PepsiCo India, a major food and beverage company, will have invested up to Rs 5,700 crore in India by 2030 to increase the production capacity of its foods division, according to a top company executive.

The majority of the proposed investment, according to Jagrut Kotecha, CEO of PepsiCo India and South Asia, will go into three production plants located in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.

According to Kotecha, we have made investments of about Rs 5,700 crore between 2025 and 2030. He said that the majority of the investment will be used for a concentrates facility in Madhya Pradesh, as well as snack factories in Tamil Nadu and Assam.

“Some of this is going live in the next few months, like the concentrates plant in Madhya Pradesh and the Northeast plant in Assam,” he stated.

He also stated that the company would be able to increase its presence in the snack industry across South India as a result of a recent land acquisition in Tamil Nadu.

Kotecha says that India continues to be a significant growth market for PepsiCo due to rising incomes and a secure investment climate.

He mentioned that we have seen robust double-digit growth for the second year running on the growth front.

According to PepsiCo India and South Asia CFO Savitha Balachandran, the company’s foods business experienced strong expansion of about 11% in 2025, while the drinks industry faced headwinds due to weather-related softness and growing competition.

Nevertheless, she claimed that both areas had a solid performance and that the company had entered 2026 with a robust balance sheet and continuous momentum, including more than Rs 1,600 crore in cash.

The business stated that investment will continue to be a primary focus area, along with fiscal discipline to support long-term expansion.

India has become a world leader in the adoption of artificial intelligence, with 41% of workers utilizing AI almost daily, according to a report published on Tuesday.

According to an ADP Research report, India has the greatest rate of AI usage among workers in all markets examined, with almost 80% of them utilizing it at least twice a week.

Compared to the rest of the world, where just half of the workforce utilizes AI on a weekly basis, Indian use is considerably greater. In terms of daily AI usage, India was followed by Nigeria (39%) and Vietnam (36%).

However, the data also showed an increasing divide between the use of artificial intelligence and perceived productivity.

Thirty percent of daily AI users said they were completely engaged, but compared to non-users, they were four times more likely to feel less productive.

The report stated that as AI assumed mundane jobs, workers found it more difficult to measure and assess their contributions.

Although India is one of the top countries in the adoption of AI in the workplace, increased productivity is not simply assured by widespread adoption. According to Rahul Goyal, managing director of ADP India and Southeast Asia, “Many employees have a silent worry about the future of their careers, and whether AI is making their contribution harder to measure. ”

“In the end,” he said, “the organizations that succeed will be those that invest in making their people more adaptable, not just more efficient. ”

Daily usage of AI is also associated with increased engagement and decreased stress, with 23% of non-users and only 11% of AI users reporting mental stress.

Frequent users also felt their jobs were less at risk of being abolished than less frequent users, suggesting a significant correlation between consistent AI usage and job security.

Indian women are utilizing AI at a higher rate than males, with 44% of women using it almost daily in their jobs as opposed to 40%.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals (RR) successfully chased down the 221-run target set by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Tuesday, thanks to opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 93 and a cool but explosive 53 not out from Dhruv Jurel, with five balls remaining.

As RR’s batters broke apart LSG’s attack in a game that alternated between raw power and measured calm, they climbed to fourth place in the points standings, maintained their playoff hopes, and made sure there were no late stumbles.

RR started aggressively in pursuit of 221. In a 23-run opening over that established the tone for a powerplay that was controlled by the home team, Yashasvi Jaiswal immediately set the tone by carving and pulling Akash Singh for a series of boundaries.

With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was playing another brave innings, joining the assault with clean hitting over cover and mid-wicket, as RR sped to 84/1 in the first eight overs, the pace introduction merely stoked the aggression.

When Jaiswal edged Akash Maharaj Singh to Rishabh Pant for 43 off 23 balls, the harm had already been done. Despite a cautious beginning, Sooryavanshi ruled the middle overs, scoring another quick fifty in a season already notable for record-breaking strike rates. With 10 sixes in his 93 off 38 balls, RR was momentarily in command before Mohsin Khan brought him down against the flow of the game.

