Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood showed great fight on the third morning of the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, frustrating South Africa with a gutsy last-wicket stand of 59 runs. Their partnership helped Australia stretch their second innings total to 207 and set a tough target of 282.

Australia started the day at 144 for 8. Nathan Lyon didn’t last long and was trapped LBW by Kagiso Rabada in just the second over of the morning. When Hazlewood walked in, South Africa would have expected to wrap things up quickly. But Starc and Hazlewood had other plans.

The pair battled hard and stayed at the crease for almost two hours. The pitch had eased up a bit, and the sun was out, making batting easier than the first two days. Starc, who was on 14 overnight, took full advantage of the conditions. He played with great patience and slowly built his innings. He reached a well-deserved half-century from 132 balls.

Just before lunch, Marco Jansen came back to bowl and got an edge off Starc’s bat, but the ball flew over the slips for four. That shot not only brought up Starc’s fifty but also raised the fifty-run partnership for the last wicket. It was Starc’s eighth Test fifty from the No. 9 position or lower the most by any tailender in Test history.

With no breakthrough in sight, South African captain Temba Bavuma turned to part-time bowler Aiden Markram. The move paid off. After bowling a tight first over, Markram got Hazlewood out for 17 from 53 balls in his second over, ending Australia’s innings.

ALSO READ: GLO vs SOM Dream11 Prediction Today: Fantasy Cricket Tips PlayingXI and Pitch Report

Twitter reactions after Strac Scored 50 in WTC Final

Playing 100 balls as a bowler is not everyone's cup of tea#AUSvSA #WTCFinal #MitchelStarc pic.twitter.com/X7C7eqKFSj

— Memes Banisalu (@Memes_Banisalu) June 13, 2025

No arrogance
No self obsession
No attitude
Never played for economy
No unnecessary rest
No choking in knockouts
No illegal action
Can hold bat too

Ladies and gentleman that's Mitchell Starc for you 🐐pic.twitter.com/umDrH9rxsf

— D.🇲🇰 (@dkhive102) June 13, 2025

Mitchell Starc is a bowler❌
Mitchell Starc is a Batsman❌

Mitchell Starc is an all-rounder ✅ pic.twitter.com/s3avWX5oc1

— Lokesh Saini🚩 (@LokeshVirat18K) June 13, 2025

🚨Hats off to Starc!🚨

You may somehow escape Mitchell Starc’s fire-breathing bowling, but then comes his fearless batting will break your defense. A true match-winner and one of the greatest players of this generation.

-Huge respect for Starc 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gSQdvAbTAf

— Niik (@Niiki099) June 13, 2025

A knock that made the coach smile, the captain happy, and his wife proud👏

Mitchell Starc won’t forget this one for a long time. pic.twitter.com/tDpuTaotR0

— Root Jaiswal (@JaiswalRoot) June 13, 2025

Mitchell Starc with Bat - 👽
Mitchell Starc with Ball - 💀 pic.twitter.com/r6wJDaKqwr

— legendary GOATS (@goats_legend) June 13, 2025

Another day, another match-winning spell from Starc!
How lucky is Australia to have this legend still firing on all cylinders? 🇦🇺🏆 #MitchellStarc #GOAT pic.twitter.com/LmIp6doG5k

— vikash Kumar Sinha (@vikashaps) June 13, 2025

Set aside his bowling — when the team’s in deep trouble, he steps up with the bat. Walked in at 72/7 and dragged them to a fighting 207, facing the most balls.
Clutch performer in knockout games, every single time! 🔥#WTCFinal #MitchellStarc pic.twitter.com/jmuCXVkyC6

— Srinath Roychowdhury (@SrinathRoychow1) June 13, 2025

Lord's, London, June 11, 2025 – Josh Hazlewood provided a moment of sparkle at 20.2 overs, sending back Tristan Stubbs for 2 and deepening South Africa’s woes in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025. Having South Africa's bowlers, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada's 5/51, dismiss Australia for 212, their batting faltered against a fiery Australian pace attack. Hazlewood's jaffa—a 136 kmph good-length ball outside off that curved back sharply—snuck through Stubbs' defense, breaking his stumps as the batter played from the crease and couldn't recover to the inward movement. 

