In a decisive match in Dharamsala, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the first team to secure a playoff berth in the IPL 2026 by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 23 runs. Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma praised the contributions of bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, stating that their experience is invaluable to the team's success. RCB set a formidable total of 222 runs, with notable performances from Virat Kohli, who scored 58 runs, and Venkatesh Iyer, who remained unbeaten with 73 runs off 40 balls. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's early breakthroughs were pivotal as he dismissed PBKS openers cheaply, while Hazlewood's effective bowling in the death overs helped maintain RCB's control over the match. With this victory, RCB has now accumulated 18 points, solidifying their position in the playoffs, while PBKS must win their next match against Lucknow Super Giants to keep their qualification hopes alive.