With remarkable composure, Jurel anchored the chase even as LSG tried to make up lost ground with disciplined spells from Digvesh Singh Rathi and Mohsin. He skillfully changed strikes, penalized poor pitches, and made sure that the necessary rate never got out of hand. After a few hiccups, RR stabilized thanks to his collaboration with Lhuan-dre Pretorius and later Donovan Ferreira.

But the game was anything but simple. The chase was made tense by a dramatic 16th over that saw Pretorius get run out sharply, while Sooryavanshi missed a century by a whisker and LSG hit at key times.

But RR remained calm and deep. Jurel assumed command and led RR through the closing stanza with controlled aggression as 33 were needed from the previous five overs. Before laying the groundwork for a calm conclusion, Ferreira gave a little but essential hand.

In the 19th over, the game-changing moment occurred. Donovan Ferreira exited the field and bowled a beautiful, commanding six over long-off to Shahbaz Ahmed to finish the chase in style, as RR only needed two runs from the last delivery.

Inconsistency hampered the bowling performance of LSG, with Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav exhibiting signs of talent but struggling to maintain control. Despite the opposition from Digvesh Singh Rathi and Mohsin Khan (1/24), the sum was insufficient to fend off RR’s relentless top order.

Words are inadequate; it’s difficult to describe. This young prodigy’s skill is beyond their ability to describe. At the very least, some of those shots were amazing. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that it was remarkable to consistently hit over the cover boundary, regardless of pace, spin, or when the ball was dug in short.

Justin Langer, the head coach of the LSG, exclaimed, “My gosh, he’s so young. ” It’s a genuine pleasure to see him bat because he’s such an amazing talent. Throughout the entire season, we’ve seen it. He’s the top run scorer. I’ve seen some incredible players during my 35 years of cricket. It’s amazing to witness such behavior from a young man, not just tonight, but throughout the whole series.

Brief scores:
Lucknow Super Giants 220/5 in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 96, Josh Inglis 60; Yash Raj Punja 2-35, Jofra Archer 1-39)
Rajasthan Royals 225/3 in 19.1 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 93, Dhruv Jurel 53, Yashasvi Jaiswal 43; Mohsin Khan 1-31)

The BrahMos missile is a representation of India’s expanding military prowess as the nation makes strides toward becoming a major exporter of weapons.

According to a report released on Monday, India’s “Defence Atmanirbharta” is being strengthened by its growing knowledge of missile production and its greater outreach, notably in the Global South, which is simultaneously improving the country’s standing in the world.

As India aims to establish itself as a major player in the world and increase its diplomatic clout and international alliances, defense exports have become a crucial instrument of its foreign policy, according to a story in India Narrative.

The Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, is optimistic that by 2030, India’s defense exports will be worth 50,000 crore rupees. India wants to increase its influence in areas that are consistent with its strategic and geopolitical interests as its defense market grows, with the Global South playing a more significant role in its strategic perspective.

The article highlighted the growing importance of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile exports as a driver of this trend. Over time, India’s ties with Southeast Asia have evolved, and with the region now viewed as New Delhi’s newest defense market, this relationship has taken on a new dimension.

The BrahMos missile is the primary focus of this defense trade. Because of its speed, precision strike capability, and adaptability, this supersonic cruise missile, which was jointly produced with Russia, has generated interest.

This makes it a potent weapon for land, sea, air, and submarine-based assaults. The missile is capable of hitting targets more than 400 kilometers away and may be launched from land, sea, or airborne platforms, with speeds ranging from Mach 2. 8 to Mach 3, which is much quicker than many traditional cruise missiles utilized by naval forces worldwide, according to the report.

It emphasized the increasing popularity of the missiles as the littoral states of the South China Sea, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, intensified their efforts to strengthen their deterrent capabilities.

The report highlighted China’s aggressive maritime stance in asserting its territorial claims over the South China Sea, where it overlaps with those of other coastal countries, noting that the policy aims to counter such actions.

