WATCH: KS Bharat holds his nerve, slams incredible final ball six to lead RCB to win
KS Bharat proved to be the unlikely hero of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) great come-from-behind victory in their last league stage encounter of the IPL 2021 on Friday (October 8) in Dubai versus the Delhi Capitals (DC).
Bharat smashed a fantastic 78 not out from 52 balls after walking into a difficult situation and propelled RCB past DC’s 164/5 in their allotted 20 overs. The RCB wicketkeeper came to his team’s rescue when they were reeling at the start of the run-chase and stitched a match-winning stand with the in-form Glenn Maxwell.
Losing their openers Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Virat Kohli inside the first three overs, RCB found themselves 6/2 when Bharat was joined by the great AB de Villiers. The duo resurrected the innings with a calm and composed stand of 49 runs but it was the partnership that followed which really brought RCB back into the contest.
KS Bharat and Glenn Maxwell grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck and started putting the pressure back onto the DC bowlers with timely boundaries through their unbeaten stand of 111 runs. They ultimately managed to take RCB to the victory post in a thrilling finish.
KS Bharat won the game for RCB with a last-ball six.
KS Bharat finishes RCB-DC game in style; hits Avesh Khan for a final-ball six
The lasting memory of KS Bharat’s brilliant innings will be the gigantic six that he hit to close out the proceedings when RCB required a further five runs to win off the last ball.
Facing DC’s in-form Indian pacer Avesh Khan, Bharat got a low full toss in his radar and swung his willow for a maximum down the ground.
Expecting Avesh to go for the yorker, the right-hander went deep into the crease to try and get underneath the ball with the intent to loft the ball out of the park.
As it happened, Avesh horribly missed his mark and saw the ball sailing over the long-on fielder for a six that RCB desperately needed.
Finisher KS BHARAT
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— ஸ்டீவ் (@KuskiOffl) October 8, 2021
RCB will be feeling mighty pleased that their No.3 rose to the occasion when they needed him the most. With greats like Kohli and De Villiers back in the pavillion, they needed someone to hang in there with Maxwell and pull the game back. KS Bharat not only shouldered a lot of Maxwell’s burden, but dominated at his end and played the innings of his very young IPL career.
Bharat, who made his debut for RCB at the start of the UAE leg, had been a useful contributor even before this game for his team. The cricketer has now struck 182 runs for RCB batting No.3 at an average of 45.50 and strike-rate of 130.00.