IPL 2026: RCB Beat PBKS as Venkatesh Iyer Shines and Playoff Race Tightens After Punjab’s Losing Streak
RCB beat Punjab Kings by 23 runs in IPL 2026 to confirm their playoff spot, powered by Venkatesh Iyer’s 73 and Virat Kohli’s 58. PBKS suffered another defeat, extending their losing streak and putting their playoff hopes under serious pressure.
May 18, 2026: Punjab Kings last tasted victory about a month ago, when Shreyas Iyer’s side pulled off a strong chase against Delhi Capitals in May. Since that win, their campaign has gone downhill with a series of defeats.
This time, Punjab Kings suffered a 23-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With this defeat, they have now registered a string of losses after starting the season with seven straight wins. The sudden dip in form has made their path to the playoffs much more difficult for Shreyas Iyer and his team.
RCB’s strong batting sets up a big total
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer opted to bowl first after winning the toss in Dharamsala. RCB opener Jacob Bethell failed to score, but Virat Kohli once again showed his class with a composed knock of 58 runs off 37 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Devdutt Padikkal supported him well with 45 runs off 25 balls. Captain Rajat Patidar missed the match due to injury, but Venkatesh Iyer made full use of the opportunity. Against his former team, he played a brilliant innings of 73 runs off 40 balls, hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes.
In the final overs, Tim David added quick runs with 28 off 12 balls, helping RCB reach a strong total of 222 runs.
💔 pic.twitter.com/nPKEJEYAaf
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 17, 2026
Punjab’s collapse despite fighting efforts
Chasing a big target, the Punjab Kings once again struggled at the top. Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed both openers early — Priyansh Arya (0) and Prabhsimran Singh (2), putting Punjab under pressure. Rasikh Salam then dismissed Shreyas Iyer cheaply for just 1 run.
At 19 for 3, Punjab were in deep trouble. However, Cooper Connolly (37) and Suryansh Shedge (35) tried to rebuild the innings and bring the team back into the contest. Later, Shashank Singh played a fighting knock, supported by Marcus Stoinis (35), keeping Punjab’s hopes alive for a while.
But the pressure from RCB’s bowling attack, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, proved too strong. Shashank Singh fought till the end with a brilliant 56 off 27 balls, but he fell in the final over as Punjab Kings were bowled out short, losing the match by 23 runs.
Playoff race tightens after Punjab’s defeat
With this win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru officially qualified for the playoffs with 18 points from 13 matches. Punjab Kings remain at 13 points from the same number of games and are currently placed fourth.
However, their position is now under serious threat. Rajasthan Royals (12 points from 11 matches), Chennai Super Kings (12 from 12 matches), and Kolkata Knight Riders (11 from 12 matches) are all still in the race. Rajasthan’s upcoming clash against Delhi Capitals could further impact the playoff scenario, making the final stretch of the league even more intense.
Brief Score:
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: 222/4 (Venkatesh 73*, Kohli 58, Harpreet 35/2)
- Punjab Kings: 199/8 (Shashank 56, Stoinis 37, Bhuvneshwar 38/2)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 23 runs