RCB won by 8 wickets against GT to stay in the playoff race.
Virat Kohli returned to form at the best time, smashing a half-century to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to an 8-wicket triumph against table-toppers Gujarat Titans in a do-or-die encounter. The victory propelled RCB to fourth place on the points table, allowing them to remain in the playoff competition. They will, however, be dependent on the outcome of the Mumbai Indians vs. As if Rishabh Pant and company were playing for the Delhi Capitals. win that game, they will edge over RCB to secure a place in the play-off.
Kohli’s 73-run knock mesmerized the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday as the team chased a 169-run goal. During his 54-ball stint, the 33-year-old hit two sixes and eight fours. He was confused by Rashid Khan’s delivery since the former RCB captain wanted to conclude the game early to increase his team’s NRR, which may determine their destiny in the playoff race. He hit a six-off Rashid’s delivery to complete his half-century in 33 balls.
It was Kohli’s second 50-plus performance of the season, and curiously, the first was against the Gujarat Titans, where he struck 58 runs off 53 balls. The 33-year-old didn’t appear at his fluent best on that occasion, but on Thursday, he was all pumped up to play a key innings for his club, attacking the bowlers from the outset.
Glenn Maxwell (40*) struck the game-winning runs as RCB triumphed with 8 balls to spare. Dinesh Karthik was also undefeated at 2. Maxwell’s blazing 18-ball hit included two sixes and five fours.
Kohli laid the groundwork for the big triumph with skipper Faf du Plessis, who made 44 runs off 38 balls and played second fiddle in the 115-run opening wicket partnership. He was also dismissed by Rashid, who took the lone wicket for Gujarat Titans in their penultimate league-stage match.
Earlier, GT skipper Hardik Pandya struck a tenacious half-century to help his team reach 168 for five against RCB.
After a spate of poor scores, Hardik warmed up admirably for the play-offs with a well-crafted 62 not out off 47 balls, despite not being at his fluent best.
RCB, requiring a win to continue in the competition, reduced GT to 72 for three in 10 overs, thanks primarily to their fielding prowess, despite Wriddhiman Saha’s (31 off 22) danger in the middle.
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