It also noted that bolstering anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities continues to be one of the most important strategies for improving defensive capabilities in the area.

The decision by Indonesia to purchase the BrahMos missile from India may prove to be one of the most significant coastal defense purchases in Southeast Asia, as the country is about to make its own A2/AD breakthrough.

As a coastline of the South China Sea, Vietnam is another possible buyer of India’s BrahMos missile.

During President To Lam of Vietnam’s trip to India from May 5–7 of this year, India and Vietnam talked about the BrahMos agreement. The report stated that it is a component of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

“The Philippines became India’s first customer of the missile when it received the first batch of the BrahMos missiles in 2024, while India delivered the second batch of the missile in April 2025,” it stated.

To promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is now on a two-nation trip to Vietnam and South Korea to discuss deepening strategic military ties, defence industrial partnerships, and maritime security cooperation.

In a statement on X, Singh stated that he would concentrate on fostering stronger defense industrial alliances, enhancing strategic military cooperation, improving maritime cooperation, and fostering peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific area.

According to a study published on Monday, women users are the most powerful drivers of digital interaction in metropolitan India, spending more time than men in sectors like entertainment, messaging, and e-commerce or quick commerce.

With the largest discrepancies evident in commercial platforms, the joint study conducted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and the VTION consumer behavior analytics platform revealed that women spent more time than men in the majority of categories.

It was emphasized that the average amount of time that women spend on entertainment-related material is 82. 4 minutes each day.

With 86. 3 minutes of daily use, women between the ages of 25 and 34 had the highest consumption in this group.

The 25–34-year-old urban female group in megacities spent an average of 35. 2 minutes each day on e-commerce and quick commerce, whereas urban male users spent 24. 8 minutes, indicating a 42% increase in engagement.

As a new daily digital habit in urban India, AI apps are being adopted at a fast rate, with the category experiencing growth of more than 100% between April 2025 and March 2026. Urban users spent an average of 11. 3 minutes each day using AI applications.

Currently, AI applications are used mostly by people in the 18–34 age range and by wealthier urban families.

The report stated that conversational AI is becoming more and more popular as a way for consumers to learn about brands and products online, with users relying on AI tools before visiting traditional search or e-commerce sites.

Social media is driven by young, mass-market urban India, with an average daily usage of 120 minutes compared to the total category of 97. 9 minutes.

The entertainment industry was dominated by urban consumers over the age of 35, who spent 77 to 78 minutes each day taking in its products.

With urban users spanning higher, middle, and lower income urban household categories, payment app use trends remain fairly constant across income groups.

Data from over 100,000 agreed smartphones, representing more than 407 million urban Indians, was examined in the report.

According to a report released on Monday, increasing rates and currency headwinds will put pressure on markets, with effects on rate-sensitive industries like banking, real estate, and capital-intensive ones.

Systematix Institutional Equities’ report predicted that the rupee may soon break Rs 100 and that official CPI projections would soon reach 6 to 7% as wholesale inflation soared in April.

According to the report, the recent increase in the price of fuel by Rs 3 per liter, which came after the Prime Minister’s call for austerity, is merely the start of a more significant adjustment.

With the fuel and power sector surging to 24. 71 percent, WPI inflation reached an 8. 3 percent in April 2026, a 42-month high, which may be a step prior to the full pass-through of recent retail fuel increases, it stated.

The report noted that the finance ministry’s revised CPI inflation estimate for fiscal year 27 of 5. 5–6% is now greater than the RBI’s own projection of 4. 6%.

According to the study, the fuel price increase only accounted for 7–8% of the total under-recoveries resulting from months of static retail pricing, which supported the argument for additional price increases.

The report continued, stating that monetary policy will be made more complex by slow growth, increased balance-of-payments pressures, and persistent inflation.

Although reservoir levels and Rabi output offer some short-term support to agriculture, rising fertilizer costs, disruptions to the Gulf supply of urea, and the approaching threat of a poor monsoon present increasing challenges.

