- May 30, 2025
We have all experienced that moment of ‘panic’, where things just go out of control – lost keys, misplaced phone, spilled coffee – caput! This is exactly what happened to Punjab Kings in their IPL 2025 clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore. They went from potential to perplexing in a few short overs under the glare of the lights and the experience of a critical match. Varun Aaron was correct – they went into autodestruct mode, and it was honestly painful to watch. Let’s unpack the carnage and understand how it all collapsed.
Implosion Under Pressure: The Final Nerves Struck Hard
Taking part in a knockout is as much a test of mental toughness as it is a test of skill. The Punjab Kings didn’t get that message. As Tom Moody pointed out in the post-match chat, there was something in the pitch – there was a fraction of movement for the seamers at the start. But nothing was unplayable. Instead of playing the conditions, the PBKS team played like a sprinter running a marathon.
They were all over the joint. And they were all over the joint with the bat as well. No one looked at the conditions. No one took their time. No one set or anchored the innings. All of the players must have had a plane to catch. Moody was right when he said they weren’t willing to “sit in the game.” They had the mentality of wanting to get out of it in 15 overs. The unfortunate reality was that they finished well ahead of them in that time.
Missed Opportunity: The Art of Rebuilding Was Forgotten
Varun Aaron’s verdict was tough, but fair. He said that the pitch wasn’t terrible — yes, it helped the fast bowlers a bit, but it wasn’t a minefield. PBKS had an opportunity to recover after being in trouble at 36-3. They needed some old-fashioned rebuilding — partnerships, rotate the strike, and smart cricket.
The expectations were that with scores such as 140-150 still defendable in a pressure situation, especially on a pedestrian playing pitch, PBKS had a chance to stay in the game. Their demise was their inability to refocus after the initial blows. Just imagine if they had managed to get to a fighting total. The pressure of a final, difficult pitch and RCB’s history of messing up tricky chases would have made for a very interesting finish. But PBKS simply didn’t give themselves that opportunity.
RCB Stayed Composed, PBKS Lost the Plot
As PBKS fell apart, RCB did what experienced teams did in the big moment: they stayed calm. The RCB bowlers didn’t force things to happen. They bowled their lengths, let the pitch do the rest, which helped PBKS collapse on their own. There was a clear difference in mentality between the two teams.
RCB chased the target calmly and coolly. They knew they were not chasing mountains, so they didn’t have to take unnecessary risks. Their batters showed restraint and clarity of intent that PBKS totally lacked. Ironically, if Punjab had been able to show the same discipline when batting first, this could have been a completely different match.
Punjab Kings were for real, cool, professional, and also edgy; however, they did not have temperament. In sometimes, international match cricket, it is not always about just the local exuberant big shots for the enjoyment of the fans. Once you press go, there is no rewind!
So, will the PBKS learn the lesson and have a season of resurgence? Let us know in the comments your ideas – Should they change the leadership group, or are they just not trusting the process?
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