Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore made their way to the elusive play-off spots after Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by five wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
RCB were already in the fourth position with 16 points before the match but their qualification hopes hung in the balance as Delhi stood on 14 points with a superior net run rate and a win against Mumbai would take them through instead of RCB.
Five-time champions Mumbai, despite having lost their qualification hopes, had their say on which team should qualify.
After being sent into bat, DC managed 159-7. MI fast-bowler Jasprit Bumrah was a thorn in their path as he returned with 3-25, sending back Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, and Rovman Powell.
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In reply, opener Ishan Kishan’s 48 runs off 35 deliveries helped steer the MI ship despite losing skipper Rohit Sharma early for two runs. But it was Singaporean batter Tim David’s blistering knock that made the difference in the end. He smashed 34 off just 11 deliveries, hitting two fours and four sixes.
Batter Ramandeep Singh hit the winning runs, giving MI their fourth victory of the season and aiding RCB to secure their third consecutive IPL play-off.
Former RCB skipper Virat Kohli expressed his gratitude and revealed that they had watched the match live on TV.
"It was unbelievable, the emotions in the changing room were unbelievable," Kohli said after he and the rest of the team watched the Mumbai-Delhi game on TV.
"Thank you Mumbai, will remember this for a long time," he said.
Current skipper Faf Du Plessis said that his team had played their best game in the last match and that they needed Mumbai to do them a favour for them to go through.
Du Plessis said, "The last game we played we felt almost like we played our best game of cricket of this campaign so far and that's how you want to enter those knockout stages.
"We needed someone to do us a favour in Mumbai so we're really thankful for that but obviously, now the work starts again."
Claiming the fourth spot in the league standings, RCB joined Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants in the playoffs.
RCB will face LSG in the Eliminator at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday.
