In a high-octane IPL 2026 encounter at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a dramatic last-ball victory over Mumbai Indians (MI), sending waves of excitement through the stadium. The match, which saw RCB needing two runs off the final delivery, was a nerve-wracking affair as the RCB dugout held its collective breath. However, Rasikh Salam Dar managed to collect two runs, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and triggering wild celebrations.
Celebrations and Controversy
As the winning runs were taken, Virat Kohli erupted in joy, jumping and hugging teammates. RCB players rushed onto the field in a frenzy of celebration. Amid the jubilation, a gesture by RCB all-rounder Tim David caught the attention of fans and cameras alike, as he appeared to show his middle finger while celebrating the win. The incident added a touch of controversy to an otherwise thrilling contest. MI, meanwhile, were eliminated from the tournament with their eighth loss in 11 games.
RCB's Rise to the Top
With this victory, RCB climbed to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, boasting seven wins and four losses from 11 matches, accumulating 14 points with a net run rate of +1.103. The win not only solidified their position in the playoffs race but also dashed MI's hopes of qualifying, as the five-time champions suffered their eighth defeat in 11 games.
Gavaskar's Finalists Prediction
Following RCB's win and MI's elimination, Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar shared his predictions for the season. Speaking on JioStar, Gavaskar expressed confidence in Punjab Kings (PBKS) and RCB as the finalists for IPL 2026.
"I would still back Punjab Kings. Sometimes, a couple of losses can actually help a team reset and avoid complacency. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, have lost games they should have won, and that has been a recurring issue for them this season. Punjab will know how important this stage of the tournament is, and they won't want self-doubt creeping in with another defeat. I still see Punjab Kings and RCB as my finalists for this season," Gavaskar said.
Advice for MI's Future
Gavaskar also offered his thoughts on MI's approach for the remainder of the season, suggesting it might be an opportune time to blood younger players. "In T20 cricket, ups and downs are bound to happen. Once the season ends, that's the right time to properly assess what went wrong. But at this stage, my view is that the senior players have given everything they had. Now, it may be the right opportunity to give younger players a chance in the remaining matches. That will help the franchise understand how these youngsters handle pressure and whether they can justify the faith shown in them," he said.
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