NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru climbed to the top of the IPL 2026 table with a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur, but one of the biggest talking points of the night came from a stunning catch by Manish Pandey.
Pandey's Spectacular Catch
During RCB's chase of 193, Tim David tried to cut a delivery from Kartik Tyagi late in the innings. The ball flew quickly towards backward point, looking certain to race away, before Pandey dived full stretch to his left and somehow completed a one-handed catch inches above the ground. The effort left almost everyone shocked. Tyagi stood with his hands on his head, Virat Kohli watched in disbelief, and even KKR players seemed stunned while celebrating. Later, Kohli was also seen appreciating Pandey's effort as he hugged the fielder. The replay made the catch look even more unbelievable, with Pandey reacting instantly and grabbing the ball cleanly with his weaker hand.
Kohli's Masterclass
Despite Pandey's brilliance in the field, the night belonged to Virat Kohli, who smashed an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls to guide RCB home with five balls remaining. Coming into the match after back-to-back ducks, Kohli bounced back strongly with 11 fours and three sixes while also becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 T20 runs. I just love batting, said Kohli. What an honour to be playing at this level. This is all I have done all my life. I want to make the most of every day. Speaking about handling pressure, he added: There's a reason why people say pressure is a privilege. Good pressure always makes you improve your game.
KKR's Innings and Playoff Hopes
Earlier, KKR posted 192/4 thanks to Angkrish Raghuvanshi's 71 and a late flourish from Rinku Singh. However, the defeat hurt Kolkata's already slim playoff hopes. RCB's win propelled them to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, showcasing their strong form in the tournament. The match in Raipur saw thrilling cricket from both sides, but RCB's clinical chase and Pandey's moment of magic stole the show.
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