Rural demand is becoming increasingly vulnerable as a result of rural inflation outstripping urban inflation.

The rise in fuel prices occurs as West Asia becomes more and more tense, and the Strait of Hormuz, a major hub for the world’s energy trade, continues to be blocked.

Furthermore, the chasm sees about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas commerce, and international crude oil prices have increased dramatically due to supply shortages.

In reaction to criticism regarding the rising cost of fuel, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that, despite a significant increase in global crude prices, India has succeeded in controlling the increase in gasoline and diesel prices.

He pointed out that India’s petrol and diesel prices only increased by 3. 2% and 3. 4%, respectively, while several other nations saw fuel price increases ranging from 20% to close to 100%.

At the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets and secured a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs, thanks to Ishan Kishan’s outstanding knock of 70 as a wicketkeeper-batter and Heinrich Klaasen’s score of 47.

After setting a target of 181, SRH finished the chase in 19 overs to secure a crucial win. With this victory, Sunrisers Hyderabad now has 16 points from 13 games, joining Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in earning a spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs.

Abhishek Sharma’s early assault on Mukesh Choudhary marked a promising start to SRH’s chase. But in the third over, the Chennai Super Kings retaliated when Mukesh used a slower delivery to get Travis Head out. The head only scored six runs out of six pitches.

The CSK bowlers maintained a tight line and prevented the SRH hitters from scoring easily after the first wicket fell. With frequent boundaries, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan maintained the score moving even though they took their time to adjust. By the conclusion of the power play, SRH had reached 45/1.

Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for 26 runs off 21 balls by Akeal Hosein in the eighth over, bringing an end to the partnership. He scored three fours and a six during his innings.

After the wicket, Heinrich Klaasen attacked from the other end while Ishan Kishan switched gears and anchored the innings. Klaasen frequently smashed boundaries and sixes against Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad as SRH scored 75/2 in 10 overs.

In the 15th over, Klaasen was eventually out for 47 runs, but not before he kept up his aggressive game after dropping a catch. The South African batsman hit two sixes and six fours during his innings.

In the interim, Kishan reached his half-century in 37 deliveries and maintained a good strike rotation with Nitish Kumar Reddy. The couple maintained firm control of the chase at SRH.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was dismissed by Mukesh Choudhary in the 18th over, but Kishan kept cool and brought the team closer to victory. He struck four boundaries and three sixes in a score of 70 runs off 47 balls.

Sunrisers Hyderabad officially secured their spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs when Smaran Ravichandran concluded the chase with a boundary as they reached the mark with six balls remaining.

Previously, Dewald Brevis led the way with 44 as Chennai Super Kings scored 180/7 in their 20 innings.

CSK began with a bang when Sanju Samson attacked right away after winning the toss. In the first over, he hit two boundaries and a six against Nitish Kumar Reddy. Samson maintained his attack by hitting three straight fours off Praful Hinge in the following over as CSK surged forward during the power play.

Samson was out for a quick 27 off 13 balls, which gave the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins his team’s first breakthrough. Young batter Urvil Patel continued the momentum with two sixes off Cummins, but Sakib Husain clean bowled him for 13 runs.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma stabilized the innings after the first few wickets. In his innings of 32 off 19 balls, Kartik appeared to be in fine form, hitting a number of offensive strokes, including two fours and two sixes. In the tenth over, Cummins terminated the collaboration once more by dismissing Kartik.

Gaikwad, who had trouble scoring easily, was ultimately out for 15 runs when Cummins took his third wicket and also reached 200 T20 wickets.

After that, Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube put the innings back together with a crucial partnership. Dube gave Brevis great support as he played forcefully and took control of the middle overs. In the 18th over, Eshan Malinga got Brevis out after he had scored 44 runs off 27 balls, including two boundaries and four sixes. Dube left for 26 not long after as well. As CSK completed at 180/7, Prashant Veer contributed a few late runs.

