It was a full-power-packed entertaining match fans witnessed during the 61st match of the Indian Premier League 2026 on this day (17 May 2026), where hosts Punjab Kings hosted Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the stunning ground designed Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium’s playing area. The stadium saw plenty of boundaries, sixes, wickets and nail-biting moments during the course of an action-packed evening where both teams were playing attacking cricket.
RCB batted first and scored a mammoth 222 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their 20 overs. Punjab Kings pushed hard for that total and took the match to much later than expected, finishing their innings on 199 runs losing 8 wickets. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally opened their points account with a comprehensive 23-run victory.
The likes of Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal and Shashank Singh batted brilliantly. For Bengaluru, Rasikh Salam Dar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also made vital contributions with the ball.
Match Information
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | PBKS vs RCB, 61st Match |
| Tournament | Indian Premier League 2026 |
| Date | 17 May 2026 |
| Venue | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala |
| Toss | Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bowl |
| Result | Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 23 runs |
| Umpires | Adrian Holdstock, KN Anantha Padmanabhan |
| Third Umpire | Parashar Joshi |
| Match Referee | Pankaj Dharmani |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings
Royal Challengers Bengaluru began the innings in a manner. Jacob Bethell launched in from the very first over, but his innings were cut short, making 11 runs off 7 balls. And after that early wicket, they leapt to the title and charge of the innings was taken by Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.
Once again Virat Kohli showcases why he is one of the best batsmen in T20. With 58 from 37 balls (a calm yet attacking knock) Kohli made 4 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of over fifty. His middle-over control of his bowling and smartness in rotating strike was a treat.
Kohli got very good support from Devdutt Padikkal. The 27-year-old scored 45 off just 25 balls including four fours and three sixes. He took the attacking route and targeted Punjab Kings’ bowlers.
The major highlight of the innings was an innings that remained unbeaten by Venkatesh Iyer. He scored 73 runs from just 40 balls and took the attack to the bowlers during the death overs. He struck a total of 8 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. Tim David also chipped in with a quick 28 off just 12 balls to take them over the 220-run mark.
The Punjab Kings bowlers failed to stem the flow of runs. The bowlers put on a largely disciplined display, with Harpreet Brar taking two wickets and Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh also obtaining one wicket each.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Bethell | b Harpreet Brar | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 157.14 |
| Virat Kohli | c Priyansh Arya b Chahal | 58 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 156.76 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | c Shreyas Iyer b Harpreet Brar | 45 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 180.00 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | not out | 73 | 40 | 8 | 4 | 182.50 |
| Tim David | c Harpreet Brar b Arshdeep Singh | 28 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 233.33 |
| Extras | 7 | |||||
| Total | 20 Overs | 222/4 |
Punjab Kings Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 43 | 1 | 10.80 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 4 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 |
| Harpreet Brar | 4 | 35 | 2 | 8.80 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 3 | 43 | 0 | 14.30 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 3 | 42 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Shashank Singh | 2 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 |
RCB Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob Bethell | 21/1 | 2.2 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 97/2 | 9.1 |
| Virat Kohli | 157/3 | 14.6 |
| Tim David | 222/4 | 19.6 |
Punjab Kings Run Chase
Punjab Kings were never in the chase for a mammoth target of 223 runs. Their innings began on a disastrous note as they lost Priyansh Arya for a duck in the first over itself. Prabhsimran Singh and captain Shreyas Iyer also fell cheaply on the next two balls, putting Delhi in trouble.
With an aggressive knock of 37 runs from 22 balls, Cooper Connolly has tried to build the innings again. He dominated the game with a few spectacular shots during the power play to keep Punjab Kings in the contest.
Suryansh Shedge also chipped in with a knock of 35, but the asking rate had gone up. Marcus Stoinis then contributed with a quickfire 37 off 25 deliveries as he and Shashank Singh struck another valuable stand.
The idea of the fightback was real from Shashank Singh, whose innings were a masterclass! With 4 fours and as many sixes, he scored a match-winning 56 off just 27 deliveries. Punjab Kings entertained some hopes in the final overs of their aggressive batting.
