Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered another heartbreak as Gujarat Titans knocked Faf Du Plessis' men out of IPL playoff race to extend their IPL title drought. Virat Kohli did everything in his capacity to help RCB to fire into playoffs but the world came down crashing for the batting juggernaut after GT handed them a hefty eight-wicket defeat at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Sunday (May 21).
Not even Kohli's record-seventh IPL century could save RCB from going down to defending champions GT who rode on Shubman Gill's back-to-back tons to cruise towards an emphatic victory.
Yet again RCB came close to IPL title but to only return empty handed as the sixteenth season of the glitzy league was no different for them. After three IPL seasons, this is the first time that RCB failed to seal the playoff berth.
RCB's defeat also paved playoffs path for Mumbai Indians. In a do-or-die clash, RCB required a victory to pip MI and seal playoff spot but Gill's blistering 104 off 52 which was studded with five fours and eight sixes helped GT finish with 20 points. RCB dugout and players were doomed the moment Gill tonked Siraj for a winning six and his century.
RCB dugout was completed devastated which witnessed heartbroken and dejected faces. Kohli too was spotted numb and in utter disbelief. He was also seen throwing a bottle of water on the ground. Siraj, who bowled the last over was seen laying on the ground stock-still before his teammates lifted him up.
Gill was the main aggressor for GT and after Wriddhiman Saha lost his wicket early, he took the game by the scruff of its neck. He was the best batter for his team and combined with Vijay Shankar for a partnership of 123 runs in just 71 balls. Shankar smashes 53 runs off just 35 balls after Gill completed his 50 in just 29 balls. Gill continued to wreak havoc after Shankar's dismissal and dampened Kohli's blistering 101 off 61 with swashbuckling 104 off 52 to seal the game for GT.
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