South Africa's innings started on a wobbly note, with Mitchell Starc getting rid of Aiden Markram for a duck in the first over and Ryan Rickelton for 16, caught at slip. Pat Cummins joined the attack, sending Wiaan Mulder back for 6, leaving the Proteas 25/3 prior to Hazlewood's delivery. Stubbs, who was supposed to steady the middle order, scored only 2 from 13 balls, going to Hazlewood's unrelenting accuracy. The Australian pacers took advantage of the seaming Lord's surface, with South Africa's batting group finding it difficult to support their bowlers' initial superiority.

Hazlewood's triumph mirrored Australia's resurgence, and they felt a chance to seize control. South Africa, on 30/4, looked up to captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham to arrest the collapse. Australia's bowlers, having given away only 43 runs from 22 overs, demonstrated their champion pedigree, subjecting the Proteas to extreme pressure on a track producing consistent movement.

Watch the video here

Aesthetic... done and dusted. Josh Hazlewood joins party took Stubus wicket.

Australia's bowling attack is unreal. pic.twitter.com/Um5U0Ly8t3

— Ammarꨄ (@itxamustafa4) June 11, 2025

Also Read: SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025 Day 1 Recap – Key performances and major highlights

Australia Tighten Grip

David Bedingham pushed back at the end of the day with successive boundaries off Cummins, remaining unbeaten on 8, with Bavuma still on 3. South Africa's collapse at the top, however, left them exposed to the Australian pacers on a thrilling Day 1.

The Proteas are in need of a steely partnership on Day 2 to undo Australia's bowling prowess. With the pitch still favoring the seamers, South Africa has an uphill task to bridge the 169-run gap.

Current Score: South Africa 43/4 (22 overs)—David Bedingham 8*, Temba Bavuma 3*; Josh Hazlewood 1/10, Mitchell Starc 2/10.

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally ended its wait for an IPL trophy after 18 years. The franchise has witnessed some of the best players in their dugout every season, but has failed to win the trophy. The 2025 season was a special one for RCB, and the team produced a collective effort. Every player stepped up during demanding situations, whether it was the experience of Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood or Jitesh Sharma's aggressive batting and Krunal Pandya's clever off-spin.

New skipper Jitesh Sharma showcased tremendous calmness under pressure and made clever bowling changes depending on the batting team's strengths. In this piece, we discuss five players who played a big role in helping the team win the IPL trophy for the first time. We discuss these five players in detail:

1. Virat Kohli

'King Kohli' was again the core of the RCB batting line-up, showcasing aggression in his batting. The 36-year-old scored 657 runs in 15 IPL games during the 2025 season, scoring 8 half-centuries with a strike rate of 144.71. The former India skipper played an influential role while chasing big totals. The right-hander used his experience of playing in different situations. Kohli built his innings cleverly and accelerated when needed.

2. Josh Hazlewood

The Australian pacer used his experience in judging the conditions and wickets to good effect. The 34-year-old didn't allow the opposition batters to score easily. Hazlewood managed to claim crucial wickets during the run of play with his clever swing and seam movements.

His leg cutters troubled the batters on slow wickets, and he used his slower ones smartly. He claimed 22 wickets in 12 IPL games during the entire season with best bowling figures of 4/33.

See Also: 4 players who have scored 5,000-plus runs in both the IPL and Test cricket

3. Phil Salt

Phil Salt was crucial in providing acceleration as an opener. His destructive hitting destroyed the opposition's morale. The 28-year-old smashed the opposition bowlers out of the park.

The England opener read the wickets well and attacked the spinners at will. The right-hander was aggressive against pacers when they bowled short of length or when he was offered width. The England wicket-keeper batter scored 403 runs in 13 IPL games with a strike rate of 175.98 by registering 4 half-centuries.

4. Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya was the core of the RCB bowling lineup in the entire season. The left-arm off-spinner mixed his deliveries cleverly. The 34-year-old caused problems for the batters with his length and bowled quicker through the air to surprise the batters. Pandya claimed 17 wickets in 15 IPL games with best bowling figures of 4/25. Krunal Pandya's inclusion added penetration in the RCB bowling lineup.

5. Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma's inclusion made the RCB batting lineup robust. The 32-year-old was bought for a sum of INR 11 crore by RCB, and the wicket-keeper batter turned out to be valuable with his powerful hitting abilities. The right-hander stepped up when needed, scoring 261 runs in 15 IPL games with a strike rate of 176.35. Jitesh Sharma can play match-winning innings, and that is exactly what he did this season.

Australia's preparation for the next World Test Championship (WTC) Final is at full throttle, with the limelight shining on senior pacer Josh Hazlewood. The game, to be contested at the legendary Lord's Cricket Ground, will pit Australia against South Africa. Hazlewood, who has been in breathtaking form of late, will be one of the major stalwarts to look out for, considering his bravado in the just-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 34-year-old pace bowler was a star performer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to guide the team to its first-ever IPL trophy. With 22 wickets from only 12 matches at a respectable average of 17.54, Hazlewood was the top wicket-taker for his team and third overall in the tournament. This earned him the nickname of being 'HazleGod' by Indian fans—a title that has gone viral on social media.

In spite of the admiration, Hazlewood is humble about the new nickname. In a video posted on the ICC's Instagram, he confided that he found the nickname flattering but had his doubts about its catching on in his native country. “Yeah, hopefully, it runs out of steam pretty quickly. It's flattering, obviously, to hear it around the grounds in India, but I don't think it'll take off in Australia, he remarked with a grin.

Reactions from Teammates and Fans

Australian colleagues Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon also added to Hazlewood's new nickname. Starc, having a good chuckle about the name, hoped it stuck and complimented Hazlewood's phenomenal form and contribution in the IPL. He was looking forward to seeing his pace colleague contribute the same vigor and talent to the final at Lord's.

Watch the video here

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

Also Read: 'You've lost all respect' - Former cricketer slams move to rename Pataudi Trophy as Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 Tests

Nathan Lyon, however, had a lighter perspective to offer. In his account, Hazlewood had even begun calling himself 'HazleGod,' a development that had left the off-spinner totally bewildered. Lyon accepted Hazlewood's monopolistic dominance of India and teased that the nickname could well be with us for a long time.

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru(RCB) brace themselves for an intense showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 3rd of June, 2025, will mark a significant date in the chapter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the world sits in anticipation to see a new title winner. 

PBKS had a smooth road to the playoffs and faced minimal hiccups along the way, finishing at the top during the league stage. However, leading into the playoffs, they were severely jolted by RCB in Qualifier one game as they crashed out on the back of a thumping nine-wicket defeat. But Shreyas & Co. regained momentum just in time and clinically brushed MI aside in Qualifier two to book their spot in the IPL final only for the second time in their history.

RCB, on the other hand, have also been in top form, finishing second in the points table with nine wins in 14 matches. In fact, they were the first team to qualify for the IPL 2025 final, beating PBKS by nine wickets in Qualifier one. They will meet their old adversaries from Qualifier one again and will be looking to repeat a similar sort of performance to annihilate PBKS once and for all in the final.

But as the age-old saying goes, batters win you matches, but the bowlers win you tournaments. Hence, the spotlight will be on the bowlers tonight as they have a key role to play in containing the star-studded batting line-ups on both sides. Having said that, let's dive in to unravel the top three bowlers who are likely to contribute heavily with the ball in the IPL final tonight.

