NEW DELHI: Skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli delivered crucial performances to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru secure the last playoff spot in the Indian Premier League with a 27-run victory over defending champions Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.
RCB posted a total of 218-5, with Du Plessis scoring 54 and Kohli adding 47, setting a strong foundation in a rain-affected innings at their home ground, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
1/9:Royal Challengers Bengaluru knock out Chennai Super Kings to earn IPL playoffs spot
<p>Royal Challengers Bengaluru knock out Chennai Super Kings to earn IPL playoffs spot</p>AFP
2/9:RCB Playoff Entry
<p>Royal Challengers Bengaluru knocked out defending champions Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs and secured a playoff spot on Saturday.</p>AFP
3/9:Stunning Comeback
<p>Bengaluru achieved an amazing comeback by rising from the bottom of the table and winning six straight games to qualify for the playoffs.</p>AFP
4/9:Yash Dayal
<p>Chennai needed 219 runs for an outright win but managed only 201, falling 10 runs short as Yash Dayal held his nerve in the last over.</p>AFP
5/9:Playoff Picture
<p>The final playoff matchups will be determined after the last round-robin games on Sunday.</p>AFP
6/9:Cameron Green
<p>Bengaluru posted 218-5, led by Faf du Plessis' 54 off 39 balls and Cameron Green's unbeaten 38 off 17.</p>AFP
7/9:Mahendra Singh Dhoni
<p>Chennai's chase ended at 191-7, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni possibly making his last appearance, scoring 25 off 13.</p>AFP
8/9:Key Partnerships
<p>Du Plessis and Virat Kohli opened with 78 off 58 balls, while Rajat Patidar and Green added 71 off 28 balls for the third wicket.</p>AFP
9/9:Ravindra Jadeja
<p>Ravindra Jadeja's unbeaten 42 off 22 and Dhoni's last-over drama were not enough as Chennai crashed out of the playoffs.</p>AFPIn response, CSK managed 191-7. With both teams tied at 14 points, RCB advanced to the playoffs based on a superior run rate, marking their sixth consecutive win.
The 42-year-old MS Dhoni, who was widely expected to retire after leading his team to a record-equalling fifth title last year, had vowed to return for another season following a knee operation. Dhoni had handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, who won the toss and chose to field first in this crucial match for the final playoff spot.
Following CSK's elimination, Dhoni left the field early. A video circulating on social media showed Dhoni, who was at the front of the line to shake hands with RCB players after CSK's loss, leaving the field due to apparent back issues.
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RCB will finish the group stage in the fourth spot with 14 points and a net run rate of 0.459.
RCB's opponent for the Eliminator clash is yet to be decided.