But the bowlers from Royal Challengers Bengaluru held their nerves in crunch situations. Rasikh Salam Dar bowled a brilliant spell and got 3 crucial wickets. Bengaluru was also given a dream start by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who bagged one early double wicket.
Bengaluru included a big total for Punjab Kings to chase down despite strong efforts in the middle and lower order.
Punjab Kings Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priyansh Arya | c Shepherd b Bhuvneshwar | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Prabhsimran Singh | c Padikkal b Bhuvneshwar | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Cooper Connolly | c Bethell b Shepherd | 37 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 168.18 |
| Shreyas Iyer | c Jitesh Sharma b Rasikh | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Suryansh Shedge | c Kohli b Suyash Sharma | 35 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 159.09 |
| Marcus Stoinis | lbw b Hazlewood | 37 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 148.00 |
| Shashank Singh | c Kohli b Rasikh | 56 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 207.41 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | c Tim David b Rasikh | 14 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Harpreet Brar | not out | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.67 |
| Extras | 12 | |||||
| Total | 20 Overs | 199/8 |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 4 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Rasikh Salam Dar | 4 | 36 | 3 | 9.00 |
| Suyash Sharma | 4 | 50 | 1 | 12.50 |
| Romario Shepherd | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Krunal Pandya | 3 | 27 | 0 | 9.00 |
Punjab Kings Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over |
|---|---|---|
| Priyansh Arya | 1/1 | 0.3 |
| Prabhsimran Singh | 18/2 | 2.5 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 19/3 | 3.2 |
| Cooper Connolly | 62/4 | 7.3 |
| Suryansh Shedge | 93/5 | 10.5 |
| Marcus Stoinis | 160/6 | 16.1 |
| Shashank Singh | 194/7 | 19.2 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 199/8 | 19.6 |
Key Moments of the Match
Virat Kohli’s Experience
Virat Kohli was again the savior for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His innings ensured stability in the batting order and gave other batters the license to attack freely.
Venkatesh Iyer’s Explosive Finish
Venkatesh Iyer‘s unbeaten 73-run tally had shifted the stars in that back end of the innings. IPL 2026 He cut, pulled, and punished almost every erroneous ball bowled to him and propelled Bengaluru past the 220-mark.
Early Collapse of Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings had never recovered after losing three wickets in the powerplay. Others produced half-centuries later in the order, but losing Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer early had dented their chances badly.
Rasikh Salam Dar’s Bowling Spell
For Bengaluru, it was a sort of rescue act by Rasikh Salam Dar. Three wickets at crucial junctures that ensured Punjab continued to stall and never build any partnerships.
Player of the Match
Venkatesh Iyer, therefore, walked away with the Player of the Match for his exceptional knock (73 off 40 balls) going not out. An essential contribution in ensuring Bengaluru’s win came with him behind the wickets.
What This Win Means for RCB
The acquisition of two points from this victory meant a lot to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the tournament table. The batting order seemed solid as did the bowling attack which fared well under pressure. The team has shown really good balance in their two innings.
Punjab Kings played with effort, especially because of Shashank Singh’s explosive innings, but their bad powerplay was the main cause of the loss.
Conclusion
Dharamsala, 17 May, 2026: Scorecard Match 61 Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru equally aggressive batting and explosive finishing and some thrilling moments between Royal Challengers Bengaluru turned up a complete team effort to defend an imposing 222 runs.
Bengaluru’s V.O.’s Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Iyer bowled well for Bengaluru while Punjab Kings’ Shashank Singh entertained with his fearless batting. Dharamsala witnessed a high-scoring and thrilling game that featured plenty of boundaries as well as wickets.
This match made even better the fact that the Indian Premier League stays the most thrilling T20 contest in world cricket.
FAQs
Q1. Who won the PBKS vs RCB 61st Match IPL 2026?
Answer: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the match by 23 runs.
Q2. Where was the PBKS vs RCB match played?
Answer: The match was played at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
Q3. Who scored the most runs for RCB?
Answer: Venkatesh Iyer scored the highest runs for RCB with an unbeaten 73.
Q4. Who won the Player of the Match award?
Answer: Venkatesh Iyer won the Player of the Match award.
Q5. Who was the best bowler for RCB?
Answer: Rasikh Salam Dar was the best bowler with 3 wickets.