn!
BiGG Author 
