Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Chennai Super Kings

Skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli hit vital knocks to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru seal the last play-off spot in the Indian Premier League with a 27-run win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings.

Bengaluru posted 218-5 after Du Plessis, who hit 54, and Kohli, who smashed 47, laid the foundations for the total in a rain-hit innings at their home M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Chennai were held to 191-7 in reply, and with both sides level on 14 points, Bengaluru went through to the playoffs on run-rate after a sixth win in a row.

Rachin Ravindra hit 61 before Ravindra Jadeja, who made an unbeaten 42.

Old warhorse M.S. Dhoni (25) gave Bengaluru a scare in a stand of 61 as Chennai fell short of the qualification mark.

The match could be Dhoni’s last IPL outing as a player and the final face-off between him and Kohli —two legends of Indian cricket.

Dhoni, 42, was widely expected to retire after leading the team to a record-equalling fifth title last year but vowed to return for one more season after a knee operation.

Dhoni handed over the captaincy ahead of the season to Ruturaj Gaikwad, who won the toss and elected to field first in the virtual knockout for the final play-off place.

Kohli and Du Plessis started on the offensive before rain halted their charge after the third over, and suddenly, the ball began to turn after play resumed.

Both openers waded through Chennai’s spin charge from Mahesh Theekshana and Mitchell Santner as Kohli hit a couple of sixes.

New Zealand’s Santner, a left-arm spinner, denied Kohli his fifty and got Du Plessis run out through a deflection from his finger at the non-striker’s end.

Rajat Patidar, who hit 41, and Cameron Green, who struck an unbeaten 17-ball 38, then steadied the ship and hit back in a partnership of 71 off 28 balls.

Bengaluru returned strong with the ball, and Glenn Maxwell struck on the first ball to send back Gaikwad for a duck.

Fast bowler Yash Dayal had Daryl Mitchell caught by Kohli to dent their chase.

But Du Plessis pulled off a stunning grab to send back Mitchell Santner.

Jadeja and Dhoni raised hopes of a turnaround as Chennai needed 17 off the last over to qualify, but Dayal kept his calm in dismissing Dhoni and then gave away just one run.

Table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already made the playoffs, beginning with the first qualifier on Tuesday in Ahmedabad.