Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed one of the greatest sporting comebacks to progress to the Indian Premier League playoffs, winning six games on the spin.
After spending the vast majority of the IPL season in last place on the table — on Saturday, Faf du Plessis’ side were just one win away from creating history.
With rain forecast around the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the odds were firmly stacked against the hosts with the Chennai Super Kings paying them a visit.
On MS Dhoni’s potential farewell game, the Super Kings needed a win to qualify, too.
However, for them, a washout or narrow defeat would do. It was the Royal Challengers that needed to win by at least 18 runs to qualify.
Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and Chennai would bowl first in front of a packed ground on South Indian derby day.
Three overs in and du Plessis’ and Virat Kohli had started well, but as anticipated, the rain had began to fall.
The stoppage lasted less than an hour and no overs would be lost. After the break, the pitch brought major change — with serious turn on offer for the spinners.
All of the batters chipped in for RCB as they found their feet in the middle and latter overs. 219 was the target, but all CSK needed was 201 to progress to the playoffs.
Rachin Ravindra got the visitors off to solid start with 61 off 37 balls while Ajinkya Rahane looked good for his 33 off 22.
Du Plessis’ took a remarkable catch along the way as the roller coaster of emotions went the distance.
At the back end it would be the ever reliable Ravindra Jadeja alongside Dhoni as the men in yellow eyed another magical finale.
The target of 219 was forgotten, but 201 was firmly within arms reach as Dhoni hit a trademark maximum to kick-off the final over.
Yash Dhayal pulled things back well to dismiss the veteran in the very next ball, though. His final over ended up going for just seven runs — and the miracle was complete.
RCB’s fourth placed finish means they will face either the Rajasthan Royals or the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Wednesday’s eliminator in Ahmedabad.
Pictured above: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Image source: @rcbtweets
