Both skipper KL Rahul ((61*) and the 'Universal Boss' Chris Gayle (53) inched KXIP towards the target put up by Kohli & Co. However, a near-game-changing 20th over by Yuzvendra Chahal (1/35) left Punjab with a requirement of a six in the 'last ball' by Nicholas Pooran to bag the nail-biting match.
Chasing RCB's total of 171/6 wickets, KXIP struggled to get two runs from the last over bowled by Chahal, taking it all the way down to the last ball. The first two were dot balls after which Gayle managed to get off strike.
After another dot ball, Rahul hit the ball straight to cover and ran for the single. Gayle didn't make it to his end and was run out which left new batsman Nicholas Pooran needing to score a run off the last ball for KXIP to avoid a Super Over.
Hitting a six just over long-on to finish the game, Pooran did what was need of the hour.
Before the breathe-taking encounter, KXIP put up a clinical show. The opening partnership of Mayank and Rahul performed once again as they put up 78 runs. Agarwal fell to Chahal after which Gayle joined Rahul and put up 93 runs for the second wicket.
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Choosing to bat first after skipper Kohli won the toss, Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a competitive 171-run total against KXIP with a breezy start with openers Aaron Finch and Devduvtt Padikkal striking a couple of crisp boundaries off seamer Mohammad Shami and spinner Glen Maxwell's bowling in the 6-over powerplays.
Brief scores: RCB 171/6 wkts in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 48, Chris Morris 25; Murugan Ashwin 2/23) lost to KXIP 177/2 wkts in 20 overs (KL Rahul 61 not out, Chrus Gayle 53; Yuzvendra Chahal 1/35) by 8 wickets.