Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), as a tense contest in Raipur went right down to the final delivery. What had seemed firmly in Mumbai’s control descended into chaos during the closing overs, with momentum swinging wildly between the two sides.
Chasing a steep target, RCB still required 30 runs from the last three overs and looked to Krunal Pandya for inspiration. Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya entrusted young spinner AM Ghazanfar with the crucial 18th over, a decision that immediately triggered high drama.
After starting with a dot ball, the over erupted into confusion on the second delivery. Krunal launched the ball towards wide long-on, where Naman Dhir completed a juggling relay effort near the boundary rope, tossing the ball back towards Tilak Varma to avoid stepping on the cushion. However, Tilak failed to hold onto the relay cleanly, leaving Mumbai’s fielders uncertain whether the ball had crossed the ropes during the exchange.
For several moments, neither the players nor the crowd knew the outcome. Tilak appeared convinced it should count as a six, while Naman insisted he had remained inside the field of play. The third umpire eventually ruled it a legal save and, because Krunal had not attempted a run, the delivery officially remained a dot ball.
Mumbai briefly celebrated, but Krunal quickly swung the momentum again. The experienced all-rounder hammered two towering sixes later in the over, reigniting RCB’s hopes and piling pressure back on the five-time champions.
Ghazanfar, however, responded brilliantly with the final ball of the over. Krunal attempted another big shot towards long-on, only for Tilak Varma to pull off a stunning juggling catch on the ropes. The dismissal ended Krunal’s superb 73 off 46 balls, an innings featuring four boundaries and five sixes.
Although Jasprit Bumrah conceded only 3 runs in the 19th over, RCB held their nerve in the final over against Raj Bawa to seal a thrilling last-ball victory.
The win took RCB to the top of the Indian Premier League points table with 14 points from 11 matches, and MI were knocked out of the playoffs race.
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