Venkatesh, Rasikh shock PBKS to take RCB into IPL 2026 playoffs

RCB beat PBKS by 23 runs at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala. RCB: 222/4 → PBKS: 199/8. RCB become first team to qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs with 18 points from 13 games. PBKS slump to 6th straight defeat, playoff hopes nearly over . For the longest time, Punjab Kings seemed to be a lock in for the playoffs, possibly even a top-two spot. Then they slipped, and stumbled and continued to slide to reach a position where their playoffs spot is in serious doubt. On Sunday, PBKS lost their sixth game in a row, going down to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 23 runs in another run-fest in Dharamsala. The result helped RCB become the first team to make the IPL 2026 playoffs, but also left PBKS in a precarious position with just one game remaining. The curse of the second half, if there ever was. 8 fours, 4 sixes – SR 182.5. Promoted in absence of Rajat Patidar who missed due to injury. Targeted straight boundaries, took apart Lockie Ferguson with clean sixes. 130-run stand with Virat Kohli for 2nd wicket. Quote: “Technically it’s my second game being part of the playing XI and today’s the first time I properly got to bat. PBKS' chase got off to the worst possible start with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam reducing them to 19 for 3 inside four overs. Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis counterattacked but the required rate continued to surge. Shashank Singh smashed 56 off 27 balls but his innings came too late in the game. With PBKS needing 40 off the last two overs, 19th and Rasikh picked up two wickets in the 20th as PBKS were kept to 199 for 8. Rasikh Salam Dar: 3/36 – The Decisive Spell Bottom line: Venkatesh’s unbeaten 73 on promotion + Kohli’s record 58 set up 222. Rasikh’s 3/36 including the game-changing Iyer wicket and Shashank’s wicket in the 20th sealed it. RCB into playoffs first with 18 points; PBKS’s “beyond-believable fall” continues with 6 losses in a row. Shreyas Iyer 1 – scrambled-seam ball in 3rd over, extra bounce, edge. Shashank Singh 56 – caught Kohli at long-on in 20th over. Azmatullah Omarzai 14 – caught David, last ball. Connolly fell to Romario Shepherd and soon after, Shedge was snapped up by Suyash Sharma. At 95 for 5 in the 11th over, the game looked as good as done. But Shashank, who has had a tournament to forget so far, raised PBKS' hopes. He smashed Suyash for three sixes in the 13th over, took on Krunal Pandya in the next and helicoptered Bhuvneshwar over cow corner to reach a 22-ball fifty but the required rate continued to go out of hand. When Stoinis fell lbw to a knee-high Hazlewood delivery, the game was as good as done. Shashank and Omarzai delayed the inevitable but both fell in the last over as PBKS failed to even reach 200. Ricky Ponting's forlorn look sitting alone in the dugout after the game had a story to tell. PBKS were on 13 points after seven games. Thirteen games into the season, they are still on 13.