Virat Kohli played another match-winning knock in IPL 2025, finishing unbeaten on 73 off 54 balls as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) chased down 158 with ease against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. This victory also marked RCB's fifth away victory in a row, which helped them bounce back from a series of home losses and lifted them to third on the points table. Kohli was awarded the player of the match for his half-century but the former RCB captain was quick to deflect credit. He felt that his teammate Devdutt Padikkal was more deserving. "I thought this award, as much as... I mean, I don't know why I've been given this to be honest," Kohli said during the post match presentation. Padikkal, who has rediscovered form since returning to RCB, smashed 61 off just 35 balls in a 103-run partnership with Kohli. It was Padikkal’s first fifty of the season, and it followed impactful cameos against MI and CSK that set the tone for RCB’s top order. Also Read: 'Come back stronger next year': Dhoni's big admission after CSK's loss to MI While Kohli anchored the innings, Padikkal took the aggressive route to keep the team's run-rate in check. "There have been occasions where I felt like I wanted to accelerate more and more. But I think it was understanding that if Salty doesn't get off to a start, my role then becomes to let the others around me to play the way they do", he said. Kohli also felt that one has to analyse the conditions first and play according to the situation. As an experienced batter, he wants to make sure that the team gets to a good total. "I utilised my experience, yes, to finish the game, but Dev could play like that around me, maybe Rajat [Patidar] can play like that around me... if need be, I can accelerate. There's always a temptation to keep going the same way... But I think when you come to a new place like in Rajasthan, we had to analyse the pitch, go and have a look at the conditions and then try to build up a good partnership," he said. “It feels very balanced”: Kohli credits auction planning With five wins from eight games, RCB are now in the playoff mix. Kohli acknowledged that this year’s team feels different with the squad depth and the auction strategy. "We got the team that we wanted. I think on day one, everyone was panicking, but these guys [team management] were very composed. They knew exactly who they wanted," he said. RCB’s batting strength has been one of the talking points of this IPL 2025. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli are providing a good start and with the likes of Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Jitesh Sharma providing finishing firepower. The addition of Romario Shepherd has further bolstered their ability to clear the ropes even late in the innings. "If you look at the top order in the last few seasons, we had to do bulk of the scoring. It feels very balanced. The guys are very hungry to perform for the team. You can see that intensity in the field... just the way they throw themselves around," he said. RCB, who are currently in the third spot, will return to action on April 24, where they will meet Rajasthan Royals at home.