A string of impressive performances headlined RCB’s dominion in New Chandigarh as they demolished PBKS in the return-leg fixture. A clinical show of force in all-round department set the charge right as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru reclaimed a spot in the top four. Amidst a flurry of impressive performers, here are the top three from RCB who dazzled against Punjab in Mullanpur.

Virat Kohli – 73* (54)

Virat started his innings with a splendid boundary as he pulled Arshdeep Singh’s slow bumper convincingly. He welcomed Xavier Barlett with a boundary too as he powered a punch past the mid-off fielder. Harpreet Brar had to bear a similar repercussion when he started bowling as Kohli carved a lofted cover drive to welcome him into the mix before calmly slotting back into the anchor role. He blended poise and truculence in the same breath and eventually carried his bat through the innings for a match-winning 73.

Devdutt Padikkal – 61 (35)

Padikkal played a crucial knock in providing RCB with the much-needed firepower in the center after they lost Phil Salt early. He wanted to start the innings with a risky upper cut only to get beaten by Arshdeep’s pace while pulling off a highlight reel of the last ball and successfully clipping one over the keeper’s head to break his duck. Bartlett wanted to test Padikkal’s awareness with a slower one and the southpaw had no hesitation whatsoever as he walked down the track and channeled all his power into the shot, thumping the ball out of the park. An in-form Harpreet Brar and Yuzvendra Chahal got no reprieve as Padikkal sliced them at will too. He eventually got out for a phenomenal 61 that propelled RCB to a pedestal from where they could anticipate a grandstand finish.

Krunal Pandya – 2/25

Krunal hogged the limelight in his own stunning way as he was the first one for RCB to apply the much-needed brake. Drifting one away from Priyansh Arya, he tempted him to play the wild slice which proved to be the unravelling for the youngster. Krunal mounted further pressure by bowling extremely tight lines and that fetched him a second as well. Prabhsimran Singh came down the track trying to charge at Krunal Pandya and Tim David who was stationed at long-off, grabbed a fine take to derail the opening partnership of Punjab. Not only did he impress with the ball but he took an excellent catch to see the back of Shreyas Iyer off Romario Shepherd’s bowling. He ran all the way from long-on and kept his eyes on the ball. He bagged the catch while being on the run and then to lessen the impact of the consequent movements, he rolled along the surface while keeping the ball held in place.