IPL 2021, RCB vs DC as it happened: Bharat, Maxwell produce stunning partnership to take RCB home
Follow live coverage of match No 56 of Indian Premier League 2021 in Dubai.

All the IPL 2021 playoff scenarios
Live updates: IPL 2021 – SRH vs MI
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#IPL2021
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 8, 2021
1️⃣ #DelhiCapitals
2️⃣ #CSK
3️⃣ #RCB
4️⃣ #KKR #MI miss out on Net Run Rate.
A final look at the points table: https://t.co/jZ4CiAYXLR pic.twitter.com/ZFVEi26fRN
Wrap up: Delhi Capitals topped the table (improving on their last two seasons). Chennai Super Kings will face them in the qualifier despite a late blip saw them lose three on the trot. Royal Challengers Bangalore could have quite easily been in the top two but their slip ups cost them eventually, despite a superb last day win against DC. They will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator after Eoin Morgan and Co produced a stunning second half of the season.
#MI win by 42 runs, lose by 128.#IPL2021 #SRHvMI
— Aditya Chaturvedi (@aditya_c19) October 8, 2021
2019: 3️⃣rd place
— JSW Sports (@jswsports) October 8, 2021
2020: 2️⃣nd place
2021: 1️⃣st place
The @DelhiCapitals have climbed the ladder every year and finish at the TOP of the #IPL2021 League table with 20 points on the board! 🔥
Bring on the Playoffs! ⚡️#BetterEveryday #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/M8iW2iu0BA
SRH have gone to 182 in Abu Dhabi, a solid batting effort. Last over coming up there.
#IPL2021 #RCB fans, what great scenes at the end of that match eh? pic.twitter.com/qQMNZ9lwAd
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 8, 2021
The last time some of these champion players are featuring in the same XI for #MI
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 8, 2021
Been an absolute joy watching the pack in 2019-20 seasons. End of a great era!!!#Rohit #Pollard #Malinga #Bumrah #DeKock #Hardik #Krunal #Surya #Ishan #Boult #Chahar #McClenaghan
The partnership that brought it home. 🤜🏻🤛🏻🔥🔥#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2021 #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/n8xjXfrio9
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 8, 2021
Great win, but a massive missed opportunity for RCB: So, about that SRH defeat for RCB... could have quite easily had a place in the top two but nah, scenic route it is. What a team, though! Never not entertaining, in close wins or big defeats.
78* is now Srikar Bharat's highest T20 score. His previous best was 76 which came against Goa in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 2019-20 season.#RCBvsDC | #IPL2021
— