Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar admitted that his team was lucky to escape with victory after they almost botched a modest 167-run chase against Mumbai Indians in Raipur on Sunday (May 10). The two-wicket win moved RCB to the top of the points table in a thrilling finish to a high-pressure encounter.
The result came in a thrilling contest on a two-tiered Raipur surface that tested both batting line-ups and went into the final.
“I don’t think we deserved to win the match because with our batting line-up we should easily chase that target,” Patidar said after the match as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “It was a very close game but overall it was a great game and I think Krunal Pandya did it for the team,” he added, praising the all-rounder’s key knock under pressure.
The chase looked in trouble early after RCB slipped to 39/3 in the Powerplay, continuing a worrying trend of struggling to recover from early wickets. However, Krunal Pandya anchored the innings brilliantly with 73 off 46 balls despite dealing with severe cramps, he forged a vital partnership with Jacob Bethell to keep RCB alive in the competition.
RCB EDGE MI TO GO TOP
In the closing stages, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru reduced to eight wickets and needing 11 runs from the last three balls, the game swung dramatically again as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had earlier taken four wickets, stepped up under pressure and smashed a stunning first-ball six in a tense finale to shift the momentum back in RCB’s favor and seal a dramatic victory.
The win not only secured two crucial points for RCB but also officially knocked Mumbai Indians out of the Indian Premier League playoffs. It was a match defined by momentum swings as both sides struggled to gain sustained control on a tricky surface.
RCB’s failure to control the meager target despite their strong batting depth will be a concern for the management, especially before the business end of the tournament. However, their ability to hold their nerve at tight end reflects a better awareness of the game in crunch moments. RCB now return home to face Kolkata Knight Riders on May 13, a match that could further shape the playoff race as KKR remain firmly in contention.
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Published on:
11 May 2026 03:00 IST
