IPL 2025 [WATCH]: Krunal Pandya grabs a screamer to dismiss Shreyas Iyer in the PBKS vs RCB clash

In a pivotal moment of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s latest inclusion, Romario Shepherd, made an immediate impact in his very first over, removing Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer with a combination of skillful bowling and stunning fielding.

Romario Shepherd makes a dream start for RCB as Krunal Pandya takes a stunning catch 

The breakthrough came in the eighth over when Shepherd bowled a full delivery on middle and leg. Iyer, under pressure and looking to force the tempo, attempted to power it down the ground. However, he only managed to mistime it off the bottom of his bat. What followed was a moment of brilliance in the field as Krunal, stationed at long-on, sprinted in with speed, racing to his left.

Despite the full pace and tricky angle, Krunal held on to the ball around chest height, tumbling as he completed the catch. In one fluid motion, he ensured the ball didn’t pop out, raising it in celebration immediately upon hitting the turf. It was a sensational catch, and one that got an ecstatic reaction from Shepherd, who roared in delight, and Virat Kohli, who ran in to give the debutant a congratulatory hug. For Iyer, it was another frustrating outing as he managed just 6 runs off 10 deliveries, striking a solitary boundary before falling to a soft dismissal. The pressure continues to mount on the PBKS skipper, whose form this season has oscillated between aggression and inconsistency.

Here’s the video:

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RCB bowlers keep Punjab Kings in check after fiery start at Mullanpur

PBKS are 79/4 at the end of 10 overs, struggling to maintain momentum after a blazing start in the Powerplay. Prabhsimran Singh gave Punjab early impetus with a brisk 33 off 17, but Krunal’s twin strikes dented the top order. Krunal removed both openers and kept things tight, returning figures of 2/11 in his two overs. Romario Shepherd, brought in for Liam Livingstone, made an instant impact by removing skipper Iyer for just 6. Nehal Wadhera’s run-out added further pressure, leaving Josh Inglis to anchor the middle overs. Despite scoring 62 in the Powerplay, Punjab have lost four wickets in just three overs since. The scoring rate has dipped to 8.44, with the last 5 overs yielding just 35 runs. RCB’s bowling rotation and sharp fielding have kept the opposition guessing on a batting-friendly pitch. Punjab will need a strong finish from Stoinis and Inglis to post a challenging total from here.

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