In the one-sided Qualifier 1 match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Thursday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru trounced Punjab Kings by eight wickets, moving Virat Kohli one step closer to winning his first Indian Premier League title and advancing to the championship. In the previous nine years, RCB had only qualified for the championship four times.

Although Kohli, Bengaluru's top run scorer this season, may not have contributed with the bat—he was out for only 12—he was a major player in the first innings of the game, as the RCB bowlers gave the Punjab Kings batsmen no respite. He was observed several times arranging the field and occasionally speaking with the bowlers, cheering them up during their spells.

Following the victory, a jubilant Virat Kohli gestured towards his wife Anushka Sharma, who was in the stands, that RCB has one more game to win, as the team members were seen congregating close to the dugout for the usual post-match handshake. Anushka's response said it all as he kept pointing at the Bollywood actress and saying, "One more to go."

Since the league's debut season in 2008, the franchise has had the former India captain. Although Bengaluru made it to the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, they lost each time.

Punjab has one more opportunity.

Table-toppers Punjab Kings failed to show up for a game between the top two teams in the league stage. Following a toss loss and a request to bat on a tough pitch, everything went wrong for the home team. As if things weren't bad enough, the Punjab batsmen made rash strokes as Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma ripped through the order, each taking three wickets.

In 14.1 overs, Punjab were bowled out for 101 runs, the joint third-lowest score for a team in IPL playoffs. The goal was achieved in just 10 overs, with opener Phil Salt leading the way with an unbroken 56 runs.

If Punjab can defeat the victor of Friday's eliminator between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier, they will still be able to reach the final.

Read Also: IPL 2025: RCB Secure Final Spot After PBKS Home Defeat

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