Watch: Delirious RCB fans escort team bus after Chinnaswamy classic

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) managed to do what looked almost impossible at the halfway stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as they reached the playoffs after winning their sixth consecutive game. On Saturday, May 18, Faf du Plessis and Co. got the better of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in front of their home fans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to reach the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.

CSK fans have outnumbered the home fans at various stadiums around India, especially in the last couple of years. However, on Saturday, RCB fans came out in numbers to cheer for their favourite team and they got the bragging rights in the Southern Derby. After Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to field first, the equation was straightforward for the hosts. They needed to win by 18 runs or more to overtake Chennai on net run-rate (NRR) and reach the playoffs. In the end, the Bengaluru-based franchise won by 27 runs to secure a spot in the Eliminator and they knocked the defending champions out in the process.

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The official social media handle of RCB posted a video from Queens Road where thousands of euphoric fans escorted the team bus to the hotel after the monumental win.

"This was at 1:30 am tonight… This is what makes it all the more special. We have the best fans in the world and we’re so proud of it," RCB wrote.

Earlier, the illustrious opening duo of du Plessis and Virat Kohli got their team off to a fabulous start, as they added 78 runs inside the first 10 overs on a tricky Chinnaswamy surface. Kohli departed for a 29-ball 47, but Faf continued and registered his fourth half-century for the season. Rajat Patidar (41), Cameron Green (38*), Dinesh Karthik (14), and Glenn Maxwell (16) played excellent cameos to propel RCB to 218/5 in their 20 overs.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Fans hurl abuses at Chennai Super Kings allrounder Shivam Dube after his lacklustre batting against Royal Challengers Bengaluru

In reply, CSK lost their captain, Gaikwad, off the first ball. Rachin Ravindra took his time initially before scoring a mesmerising 61 off 37 deliveries. Daryl Mitchell and Shivam Dube were dismissed cheaply, and the experienced duo of Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni had too much left to do in the end. Yash Dayal held his nerves in the last over, as he conceded just seven runs, defending 17.