KATHMANDU: Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a place in the Indian Premier League playoffs with a thrilling 27-run victory over defending champions Chennai Super Kings. Despite a slow start to the season, Bangalore's remarkable comeback saw them win six consecutive matches, propelling them from the bottom of the table to the fourth and final playoff spot, albeit by a narrow margin.
Chennai required 219 runs for a direct victory but needed only 201 to secure a playoff berth. However, their chase fell short by 10 runs, with left-arm pacer Yash Dayal delivering a nerve-wracking final over to seal Bangalore's place in the playoffs based on net run rate. This outcome left three other teams with identical 7-7 win-loss records vying for the remaining playoff spot.
The match saw Bangalore post a formidable total of 218-5, driven by captain Faf du Plessis' 54 off 39 balls and an unbeaten 38 off 17 from Cameron Green. Opening with a partnership of 78 runs off 58 balls, du Plessis and Virat Kohli set the stage for Bangalore's innings. Kohli contributed 47 off 29 deliveries, while du Plessis added three fours and three sixes to his tally before being dismissed.
Rajat Patidar's quickfire 41 off 23 balls, accompanied by Green's explosive innings, propelled Bangalore to a commanding position. The duo shared a 71-run partnership off just 28 balls, smashing five fours and seven sixes between them. Contributions from Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell further bolstered Bangalore's total, adding gloss to their innings.
Chennai's chase got off to a shaky start, losing skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for a golden duck. Despite a valiant effort from Rachin Ravindra, who scored 61 off 37 balls, and contributions from Ajinkya Rahane, the team struggled to maintain momentum. Ravindra's dismissal, followed by the loss of Shivam Dube, left Chennai's playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Despite a late surge from Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Chennai fell short of the required total, ultimately crashing out of the tournament.