See also: Three batters who can shine and score the most number of runs in the IPL 2025 Final

Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Josh Hazlewood is arguably one of the best operating seamers of the tournament so far. The Aussie paceman is now the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the competition overall, and the highest wicket-taker for his franchise. He has claimed 21 wickets at a stunning average of 15.8, which includes his best figures of 4-33 against RR in a winning cause. Following his temporary exclusion from the squad due to back injury, RCB's death bowling deteriorated significantly. The franchise had one of the worst economy rates in the death overs, with bowlers conceding at a galloping rate of 11 RPO. But his re-entry to the side bolstered RCB ahead of the Qualifier 1 game against PBKS, where he played an instrumental role in not only keeping the run flow down but also pegging the momentum of the opposition by striking at key intervals.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The veteran Indian pacer has a plethora of white-ball experience, both on an international and domestic scale. Bhuvi has also played a lot of franchise cricket and over the years, has developed a wide range of tricks that make him a tricky proposition to contend with. He currently shares the second spot with Krunal in the list of wicket-takers for his side and has scripted a few noteworthy performances this year. In 13 matches, Bhuvi has claimed 15 wickets at a formidable average of just under 30, with his best performance being against DC, where he bagged match-winning figures of 3-33. In a match where the stakes are high, the team will bank on Bhuvneshwar Kumar's experience and will require him to take wickets, particularly with the new ball.

Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)

Arshdeep is a highly skilled operator with the new ball and has developed a reputation for picking wickets regularly inside the powerplay. Very seldom does he go wicketless inside the powerplay. Moreover, he is equally a very capable bowler in the death overs and is skilled enough to execute pinpoint yorkers. Arshdeep has grown in stature over the years, and as a result, his repertoire has also expanded as well. He is the highest wicket-taker for his franchise this season with 18 scalps across 15 games. His average stands at an impressive 26.55, whereas his strike rate is astonishingly low (18.11). His superb spell of 3-16 against DC helped PBKS register a comfortable 37-run win. Although his form in the recent two games has been concerning, Arshdeep continues to be a potent threat to the batting opposition.

The first qualifier match of IPL 2025 was played on 29 May at Mullanpur ground in Chandigarh. In which the teams of RCB and Punjab (RCB vs PBKS Highlights) were face to face. In this match, the Bangalore team has won in a one-sided manner. With the victory in this match, RCB has reached the final in 2025 after 2016. While the wait for the final will still continue for Punjab.

RCB in the final after 9 years

IPL 2025 has been very special for the Bangalore team since the beginning. This is the reason why the team has also reached the final of this season. The first qualifier match was played on 29 May in which the team of Punjab Kings was face to face. In this match, Punjab batted first but the team was restricted to just 101 runs. All the batsmen failed to score runs for Punjab in this match. On the other hand, RCB completely dominated Punjab in this match. Be it batting or bowling. Because RCB chased this target of 102 runs in just 10 overs.

Punjab Kings have reached Qualifier 2 after losing in the first qualifier. While the eliminator match of this season will be played on 30 May. In which the teams of Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians were face to face. Whichever team wins this match will play against Punjab on June 1 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see whether Punjab will be able to win this match or say that it will be out of the playoffs despite topping the points table.

ALSO READ: Top 3 reasons why Punjab Kings Lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

Twitter reactions after RCB wins Qualifier match of IPL 2025

"WE WON"
RCB VS PBKS ❤
CONGRATULATIONS #RCB 🤘

THANK YOU TEAM RCB ♥️ 🫰
Virat Kohli led with heart ❤️

Phil Salt exploded with the bat 💥
and Josh Hazlewood brought the heat with the ball💪

The dream is alive.!!!🏆#RCBvsPBKS #RCB #RCBFinals pic.twitter.com/GlX4xkk4Gu

— Ragini (@raginixoxo) May 29, 2025

Rcb win 🙌 🔥 🧿
Phil Salt 🔥🔥🧿
Suyash Sharma🔥🔥🧿#RCBvsPBKS #RCB #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/1F0PmHMuBR

— 𝓐𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲⁷ 🇮🇳🍷🐇 (@I_am_anshi0) May 29, 2025

RCB’s bowling unit today be like: "Tu batting kar, hum wicket lete hain!
Hazlewood, Bhuvi & Yash Dayal turned the pitch into a dance floor for wickets!
RCB fans right now: RCB Zindabad memes loading! #PBKSvsRCB #RCBvsPBKS #BowledOver #IPLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/qG9FMH9XZc

