New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) triumphed over Mumbai Indians (MI) in a thrilling last-over finish, successfully chasing down a target of 167 on the final ball of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match. RCB secured their victory by two wickets, with Rasikh Salam completing a double in the final moments. This win has propelled RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, officially eliminating MI and Lucknow Super Giants from playoff contention.
The match was tightly contested, needing 15 runs off the final over bowled by Raj Bawa, who struggled under pressure. He delivered a wide and a no-ball and followed it with another wide, narrowing the chase to 10 runs from four balls. Bawa managed to take the critical wicket of Romario Shepherd, caught at backward point, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar had other plans.
With 10 runs required from the last four deliveries, Bawa bowled another wide, then delivered a full ball, which Bhuvneshwar sent soaring for six over covers. The requirement was reduced to two runs off the last ball, and Rasikh punched one straight down the ground, running for a quick couple. The initial throw aimed at the striker’s end was not in time, allowing Rasikh to make his ground safely. The umpires checked for a potential run-out but confirmed that he was in, sealing RCB’s victory.
Earlier, RCB faced difficulties as Corbin Bosch and Deepak Chahar combined to take six wickets, with Bosch claiming four crucial wickets. His performance in the 13th over shifted the momentum of the game.
Krunal Pandya played a significant role for MI, scoring a vital 73 runs off 46 balls despite battling cramps that hampered his running. He showcased his ability by hitting several boundaries until he was dismissed by Allah Ghazanfar. Though Shepherd was entrusted with leading the chase, it was Rasikh and Bhuvneshwar who ultimately navigated the team to victory.
MI recorded a total of 166/7 in their allotted overs, with Tilak Varma top-scoring with a resilient 57 runs. He formed an essential 82-run partnership with Naman Dhir (47) for the fourth wicket after MI had lost early wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar stood out, finishing with figures of 4/23, which helped restrict MI’s scoring on a challenging pitch known for uneven bounce.
Bhuvneshwar dismantled MI’s top order, dismissing Ryan Rickelton (2), Rohit Sharma (22), and stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav (0), leaving MI reeling at 28/3 early in their innings. Despite the challenges, Varma and Dhir’s partnership displayed resilience, enabling MI to recover to a workable total on a pitch where runs were hard to come by.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli sets an unwanted record of multiple golden ducks following his first-ball dismissal against MI.
