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Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs after beating Punjab Kings by 23 runs in Dharamshala, while PBKS' once-dream campaign slipped deeper into crisis.

Punjab had looked like playoff certainties after going unbeaten in their first seven matches, but six defeats in a row have dragged them into serious danger.

RCB, even without injured captain Rajat Patidar, delivered a complete performance: Virat Kohli set the tone, Venkatesh Iyer powered the finish, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ripped through the PBKS top order. The win took Bengaluru to 18 points and sealed their knockout spot. Punjab remain stuck on 13 points, and their playoff fate is no longer fully in their own hands.

Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer power RCB to 222

Asked to bat first, RCB lost Jacob Bethell early, but Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal ensured the innings did not lose momentum. Padikkal played a fluent 45 off 25 balls, giving Bengaluru the tempo they needed in the powerplay and early middle overs.

Kohli then continued his outstanding season with a 37-ball 58, hitting four fours and three sixes. During the innings, he crossed 500 runs for IPL 2026, making it the ninth time he has scored 500-plus runs in an IPL season, the most by any batter in tournament history. He now has 542 runs from 13 matches at an average of 54.20 and a strike rate of 164.74.

Kohli also became the first player to score 1,200 runs against a single opponent in the IPL. He now has 1,217 runs against PBKS from 37 matches at an average of 36.87. Punjab have seen enough of him by now, but apparently not found a way to stop the suffering.

The real acceleration, though, came from Venkatesh Iyer. Batting in the top order for the first time this season in Patidar's absence, he smashed an unbeaten 73 off 40 balls, with eight fours and four sixes. He struggled initially, but once he found rhythm, he punished Yuzvendra Chahal and powered RCB beyond 220. It was only his fourth match of IPL 2026, but he looked like a player who had been waiting impatiently for the door to open.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Dar break Punjab Kings early

PBKS needed a strong start in a chase of 223. Instead, Bhuvneshwar Kumar wrecked their top order almost immediately. He removed Priyansh Arya in the first over and then dismissed Prabhsimran Singh in his second. Rasikh Salam Dar then got Shreyas Iyer, leaving Punjab 19 for 3 inside four overs.

That was effectively the match. Cooper Connolly tried to rebuild with 37 off 22, while Suryansh Shedge added 35 off 22, but PBKS were always chasing from behind. Romario Shepherd broke the Connolly stand, and Suyash Sharma removed Shedge to keep RCB ahead.

Bhuvneshwar finished with 2 for 38 and continued his excellent season. He now has 23 wickets in IPL 2026, moving past Ashish Nehra’s 22-wicket 2015 season for most wickets by an Indian bowler in an IPL edition after turning 35. Rasikh was equally important, taking 3 for 36 and helping close the game out.

Shashank Singh gave Punjab some late hope with a superb 56 off 27 balls, while Marcus Stoinis helped build a 67-run stand. But by then the required rate had climbed too high. Punjab needed 40 off the last two overs and eventually finished at 199 for 8.

PBKS IPL 2026 Playoff hopes take major hit

This result has completely changed the pressure around Punjab Kings. They have now lost six matches in a row, their second-longest losing streak in IPL history. Their worst remains seven straight defeats in 2015.

Longest losing streaks for PBKS in IPL:

7 in 2015
6* in 2026
5 in 2011
5 in 2018
5 in 2020

Their Dharamshala record makes the collapse look even worse. Overall, PBKS have won only six of 17 matches at the venue. Since 2023, they have won just one of eight there, losing seven.

RCB, meanwhile, have now won seven of their last eight matches against Punjab since 2023. This was another confident, clinical performance from the defending champions, who have become the first side into the playoffs.

For PBKS, the situation is grim. They remain on 13 points with one match left and no longer control their own fate. They must win their final game and hope other results go their way. CSK, KKR, RR and even DC will all look at Punjab’s collapse with fresh belief.

RCB are sailing into the playoffs. Punjab are suddenly trying not to drown at the finish line.

Also READ: Virat Kohli breaks multiple IPL records during PBKS vs RCB clash in Dharamshala