— Trilochan Bhattarai (@trilochan000) May 29, 2025

Virat Kohli shouted inside stadium : 120 mins

Runs scored while chasing 101 : 12#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/8XkAbUHlyu

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) May 29, 2025

Congratulations RCB 🥳#RCBvsPBKS RCB RCB pic.twitter.com/Dq8JDrmpDf

— विक्रम 𝘬ꪊꪑꪖ𝘳 🦇 (@printf_meme) May 29, 2025

To all the haters 😂
Congratulations RCB ❤️ #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/kv1s0wHyxk

— Manish (@memer_manis) May 29, 2025

Bhakti mein hi shakti hai❤️

Congratulations RCB!!! Into the finals !!!#RCBvsPBKS #IPLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/2ppB2OZGfm

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) May 29, 2025

RCB didn’t play cricket , they held a f*cking funeral. Punjab bowled out for 101 pure f*cking carnage.#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/g765WR0AEH

— εмρεяσя (@EmperorVK) May 29, 2025

Humbling Of These 2 Annoying faces 🤣🔥

Yeah I think Everyone Loves it And Deserves it for the cringe They've spread this season #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/knCtnwPn1R

— Kau5tubh30 (@Kaustubh001ac) May 29, 2025

When you have no goal in your life, doing only shit things, no girlfriend, friend roaming with his girlfriend, but the team you love RCB won and reached the final#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/muWWsp9hhw

— Aditya (@79_capetown) May 29, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) comfortably defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by eight wickets in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. PBKS batted first and made only 101 runs in 14.1 overs under the pressure of the playoffs. Saw RCB advance to the final with a clinical performance, marking their return to the IPL finals after 9 years since their last appearance in 2016.

Punjab Kings Innings

Batting first, PBKS only managed 101 runs for the loss of 10 wickets in 14.1 overs despite Marcus Stoinis putting up a good fight for 26 runs off 17 balls. Azmatullah Omarzai and Prabhsimran Singh both contributed to the PBKS score with scores of 18 runs from 10 balls and 18 runs off 12 balls, respectively. For the bowlers of RCB, Suyash Sharma had an excellent outing, taking 3 wickets for only 17 runs off 3 overs. Josh Hazlewood took 3/21 off 3.1 overs, and Yash Dayal finished with 3 overs, preceded by 26 runs and 2 wickets.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings

RCB chased the target of 102 with ease, reaching 106/2 in just 10 overs. Phil Salt had a strike rate and innings-saving effort of 56 runs off just 27 balls. Mayank Agarwal added 19 runs off 13 balls, while Rajat Patidar finished with 15 runs from 8 balls to help RCB attack victory on PBKS. The bowlers of PBKS struggled Kyle Jamieson took 1 wicket for 27 runs off 3 overs, and Musheer Khan followed up with 1 wicket for 27 runs off 2 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai bowled for 1 over for 10 runs, taking no wickets. RCB put on a dominant display to enter into their IPL 2025 Final.

Also Read: Top 3 reasons why Punjab Kings Lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

PBKS vs RCB: Post Match Reactions

Suyash Sharma (Player of the Match): Suyash Sharma, the Player of the Match, credited his performance to a straightforward directive from the coaches to consistently attack the stumps. His googlies, leg spins, and flippers were devastating, and had he not received help from the pitch, clearly indicated by his 3/17 in 3 overs, Patidar wouldn’t have let him back on. Sharma felt the batters found it tough to identify his variations, particularly his stock googly. He looked forward to celebrating with his team on June 3rd, implying there would be a major event.

Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru Captain): Rajat Patidar praised Suyash Sharma for consistently hitting the stumps, which Patidar called a key to his performance. He was careful as captain not to complicate the batsman learning Sharma’s googly. He provided a shout-out to Phil Salt’s explosive starts, saying it was good fortune to see them from the dugout. Finally, he thanked the passionate RCB fans and encouraged them for a championship celebration.