Pat Cummins led the way for SRH with statistics of 3/28, while Sakib Husain and Praful Hinge each took two wickets. One wicket was taken by Eshan Malinga.

Brief scores:
Chennai Super Kings 180/7 in 20 overs (Dewald Brevis 44, Sanju Samson 27, Shivam Dube 26; Pat Cummins 3-28, Sakib Hussain 2-34)
Sunrisers Hyderabad 181/5 in 19 overs (Ishan Kishan 70, Heinrich Klassen 47; Mukesh Choudhary 2-36, Akeal Hosein 1-21)

At the invitation of the Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, PM Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Gothenburg on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

In New Delhi on January 27, 2026, the two prime ministers highlighted the significance of the historic India-EU Summit, the new Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, and the Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility.

The MEA statement continued, stating that the Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen India-EU relations.

The Prime Ministers decided to establish a strategic partnership between India and Sweden, taking into consideration their long history of friendship, the broad scope of bilateral collaboration, and the convergence of their strategic interests.

The foundation of the collaboration is made up of four pillars:
i) Strategic Dialogue for Security and Stability;
ii) Next-Generation Economic Partnership;
iii) Trusted Connection and Emerging Technologies
iv) Together Forming the Future: People, Planet, and Resilience.

The statement from the MEA said that an enhanced Joint Action Plan 2026–2030 for putting the Strategic Partnership into practice was authorized.

The heads of the two nations decided to improve communication between the two National Security Advisors and their respective offices, as well as between the political, diplomatic, and military spheres.

The Prime Ministers emphasized the significance of economic security and the security of supply chains. They also stated that they share the aim of doubling the bilateral economic exchange—trade and investment—in five years, partly through the Make in India” and Made with Sweden” programs.

The MEA statement stated that they acknowledged the crucial role of the India-Sweden Business Leaders Round Table (ISBLRT) and decided that a bilateral summit, India–Sweden: Stronger Together – towards 2047, would be held in India in 2027.

Kristersson, the prime minister of Sweden, praised India for the success of the AI Impact Summit.

Along with a sizable delegation from the Swedish AI ecosystem, Prime Minister Modi thanked Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch for taking part.

According to the MEA statement, the prime ministers highlighted shared priorities in emerging technologies and reliable connectivity, as well as the crucial role of digitalization, and committed to increase collaboration in this area, including through the Sweden–India Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor (SITAC).

Additionally, the Prime Ministers concurred that Sweden and India would create an India-Sweden Joint Science and Technology Centre (ISJSTC) and introduce an improved Joint Innovation Partnership 2. 0.

Taking note of India’s role as a leading space nation and the role of Sweden’s Esrange Space Center, the Prime Ministers agreed to explore deeper collaboration on space and geospatial technologies. The MEA statement further stated that they welcomed the partnership between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Swedish Institute for Space Physics on the Indian Venus Orbiter Mission.

The heads of the two nations hailed the Leadership Group for Industry Transition’s (LeadIT) expansion and increasing participation, and they resolved to keep fostering this worldwide movement to expedite the transition of heavy industry. The Prime Ministers requested that LeadIT 3. 0, a new four-year chapter of LeadIT, be launched at COP31.
Additionally, the Prime Ministers emphasized the value of the bilateral Sweden India Industry Transition Partnership (ITP).

To support efficient extraction from low-grade and complex critical mineral deposits, both Prime Ministers Modi and Kristersson promoted collaboration in cutting-edge mining and mineral processing techniques.

At the same time, steps can be taken to encourage the co-development of refining and downstream processing infrastructure in order to increase domestic value addition. The MEA statement predicts that these measures will improve the resilience of supply chains, particularly for vital minerals like rare earths.

The Prime Ministers emphasized the value of connections and committed to encouraging talent acquisition as well as the active promotion of interpersonal interactions, such as the mobility of students and researchers (Study in Sweden) and highly skilled workers (Work in Sweden).

Additionally, the prime ministers emphasized the need to investigate the feasibility of establishing a direct, scheduled air connection between Sweden and India.

