Despite a dismal start to the IPL 2024 season, where Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) lost seven of their first eight matches, they managed an impressive turnaround, winning their next six games. The most crucial victory came on Saturday night when they defeated the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to secure a spot in the playoffs.
After their initial setbacks, many had written off RCB. However, their remarkable comeback silenced critics. The pivotal win against CSK not only secured their playoff berth but also became a testament to their resilience. Following this win, a video of Virat Kohli discussing the importance of believing in even a “one percent chance” went viral. In the video, Kohli told a group of youngsters, “There is a one percent chance, and sometimes that chance is good enough. But what matters is what you think about that one percent. Are you willing to give absolutely everything that you have to make that one into 10 and then grow that 10 into 30? Eventually something magical might come out of it.”
These prophetic words mirrored RCB’s journey to the playoffs, with Kohli playing a key role in their resurgence. He continued to be the league’s top run-scorer this season, amassing 708 runs in 14 innings, including a crucial 29-ball 47 in RCB’s 27-run victory over CSK on Saturday.
At the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, RCB posted a formidable 218 for 5, led by skipper Faf du Plessis’s 39-ball 54. They then restricted CSK to 191 for 7, securing a 27-run win. Notably, CSK could have qualified for the playoffs despite the loss if they had reached the 201-run mark. However, RCB paceman Yash Dayal (2/43) held his nerve in the final over, ensuring the five-time champions fell short.
This victory brought RCB’s points tally to 14, the same as CSK, but with a superior net run-rate, RCB leapfrogged Chennai to finish fourth. The top four teams at the end of the league stage—Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and now RCB—qualify for the playoffs.