Phil Salt (RCB): Phil Salt was excited to qualify for finals on their first attempt. They accepted the challenging nature of the pitch with some movement early but credited quick reactions for avoiding any dismissals against Punjab’s new ball, especially from Arshdeep Singh. Salt described the play-travel-play schedule as a blessing, preventing overthinking during the tournament. The win, he said, provided crucial momentum for RCB heading into the tournament’s decisive phase.

Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings Captain): Shreyas Iyer made a case for a batting reconsideration when their low total became untenable for Punjab Kings. He acknowledged that the bounce was variable but refused the temptation to use it as an excuse, emphasizing that we must all be ‘professional’ and adapt. Iyer accepted his tactical decisions, despite the loss, and refused to lay the blame on their bowlers. He is optimistic and believes they have lost a battle but not the war and wants to return more strongly.

Also Read: [WATCH] Qualifier 1: Shreyas Iyer dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in PBKS vs RCB clash in IPL 2025

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Match Scorecard

Punjab Kings - 101/10 (14.1 Overs)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru -106/4 (10 Overs)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru put on a fantastic bowling show to bowl out Punjab Kings for just 101 runs in 14.1 overs in the first innings of Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.

Punjab Kings had a tough time right from the start, losing four wickets in the first six overs during the powerplay. Their top batsmen couldn’t handle the pressure from RCB’s tight bowling. Only Prabhsimran Singh managed to score a decent 18 runs off 10 balls, while the rest of the top order failed to reach double digits.

The troubles didn’t stop there. Yash Dayal bowled Nehal Wadhera out for 8 runs early in the seventh over, leaving Punjab Kings at 50 for five. Soon after, leg-spinner Suyash Sharma came into the attack and made an instant impact.

The Punjab Kings were in trouble as wickets kept falling quickly. Shashank Singh and Musheer Khan couldn’t stay long and were both dismissed by Suyash. By halfway through the innings, Punjab was struggling at 71 for 7. Marcus Stoinis tried to steady the innings with 26 runs off 17 balls but was out in the 11th over.

Dayal finished his four overs with 2 wickets for 26 runs. Romario Shepherd also made a difference by taking a wicket in his first over, sending Harpreet Brar back cheaply. Azmatullah Omarzai was the last to go, scoring 18 runs off 12 balls. Both Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma picked up three wickets each.

ALSO READ: [WATCH] Qualifier 1: Jitesh Sharma’s stunning catch off Hazlewood seals PBKS’s fate in PBKS vs RCB Clash in IPL 2025

After the innings, Suyash Sharma said, “We followed the plans given by our coaches and stuck to them. I felt good bowling today, and the batsmen couldn’t read my googly well. Even though this was a semi-final, we played it like a normal game. Playing here before helped us stay calm.”

Fans react as Punjab Kings get all out for 101 Against RCB

pic.twitter.com/SINFSI9n9L

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) May 29, 2025

Just a reminder!

PBKS shamefully begged for local fans’ support in Chandigarh, forcing them since it’s their hometown before today’s match.

Just to get bundled out by RCB for 101 runs in Qualifier 1 — what a shameful way to get humiliated. pic.twitter.com/5VXoiBDSsG

— StarcyKKR (@StarcKKR) May 29, 2025

PBKS waited 11 years to reach Qualifier 1, only to get dismantled by RCB.

𝟵-𝟭,
𝟮𝟳-𝟮,
𝟯𝟬-𝟯,
𝟯𝟴-𝟰,
𝟱𝟬-𝟱,
𝟲𝟬-𝟲 pic.twitter.com/9nhF4H7uRo

— StarcyKKR (@StarcKKR) May 29, 2025

"Sorry PBKS 3-4 fans, I only had confidence for league matches not playoffs" 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rfEjmxn4h0

— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) May 29, 2025

दुःख | दर्द | अफ़सोस | वेदना | व्यथा | शोक | संताप । मातम | पीड़ा | विपदा | खेद | तकलीफ़ | कसक | अवसाद |#IPLPlayoffs #Qualifier1 #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/wv2EiZcpHi

