RCB vs KKR

12:48 AM local time and IST: With that, we come to the end of the Raipur-leg of the IPL. Now, the action moves to Dharamsala again, as Punjab Kings host Mumbai Indians from 7:30 PM local time and IST. This is Pradeep, Soumarya and Bidipto, taking your leave for now. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Virat Kohli (Player of the Match, 105* off 60 balls): "The celebration wasn't a big one, because it's important to win looking at the points table. I was bothered for not being able to score in the last two games, knowing well that I am capable of doing the job. Pressure is a privilege, and good pressure always helps to focus. A couple of games didn't go my way, but that tells you to improve more. But when you look back, those failures only help you! I was nervous, so, when I got off the mark, I was happy! I didn't try to do anything extravagant, just was clear about which lengths to hit, picking gaps and execute shots to the best of my ability. I was risk-free, keeping the demands of the team at the forefront. I just love batting! Even after all these years! It's an honour to be facing the best in the world. And even in the field, I try to give it my all. One day, it's all going to go. So now, it's about enjoying the challenge and continuing to get better!" 

Rajat Patidar [Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain]: "I'm okay! It was a proper headshot, but, I'm okay! It feels great to be on top! We are taking it one step at a time from here. I think we were very much satisfied at the halfway stage. We managed to restrict them to a score under 200, that was great. We played four seamers looking at the conditions. I don't have words for Virat Kohli, he is just used to doing great things! Two more league games, next up is Dharamsala, should be a good wicket to bat on. Phil Salt should come back soon." 

Devdutt Padikkal [Royal Challengers Bengaluru]: [On RCB’s important victory]“It was a very important win for us. The idea was to keep putting pressure on the other teams in the race, and I’m glad we managed to do that tonight.”[On his own batting form]“I’m feeling good with the bat at the moment. The key for me is to keep this momentum going and continue contributing consistently to the team.”[On batting alongside Virat Kohli]“It’s incredible batting with Virat. He’s done this so many times over the years and chasing totals almost feels second nature to him now. Watching him build an innings, play those shots, and control a chase is always special, and there’s so much to learn from it.”[On Virat Kohli’s mindset despite recent low scores]“At this stage of his career, I don’t think nerves really come into it for him. He’s achieved so much and scored so many runs over the years. You saw him reach 14,000 runs today — that says everything about his consistency and experience.”[On RCB’s push for a top-two finish]“We definitely want to finish in the top two. The focus now is on continuing this winning momentum and carrying it through into the playoffs.”

Ajinkya Rahane [Kolkata Knight Riders captain]: [On whether the team fell short with the bat]“We genuinely felt 190 was a competitive total on that wicket. The batters who spent time in the middle believed it was a challenging surface, especially once the ball got older. After the game, you can always say another 10 or 15 runs might have helped, but overall I thought it was a very solid effort from the batting unit.”[On dropped catches proving costly]“Our fielding has been excellent throughout the tournament, especially in the last few games, so naturally you want to hold on to catches like Virat Kohli’s on a wicket where batting wasn’t straightforward for new players. Those moments made a difference. Virat is always dangerous in a chase, and Devdutt Padikkal has been batting beautifully this season as well. We’ve won key moments in previous matches through our fielding, but sometimes catches do go down. The players are working really hard and these things can happen.”[On conditions during the chase]“We knew the new ball would come onto the bat nicely during the first six overs, but after that the pitch became a little trickier. Our spinners have done really well in the middle overs throughout the tournament and have consistently picked up wickets, but credit to Virat and Padikkal for the partnership they built. That phase really changed the game.”[On Karthik Tyagi’s performance]“Karthik Tyagi has been outstanding for us. He’s working extremely hard, and what stands out most is the clarity he has about his plans and execution. That’s a really positive sign for a young fast bowler.”

12:20 AM local time and IST: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win by 6 wickets with 5 balls to spare! 

Virat Kohli 105* (60) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 1/34 (4)
Angkrish Raghucanshi 71 (46) | Kartik Tyagi - 3/32 (4)

When the chase-master does what he can, nothing stops his team from winning! Virat Kohli made the chase look easy, it has to be said. This wasn't an easy wicket to bat on, but that half-chance not converted by Rovman Powell when Kohli was on 21, proved costly! 

There was another instance, when Cameron Green was the bowler and Devdutt Padikkal the batter. It should have been Vaibhav Arora the catcher at long-leg, and it was rather early on in the innings. But, as it was for Kolkata Knight Riders, he put the catch down! 

Kohli and Padikkal scored 92 runs off 59 balls for the 2nd wicket, and that kind of sealed the deal! Rajat Patidar didn't look at his fluent best today and Tim David could not believe how a not-so-old Manish Pandey could pull off such a spectacular catch at backward point, but Jitesh Sharma must have felt good to hit the winning runs!

Kohli of course, brought up 6000 runs as a T20 opening batter, 14000 runs as a T20 batter, the quickest by any batter by innings, and his 9th century as an IPL batter! The most for any batter in this tournament's history. Those, after registering two ducks, back to back! 

As for KKR, it was an impressive display of fast bowling from both Saurabh Dubey and Kartik Tyagi! Tyagi has now taken his wickets tally to 17 in this edition of the tournament. 

But apart from that, not a lot went KKR's way. Arora will want to forget this match as soon as possible! And, KKR's hopes of making the playoffs, take a bit dent! 

As for RCB, they move to the top of the table with 16 points and sit pretty, with the best net run rate! Also, this is the highest run chase in a T20 game in Raipur. A befitting goodbye to a stadium and a city, by the hosts! The crowd stayed on after the rain, got a full game, and cherished it! 

19.1 Saurabh Dubey to Jitesh Sharma, FOUR! THAT'S IT! Jitesh hits the winning runs, takes RCB home. It's a convincing win for RCB and they back to the top of the table! Banged in short, just outside the off-stump. Jitesh firmly pulled it past mid-wicket and seals the deals.

Saurabh Dubey [2.0-0-17-0] comes back into the attack.

The final over of the innings is upon us! But, there are only 3 runs left to win for RCB. 

18.6 Vaibhav Arora to Jitesh Sharma, slower bumper outside the off-stump. Jitesh early into the pull shot, takes the toe end of the bat into the off-side, picks up a single.

18.5 Vaibhav Arora to Virat Kohli, OH! Misses out Kohli, full toss on the pads. Kohli misses the flick, pings on the pad and they get a single. Rahane reviews this, not really sure why.

UltraEdge confirms spike as the ball passes the inside edge of the bat and KKR burn a review.