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Kumble impressed with the ball
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Kings XI Punjab were off to a disastrous start when R Vinay Kumar had opener Shaun Marsh (two) caught by Rahul Dravid.
Manvinder Bisla, the other Punjab opener, made 28 before he fell while attempting a risky scoop shot off Anil Kumble and the straighter delivery uprooted the stumps left exposed.
Kumble impressed with the ball yet again with figures of one for 33.
Sangakkara led from the front
Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with a 27-ball 45, which was inclusive of eight boundaries.
He shared 63 runs from 44 balls for the second wicket with opener Manvinder Bisla (28).
The left-hander was out in the 12th over holing out to Jacques Kallis at deep square leg off Dale Steyn.
Steyn impressed with the ball
Dale Steyn was the most impressive bowler for the team from Bangalore.
The South African finished with impressive figures of one for 31, in the process taking the most vital wicket - that of Kumar Sangakkara.
Yuvi finally came good
Yuvraj Singh finally came good.
The left-hander made a 20-ball 36, a knock that contained three fours and two sixes.
Yuvraj, who had been under intense pressure after scoring just 101 runs from his earlier seven games, shared a 65-run stand for fourth wicket - in just 39 balls - with Ravi Bopara (42 not out).
Bopara played a resolute knock
Ravi Bopara, who has been Kings XI Punjab's most prolific run-getter in IPL III, again contributed with an unbeaten 42.
The Englishman's 33-ball knock included only three hits to the fence.
And he was involved in a crucial partnership with Yuvraj Singh.
Virat played a huge innings
Virat Kohli made a 26-ball 42 to help the Bangalore cause.
His knock was inclusive of four hits to the fence and one over it.
He also shared a crucial third-wicket stand with Kevin Pietersen - a partnership that yielded Bangalore 76 runs in just 51 balls.
Pietersen took the Challengers home
Kevin Pietersen scored his maiden Indian Premier League fifty - 66 not out - and played the sheet anchor's role to perfection.
His 44-ball knock was inclusive of seven hits to the fence and a huge one over it.
His 76-run stand for the third wicket with Virat Kohli (42) laid the foundation of the Bangalore win.
The Englishman also shared a whirlwind 40-run fourth wicket stand with Robin Uthappa (22) - which came off just 15 balls and took the visitors home.
And he finished it off in style with a boundary.