In all of its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, the heads of both nations unambiguously and forcefully denounced terrorism and violent extremism. They unequivocally denounced current terrorist acts, such as the one that occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025.

In accordance with international law, the leaders urged a comprehensive and sustained international effort to combat terrorism, as well as the destruction of terrorist bases and infrastructure.

They reaffirmed their dedication to taking strong and coordinated action against terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those mentioned in the UNSC 1267 sanctions regime, as well as their affiliates, proxies, sponsors, supporters, and financiers.

The statement from the MEA stated that they reiterated their strong commitment to keep working aggressively to disrupt terrorist funding sources, including those at the UN and FATF.

The Prime Ministers concurred that a shared dedication to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, sustainable development, and a rules-based international order would continue to guide the growing bilateral cooperation.

The leaders stressed how crucial a functioning multilateral system is, with the United Nations at its center.

Sweden continues to back India’s candidacy for a permanent seat in a reconstituted and enlarged UN Security Council, as reaffirmed by Prime Minister Kristersson of Sweden.

The Prime Ministers emphasized the value of the India-Nordic Partnership and expressed anticipation for the third India-Nordic Summit, which will be held in Oslo, Norway, on May 19, 2026.

Prime Minister Modi invited his Swedish host, Prime Minister Kristersson, and the Swedish people to come to India, expressing gratitude for their kind welcome.

In Rome on Sunday, Jannik Sinner won his sixth straight ATP Masters 1000 title when he beat Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to become the first Italian champion at the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta in 1976. As he continued to climb higher and higher, he became the first Italian champion in the competition.

Having now won all nine ATP Masters 1000 championships, the World No. 1 also became the second player in series history to accomplish the Career Golden Masters, which he did with a decisive victory in one hour and forty-four minutes. Following his victory in Cincinnati in 2018, Djokovic accomplished the feat.

In his on-court interview, Sinner said, “I believe this year was the 50th year since an Italian won, and I am truly, really delighted. ” Although neither of us played flawlessly, there was a lot of tension on both sides, and I am quite pleased. The last two and a half months have been amazing. I always make an effort to place myself in the best possible situation and give my best. Although life is not always easy, I am truly, genuinely content.

Buoyed by a full house, Sinner rebounded from a sluggish start to win his tenth Masters 1000 title and his first in Rome. The Italian slowly established himself with unyielding depth and accuracy from the baseline to seize the championship and win, having withstood an initial onslaught of Ruud aggression. After securing the victory, the 24-year-old lifted his arms up in the air, taking in the ambiance before hugging his colleagues by the court.

After the 24-year-old’s grueling semifinal victory over Daniil Medvedev, which started on Friday and ended on Saturday after a late-night rain break, there have been doubts about the home favorite’s physical fitness going into the final.

During that match, Sinner occasionally seemed exhausted, stooping over in between points, but he played with ease and assurance against Ruud, who had secured his spot in the championship match on Friday with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory against Luciano Darderi.

The work was physically taxing and demanding, but I am extremely pleased, Sinner said. My physical squad, who I’ve had all year, is just as important as the tennis coaches since they’ve been working hard to maintain my body. I’m really thrilled about this.

Sinner’s achievements this year were lauded by Ruud. At the trophy ceremony, Ruud said that he had to congratulate Jannik on winning his first championship here. It is difficult to express what you are doing this year. It’s difficult to put into words what you’re doing as someone who is also competing at the top of tennis.

In your stunning arena at your home Masters 1000, it’s an honor to see you play and share the court with you today. I congratulate you on creating history for yourself, your nation, and your team. It’s amazing to see.

In a high-scoring match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Punjab Kings by 23 runs to become the first team to advance to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs.

Despite Shashank Singh’s valiant fifty, RCB maintained a disciplined bowling attack, led by Rasikh Salam Dar, who took three wickets, to hold the Punjab Kings to 199/8 while defending a huge total of 222/4. RCB’s victory helped them advance to 18 points in 13 games and earn a berth in the playoffs.

