Royal Challengers Bangalore qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2021

With the play-off race heating up the aisle, a win meant everything to both the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Punjab Kings to strengthen their position on the IPL 2021 table. Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which hosted a plethora of high-scoring encounters during last year's tournament, has been throwing slow tracks and significantly lower scores this season. Captain Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. The Royal Challengers opted to field an unchanged eleven.

Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal began the proceedings for the men in Red and Gold. The openers laid a solid foundation in a not-so-friendly batting conditions. Losing three wickets in quick succession, brought Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers to the crease. Two of the most creative and dangerous batsmen in T20 cricket proved once why they are so effective in this format of the game. Smashing some breathtaking shots all over the park to complete his third half-century in a row, the Aussie all-rounder made it look like he's been playing here at RCB forever. The knock helped RCB post an above par score.

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal began the run-chase for Punjab. The duo played elegant strokes and cemented a formidable partnership for the opening wicket. Shahbaz Ahmed got the breakthrough dismissing the opposition captain, allowing RCB bowlers to build some pressure. On the other hand, Mayank continued his form and brought up his fifty in the process. Spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal once again proved why he's one of the finest leg-spinners in the white-ball game, picking up three wickets which put the chasing party on their backfoot. 

By then it was a bit too much for the Punjab Kings' lower order to respond. Our bowlers gained momentum with the fall of wickets and kept their nerves to defend the total. In the end, a collective team effort from all three aspects of the game, RCB beat PBKS by 6 runs to ensure a playoff spot. At present, the Royal Challengers sit in third place with 16 points in the IPL 2021 table.

Match summary: RCB - 164/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 57, Devdutt Padikkal 40; Moises Henriques 3/12, Mohammed Shami 3/39). PBKS - 158/6 in 20 overs (Mayank Agarwal 57, KL Rahul 39; Yuzvendra Chahal 3/29, George Garton 1/27, Shahbaz Ahmed 1/29).

Up next, RCB will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad in match 52 of IPL 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, October 6.