In a signature moment of the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh, on May 24, Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer was dismissed cheaply by Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). At 3.4 overs, Hazlewood bowled a back-of-a-length delivery, just around the fourth stump, that moved away and had a bit of bounce. Iyer followed through on his aggressive intention with a shot across the line and edged the ball to wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, which he caught fairly easily. This dismissal was Hazlewood’s fourth of Iyer in the IPL, a reminder of Iyer's ongoing issues with the Australian pacer. Virat Kohli's fiery celebration indicated how important that wicket was in this high-pressure playoff, as Iyer's exit for 2 runs derailed the PBKS skipper's start and provided RCB the ascendancy.

The effect of the wicket was soon felt throughout PBKS's innings as RCB's skillful bowlers capitalized on the opportunity presented to them. Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Suyash Sharma persistently hunted the PBKS batting coalition, which struggled to recover from conceding captain Iyer's wicket in a disorganized and erratic manner. The loss of Iyer forced PBKS into survival mode, failing to develop partnerships against RCB’s tight lines and effective use of the bounce of the pitch. This pivotal moment shifted momentum firmly toward RCB, who maintained their dominance, positioning themselves for a direct entry to the IPL 2025 final.

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Josh is soooo back! 🔥

pic.twitter.com/LuUVqU9drF

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 29, 2025

Current Match Situation: PBKS vs RCB 

At the end of 10 overs, PBKS looked good at 77/8. Iyer's early dismissal disrupted a decent start by the Punjab Knight Riders, but the batting order quickly collapsed due to Hazlewood, Dayal, and Suyash Sharma (two wickets each), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up one wicket. Marcus Stoinis's wicket has left Azmatullah Omarzai and the tail enders with plenty of work to do to post a decent total. RCB bowlers are in control and are now well positioned to book their spot for the IPL 2025 final with their early breakthrough.