PBKS vs RCB

07:15 p.m. IST: So that is all that we have for you from New Chandigarh! Punjab Kings have played their last game at this venue. In terms of the points table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru overtake Punjab Kings by virtue of a better net run rate and go up to third. You can change over to the action in Mumbai as Mumbai Indians host Chennai Super Kings, by clicking here. This is the pair of Bala and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Virat Kohli (Player of the Match, 73* off 54 balls): "Very important win for us! Two points can make a big difference at this stage of the tournament. I wanted to accelerate, but as Salty (Phil Salt) did not get going today, I tried to stay in there for as long as possible to let the others know that they can go for their shots. There is always a temptation to keep going for it, but you also need to assess the conditions. So, I tried to use my experience and keep it going. It is also key to understand the strengths of the others around. We had a really good auction this time. We have Romario Shepherd and Tim David who can hit lots of sixes in no time. That is something we missed previously. Also, the overall composition is really good." 

Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain): "All the credit goes to the bowlers! And then, Virat Kohli! The bowlers chipped in by executing the plans at different stages. The idea was pretty simple actually, we wanted to bowl tight lines and it worked. Fielding is an important aspect, we had a conversation about this, we did different drills and it worked out nicely! We will try to play a good brand of cricket back home, apart from winning the toss!"

Devdutt Padikkal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): "It was really important after Salt got out, build a solid partnership with Virat. There's been a lot of hard work, especially with DK and Andy with certain aspects of my game, and it's coming off. You get that confidence when you are batting with him, that he's going to see the team through. It makes your job very easy. Playing for my home state and city is very special. Special when you play for them, and at Chinnaswamy as well. There is a lot of confidence in the side. Everyone's getting runs. We have not batted well in our home conditions, but hopefully we can come up with a plan."

Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings captain): "It's good. It's a minor niggle, should be fine after this game. I feel, if you see, majority of our batsmen, they love to go from ball one. We are not able to capitalize on the starts that we are getting. We were not able to set a total, when the wicket is getting slower and slower. Even in the middle phase when we thought we could take on the bowlers. The bowlers have been doing a tremendous job. Credit to Virat and boys, they played well. When the ball is sticking a bit, both of them (openers) are stroke players, difficult to stop their instincts. They have given us brilliant starts. Few of the middle order batsmen need to step up, need to take the bull by the horn. I'm in a great mindspace. Just that I need to cross ten runs. I don't want to give reasons. Just need to be free-flowing. We've got six days of break, it' important to go back to the drawing board. It's important to assess the body as well, we have been traveling a lot."

06:50 p.m. IST: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win by 7 wickets with 7 balls to spare! 

Virat Kohli 73* (54) | Krunal Pandya - 2/25 (4)
Prabhsimran Singh 33 (17) | Harpreet Brar - 1/27 (4)

As long as the Chase Master is there and the target is very much within reach, even today, the team batting second is in safe hands! Royal Challengers Bengaluru, thanks to Virat Kohli's unbeaten half-century and Devdutt Padikkal's strong 35-ball 61, pick up their 5th win this season. 

Punjab Kings did get the wicket of Phil Salt in the first over, but after that, failed to bowl dot balls in a cluster. A superb 100-run partnership for the 2nd wicket got brought up by Kohli and Padikkal and PBKS never really managed to get back in the contest. 

There was a moment where a run-out opportunity went a begging, but what they needed to do, was pick up the wicket of Kohli. But PBKS failed to do so. And that allowed the owner of the most fifties in the history of this tournament to cash in and keep the momentum going! 

PBKS tried their best with their bowling changes to come good, but this time round, the penetration in the bowling did not quite shine through. Spin had to come to the party today, but that did not happen either. 

RCB get their fifth win in a row on the road and equal PBKS on points. The points table just continues to play see-saw with so many teams vying for points to steer clear of the others! 

18.5 Nehal Wadhera to Jitesh Sharma, SIX! And that's that! A touch too short from the leggie, Jitesh hangs back and launches it over the mid-wicket fence. Comprehensive victory for RCB!