An incredible evening for RCB. It has been simpler than they anticipated. In the final, they will now hope for a fourth chance. Here is a preview of our final report before we go.

On a pitch with seam and extra bounce, Royal Challengers Bengaluru dominated Punjab Kings for 101, waltzing their way into their first IPL final since 2016. Despite a wicket-maiden in the powerplay, Phil Salt broke the back of the modest chase that went for 61, but batting did not become any easier in the second innings.

Taking seven wickets between them, the RCB fast bowlers continued to smash the hard lengths while PBKS refused to slow down their aggression on the difficult surface. They lost three wickets to legspinner Suyash Sharma after some careless sweeping allowed him to choose none of the incorrect people. In the second innings, the ball moved and bounced more than in the first, which gave Salt the opportunity to score his fastest IPL fifty off just 23 balls and send RCB home with ten overs remaining.

RCB in their fourth final

With ten overs remaining, Rajat Patidar completes RCB's advance to the final with a huge slog-sweep off Musheer Khan's left-arm spin. Phil Salt has 56 off 27 and is undefeated.

PBKS will have another opportunity to get to the final. In light of what we now know, PBKS actually had a reasonable chance of losing. PBKS simply lacked the runs to work with, but the ball did more in the second inning than in the first. Should they have attempted to be more measured and change their sights based on their prior experience of being 111 all out? In retrospect, it is simple to say. Experience is important in this situation.

RCB win the toss and bowl first

Bengaluru welcomed Josh Hazlewood back into the starting lineup and skipper Rajat Patidar back to full fitness. After playing the previous two games as a non-captain, Patidar emerged for the toss and won it right away. In Qualifier 1, RCB was the away team as well. In the league stage, they won each of their seven away games. Tim David, who appeared to have hurt his hamstring during their penultimate league game, was still out for them, though.
Marco Jansen was lost to the South Africa Test team, and Punjab Kings were still without Yuzvendra Chahal. For him, Azmatullah Omarzai entered. PBKS played their home games in New Chandigarh during the league stage, however their home record was not very good. In those four games, they won two, lost two, and their captain, Shreyas Iyer, only managed to score 25 runs.
For the first time since 2016, RCB placed in the top two. For the first time in eleven years, PBKS qualified for the playoffs. Each side was searching for their first title. A second chance to go to the final was assured to the losing team. Both teams had the same number of points at the end of the league stage, although PBKS had the higher net run rate.