Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma were visibly emotional as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs after defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with a thrilling 27-run victory on Saturday. The dramatic win, sealed by a brilliant final over from Yash Dayal, marked RCB's sixth consecutive win—a comeback few had predicted. Kohli's emotions spilled over as the match concluded, with his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, sharing the moment from the stands.
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Needing a win and a superior net run rate to qualify, RCB produced a complete performance. Batting first, RCB finished on 218 for 5. Captain Faf du Plessis led from the front, top-scoring with 54. Virat Kohli (47), Rajat Patidar (41), and Cameron Green (38*) also played crucial knocks for RCB's high-scoring total.
CSK needed at least 201 runs to qualify. However, they fell short, finishing on 191 for 7 in 20 overs. With 17 runs needed in the last over to qualify, MS Dhoni hit Yash Dayal's first ball for a six, reducing the equation to 11 runs from 5 balls. However, the left-arm pacer bounced back, dismissing Dhoni on the very next ball before conceding only a single in the following four deliveries to propel RCB to the playoffs.
RCB's journey in IPL 2024 has been a rollercoaster ride. Their playoff hopes seemed bleak after losing seven of their first eight matches. However, the Bengaluru-based franchise staged a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive games, including the crucial win over CSK, to secure a playoff spot.
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