IPL 2021: Twitter Reacts As Royal Challengers Bangalore Enter Playoffs With Victory Over Punjab Kings

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) sealed a playoff berth with a 6-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday in Sharjah.

Chasing 165, KL Rahul was off to a flyer, with a four and a 101-metre biggie off Mohammed Siraj. Mayank Agarwal attacked from the other end with a maximum against George Garton before both openers pounced on Shahbaz Ahmed. PBKS finished the powerplay at 49/0 keeping the required rate in check.

The partnership grew as both consistently rotated the strike while ticking occasional boundaries. PBKS were 81 without any loss at the 10-over mark. Soon after, Shahbaz accounted for the Punjab captain for 39 runs off 35 balls.

Agarwal raised his fifty off 36 balls but fell to Yuzvendra Chahal, who would also nip out Nicholas Pooran and Sarfaraz Khan. Aiden Markram tried to keep Punjab alive in the game with a couple of fours and a six but holed out in the deep off Garton as PBKS slipped from 91/0 to 127/5.

Shahrukh Khan, Punjab’s hero in their last match versus KKR, smoked Harshal Patel for a maximum and Siraj for a boundary bringing the equation down to 19 needed from the last over. Patel, though, ran him out to kill Punjab’s playoffs dreams.

Earlier, after electing to bat first, Virat Kohli started sedately but Devdutt Padikkal took the attack to PBKS bowlers, stroking them for fours and sixes taking advantage of the field restrictions. Kohli was given two lives by Punjab: skipper KL Rahul missed a stumping before Sarfaraz Khan dropped a catch of the RCB skipper.

RCB ended the powerplay at 55/0 with Padikkal scoring 34. However, the run rate after the powerplay dipped. Kohli tried to up the ante with a slog over mid-wicket off Harpreet Brar.

Moises Henriques, however, bowled the RCB skipper, who departed for 25 runs off 24 balls; Daniel Christian, promoted up in the order to play the pinch-hitter’s role, fell for a golden duck to his compatriot as PBKS pulled the game back. Henriques struck further with the wicket of Padikkal, the opener scoring 40 runs off 38 balls.

Glenn Maxwell came out all guns blazing, smashing both Brar and Bishnoi for a couple of sixes each and would soon bring up his fifty off 29 balls.

AB de Villiers joined in the act, hammering Mohammed Shami for a four and a six in the 17^th over sending ominous signs PBKS’ way. He would then hit Arshdeep for the gigantic six on the first ball of the 19^th, before getting run out by Sarfaraz on the second ball of that over.

Maxwell would fell only in the last over to Shami after scoring 57 runs off 33 balls helping RCB to over 160. Shami would also castle Shahbaz Ahmed and George Garton but RCB had put up enough by then.

Twitter was buzzing with celebration for Virat Kohli’s side entering the playoffs.

IPL 2021: Twitter Reacts As Royal Challengers Bangalore Enter Playoffs With Victory Over Punjab Kings

Great win #RCB keep the juggernaut going #DoddaMathu #RCBvPBKS #IPL2021

— ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ | Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha) October 3, 2021

HUM JEET GAYE! RCB has qualified for the playoffs! ? That’s my team! Outstanding! It’s the year of the RCBian surely. ? #RCBvPBKS

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) October 3, 2021

So @RCBTweets are officially through to the last 4. Punjab should ask themselves how them have blown it time and again.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) October 3, 2021

Excellent game for RCB. Maxwell scoring runs, Chahal taking wickets is always pleasing for any side.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 3, 2021

Congratulations #RCB for qualifying into the Playoffs?

— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) October 3, 2021

RCB have qualified for the playoffs of #IPL2021 with a 6 run win over Punjab Kings #PBKSvsRCB pic.twitter.com/8i3FhXGzQX

— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) October 3, 2021

Solid team this year and even solid performance #rcb #top4

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 3, 2021

RCB qualifies to the playoffs for second time in 2 years. Congratulations @RCBTweets #RCB

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) October 3, 2021

2 consecutive play offs for RCB after 2015 & 2016. Well done, Kohli, Hesson & Co.

Takes some effort to turn it around from an 8th place finish in 2017, 6th place in 2018, and 8th place again in 2019.

— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) October 3, 2021

Remarkable achievement really to keep winning with 10 players and Dan Christian.

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) October 3, 2021

Bug effort from #RCB to stave off Punjab’s strong bid to win. At one stage, looked like this would be easy. Not for the first time, Punjab lost their way towards the end. Chahal’s bowling was the difference. #RCB now in the play-offs, enjoying a fruitful season

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 3, 2021

The turn-around of #RCB in the last 2 years has been remarkable after terrible 2017,2018,2019 then under new management they have been doing fantastic job as qualified into play-offs for the second consecutive year. Well done, Kohli and his army.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 3, 2021

Second season in a row. #RCB are through to the playoffs. And this year they’re looking much better than last year. Race is on for only the fourth place. #IPL2021

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 3, 2021

Virat's decision to bat justified by the team. Congrats #RCB on playoff spot ???

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) October 3, 2021

KL Rahul in last 4 innings vs #RCB:

132*(69)
61*(49)
91*(57)
39(35)

Finally, he was dismissed in IPL against his former franchise.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 3, 2021

Too much left for the end by Punjab once again. Got over the line in the previous match, but should have been more attacking in the beginning . Can’t blame finishers for this.
And for Bangalore, Maxwell has been sensational #RCBvPBKS

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 3, 2021

Also Read: IPL 2021: Watch – Glenn Maxwell Smashes 97m Six Off Ravi Bishnoi, Ball Lands Out Of Sharjah