Priyansh Arya was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the first over for a duck, giving the Punjab Kings a terrible start to the chase. After only two runs, the seasoned pacer hit once again in his subsequent over when Prabhsimran Singh edged a good-length delivery to first slip.

Impact substitute Rasikh Salam Dar’s dismissal of Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer for one solidified RCB’s dominance even more.

As wickets were falling all around him, Cooper Connolly and Suryansh Shedge mounted a counterattack. At the conclusion of the Power-play, Connolly assaulted Rasikh to help the Punjab Kings rally to 49/3, while Shedge took on Josh Hazlewood with a boundary and a six.

Romario Shepherd broke the deadlock in the eighth over as Connolly kept playing aggressively. Connolly made another attempt at a big shot, but he was taken at deep square leg after hitting 37 runs from 22 pitches, including three sixes and three fours.

After that, Shedge and Marcus Stoinis formed a valuable partnership as they steadily rebuilt the innings with well-placed boundaries and a judicious strike rotation. But when Virat Kohli took a fantastic catch at long-off to get rid of Shedge for 35 off 22 balls, RCB responded.

The Punjab Kings still had a chance, with Stoinis on one end and Shashank Singh mounting a strong offensive on the other. By hitting three sixes in a single over off Suyash Sharma and then hitting further boundaries to keep the necessary run rate under check, Shashank shifted the momentum of the chase.

Punjab Kings needed 77 runs from the last five overs as they reached 146/5 after 15 overs, and Stoinis changed things up by hitting back-to-back boundaries against Rasikh.

As the chase was still ongoing, Shashank maintained his efforts and hit an amazing helicopter shot against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Nevertheless, Hazlewood made a vital breakthrough in the 17th over by catching Stoinis lbw for 37 off 25 deliveries.

In spite of losing his teammate, Shashank persisted in his assault and scored a quick half-century in only 22 balls. However, the necessary rate kept rising because there was not much help from the other side.

Rasikh ultimately secured the game for RCB in the last over by dismissing Shashank, who had just scored 56 off 27 balls with four fours and four sixes, when he was caught at long-on. On the last delivery, Rasikh then grabbed another wicket, bringing the Punjab Kings’ total to 199/8.

Riding on an unbroken 73 from Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli’s 58, RCB had previously scored 222/4. With his rapid 45, Devdutt Padikkal made a significant contribution as well.

When asked to bat first, Kohli and Jacob Bethell needed some time to get used to the environment, and as a result, RCB only managed 17 runs in the first two overs. Harpreet Brar ultimately bowled Bethell for 11 off seven pitches because he had trouble getting the timing right.

After then, Padikkal quickly turned the tables by smashing a six off of his opening ball. Kohli also joined the assault, combining powerful stroke play with skillful strike rotation to maintain a rapid pace on the scoreboard. Their collaboration allowed RCB to score 61/1 at the conclusion of the Power-play.

Yuzvendra Chahal was brought in by the Punjab Kings to try to lower the run rate, but the leg-spinner gave up 21 runs in his first over. Brar struck once again, dismissing Padikkal for an entertaining 45 runs off 25 balls, with four fours and three sixes, after Kohli and Padikkal had scored 76 runs for the second wicket.

In only 31 balls, Kohli reached his half century as he kept up his dominance. After being caught at deep mid-wicket off Chahal, he later fell for 58 off 37 balls.

After then, Venkatesh Iyer assumed command in the final overs. He finished his fifty off 29 balls after a sluggish start and a fantastic pickup. The left-hander continued undefeated, hitting eight fours and four sixes in his 73 off 40 balls. As RCB surpassed the 220-run barrier, Tim David added late support with a rapid 28 off just 12 balls.

Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 222/4 in 20 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 73*, Virat Kohli 58, Devdutt Padikkal 45; Harpreet Brar 2-35, Yuzvendra Chahal 1-42)
Punjab Kings 199/8 in 20 overs (Shashank Singh 56, Cooper Connolly 37, Suryansh Shedge 35; Rasikh Salam Dar 3-36, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-38)