— Yudhisthir Chandra (@YudhisthirYc) May 29, 2025

"Please PBKS save humanity sarr we are supporting PBKS sarr"
Let's laugh at csk dogs#RCBvsPBKS #Qualifier1 pic.twitter.com/ffTJ7A0PaE

— Hemanth (@Kohlistan1842) May 29, 2025

101/10 All Out in playoffs 😭😂

Shame shame shame shame 🤡

Let's laugh on PBSDK 🤡🤡🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/xpHnGTjMo9

— 💤𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒋𝒂𝒚💤 (@SRKzSanjay) May 29, 2025

Punjab Kings, they start so bright,
Chasing dreams beneath the light.
But when the pressure’s tight and near,
They choke, they stumble, fall in fear.

Let's laugh at Choker pbks 🤣 pic.twitter.com/9pkjplp7Vj

— 𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮 (@luckycsk7) May 29, 2025

Qualifier 1 – Mullanpur

PBKS loses a wicket…
🎥 Preity Zinta & fans: 😶💔

RCB fans:
🔥 “Ee sala Cup Namde!” 🕺🎉

Congrats RCB! 💪#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/xVas6KBUdX

— Reenu yadav (@reenu26451) May 29, 2025

Just 45 mins late to check Scoreboard #RCBvsPBKS #IPLPlayoffs #Qualifier1 pic.twitter.com/du3lznR5c0

— One liner advice (@quote_for_daily) May 29, 2025

In a thrilling finish to the First innings of IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh, Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had delivered a memorable performance, and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma had played an integral role. Hazlewood effectively ended the Punjab Kings (PBKS) innings at just 101 after dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai at 14.1 overs. Hazlewood bowled a length seam-up delivery over-the-wicket line on the fourth stump, and it held seam in and moved in a little as Omarzai stepped down to slog-sweep across the line, offering a thick outside edge that flew to Jitesh's right. Jitesh leapt athletically for a stunning one-handed catch, igniting wild celebrations and stamping RCB's position in this crunch playoff match.

RCB's disciplined bowling, by Hazlewood, with three wickets including Omarzai's with their final wicket, helped dissolve PBKS's batting lineup when support came from three from Suyash Sharma and two from Yash Dayal. RCB maximized the bounce and movement of the surface, and PBKS struggled to build an innings or partnerships, with Hazlewood's wicket capping the PBKS innings, and Jitesh's sensationally acrobatic catch also showed RCB's fielding had been sharp in supporting their bowling. The early dismissals and consistent pressure from RCB’s attack ensured PBKS could only muster 101, with just two batters reaching double figures, setting RCB a straightforward chase for a spot in the IPL 2025 final.

Watch the video here

Look this unbelievable catch by jitesh sharma❤️ #IPL2025 #Qualifier1 #JiteshSharma #rcb #rcbfans #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/XJYJvGJU3p

— Aditya kumar (@adityagupta_418) May 29, 2025

Also Read: [WATCH] Qualifier 1: Shreyas Iyer dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in PBKS vs RCB clash in IPL 2025

Current Match Situation: PBKS vs RCB 

PBKS were bowled out for 101 runs in 14.1 overs, and RCB only needed 102 runs to qualify for the final of IPL 2025. Jitesh Sharma took an outstanding one-handed catch off the bowling of Hazlewood to dismiss Omarzai, and in our opinion it concluded an impressive bowling performance. Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma each took three wickets, and Yash Dayal took two wickets; consequently, there is an opportunity for RCB's bowlers to pull off a commanding chase in this important Qualifier match, aided by Jitesh's brilliant fielding.

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 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.

Watch the video here

Josh is soooo back! 🔥

pic.twitter.com/LuUVqU9drF

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

Also Read: [WATCH] Qualifier 1: Jitesh Sharma’s stunning catch off Hazlewood seals PBKS’s fate in PBKS vs RCB Clash in IPL 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.