In a disheartening turn of events for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), pacer Josh Hazlewood has attributed the team’s third straight home defeat to both an atypical Chinnaswamy pitch and a struggle to apply lessons from previous matches.

The RCB faced a five-wicket loss to Punjab Kings in a rain-shortened 14-over match on Friday night, following earlier defeats against the Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals.

Hazlewood pointed out the unique challenges of the Chinnaswamy wicket, contrasting it with more consistent surfaces from past seasons. “It’s not a typical Chinnaswamy wicket. There’s always been bounce, but it’s been more consistent in years gone by,” he remarked during the post-match press conference. This sentiment echoed earlier concerns voiced by RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik, who expressed discontent with the pitch quality and intended to confer with the local curator after their loss to Delhi.

The Australian fast bowler underscored the importance of a robust power play, noting that the team has been “a bit slow on the learnings” from their earlier matches, particularly in the initial overs. “We probably didn’t put that into practice as well as we could have in those first six to eight overs,” Hazlewood added, reflecting on the team’s sluggish start.

Despite the disappointing results, Hazlewood remains optimistic about RCB’s potential to turn the tide. “We’ll analyse this game in detail when we get back to Bangalore,” he said, highlighting the need for careful assessment to learn and improve.

He offered guidance for his batting colleagues, urging them to take a step back and evaluate conditions before launching into aggressive shots. “If we can have our top five or six batters perform well throughout the innings, that will go a long way in helping us secure victory,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings spinner Harpreet Brar praised the performance of middle-order batsman Nehal Wadhera, who played a pivotal role in guiding his team to victory with an unbeaten 33 runs off 19 balls. Brar highlighted Wadhera’s experience and recent form, noting his crucial contributions during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Reflecting on his performance, Brar shared his readiness to deliver in high-pressure moments even in his first match of the season, stating, “In small matches, you have to be on your toes. I was ready. It was my first game of the season. I didn’t know that I would bowl in the last over.”

As RCB battles to find their rhythm, the team will need to address these issues promptly to reverse their current trajectory in the competition.

Rajat Patidar has reached a remarkable milestone in his IPL career by scoring his 1000th run in just 30 innings. The Royal Challengers Bangalore captain achieved this impressive feat during their match against the Punjab Kings on Friday.

This accomplishment makes Patidar the second-fastest Indian batter to reach this landmark, trailing only behind Sai Sudharsan of the Gujarat Titans, who achieved the milestone in 25 innings.

With this achievement, Patidar has surpassed iconic players such as Sachin Tendulkar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, both of whom reached 1000 runs in 31 innings. Additionally, Tilak Varma from the Mumbai Indians follows closely behind, having required 33 innings to cross the same threshold.

What truly sets Patidar apart is a unique distinction: he is the first Indian batter in IPL history to accumulate 1000 runs with an impressive average exceeding 35 and a strike rate above 150. This achievement underscores his consistency and impact, especially in high-pressure situations, positioning him as one of the most promising Indian talents in the current T20 arena.

In the match itself, the Punjab Kings emerged victorious over the Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets in a rain-affected contest. The match was reduced to 14 overs per side due to evening showers. Batting first, RCB struggled to find their rhythm and managed to post a total of 95 runs for nine wickets. Tim David played a crucial role in their innings, scoring a rapid 50 runs off just 26 balls, providing a much-needed counter-attack for his team.

In response, the Punjab Kings chased down the target comfortably in 12.1 overs, with Nehal Wadhera contributing a brisk 33 runs off 19 balls to help secure the win. While Josh Hazlewood delivered an exceptional performance for RCB with figures of 3 wickets for 14 runs, his efforts were insufficient to steer his team to victory.

RCB’s batting lineup struggled throughout, losing wickets at regular intervals, as Punjab bowlers like Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Marco Jansen caused significant disruptions. This victory adds momentum for the Punjab Kings as the IPL season progresses.

Manoj Bhandage, the young all-rounder from Karnataka, was brought in as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) impact player during their IPL 2025 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 18. However, the highly anticipated appearance ended on a disappointing note as he was dismissed cheaply after RCB’s batting order collapsed in a shortened innings.

RCB reels after rain-hit start

The encounter at Bengaluru was disrupted by heavy rainfall, leading to a significant delay. Once play resumed at 9:45 PM, the fixture was reduced to 14 overs per side. RCB, who were put in to bat first, struggled heavily as wickets fell in quick succession, leaving them reeling at 41/6 within the first eight overs.

In a bid to salvage their innings, the team turned to Manoj Bhandage, deploying him as their designated impact player.

Profile: Who is Manoj Bhandage?

Manoj Bhandage, born on October 5, 1998, in Karnataka, was acquired by RCB for ₹30 lakh during the IPL 2025 mega auction. A left-handed batter and right-arm medium pacer, Bhandage is known for his aggressive style and versatility with both bat and ball.

He made his T20 debut for Karnataka in 2019 and later featured in List A cricket starting 2022. In 14 List A matches, Bhandage has accumulated 235 runs at a strike rate of 100.42 and has taken 10 wickets at an economy rate of 4.80. His T20 record includes 186 runs and 13 wickets from 24 appearances.

Bhandage has been recognized for his ability to contribute in the lower-middle order while offering useful overs with the ball, which prompted RCB to test his potential under pressure.

Short stay at the crease

Unfortunately for the debutant, his contribution was limited. Facing Marco Jansen, Bhandage attempted to flick a length delivery but misjudged its line. The ball struck his pad with his front leg airborne. Although he opted for a review, technology confirmed no bat contact, and the ball-tracking data indicated a marginal clip of the leg stump. The umpire’s original decision of out was upheld, and Bhandage had to walk back after scoring just one run from four balls.

His brief outing added to RCB’s woes on a night where their top and middle order offered little resistance, leaving fans and management with unanswered questions about their depth under pressure.