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New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by two wickets in a last-ball thriller to eliminate them from the race for the playoffs in theIndian Premier League (IPL) 2026. With 9 runs to get off the last three balls in the 167-run chase, tail-enders Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam Dar held their nerves to help RCB pull off a nail-biting win at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.

RCB stuttered and scrambled their way to the 167-run target against the Mumbai Indians after a top-order failure. The hosts lost Virat Kohli on a Golden Duck in the first over before Devdutt Padikkal (12) and skipper Rajat Patidar (8) departed cheaply to leave them reeling on 39/3 in the sixth over of the tricky run chase.

Krunal was promoted up the order at no.5, and he joined hands with opener Jacob Bethell to steady the ship. Krunal and Bethell (27) added 55 runs for the fourth wicket to keep RCB in the hunt. The left-arm all-rounder then combined with Jitesh Sharma (18) to add another important stand of 37 runs for the fifth wicket.

Krunal single-handedly led RCB’s chase with his brilliant 73 off 46. Despite battling cramps during his knock, he hit timely boundaries to ensure the required run rate never went out of RCB’s grasp. The left-hander smashed five sixes and 4 fours in his 73-run knock to play a match-winning knock for RCB. After his dismissal, RCB once again found themselves in trouble as Romario Shepherd failed to get going.

Shephered managed only 4 runs off 11 balls before getting dismissed in the final over, leaving the hosts with 9 to get off the last three balls. Debutant Raj Angad Bawa bowled a tight final over, but was hit for a six by Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he failed to defend 9 off the last three deliveries.

With 2 to get on the last ball, Rasikh stole a couple to help RCB get over the line in a thriller and jump to the top spot on the IPL 2026 points table. RCB are now at the top with 14 points in 11 matches so far this season and are only a win away from securing their spot in the playoffs in IPL 2026.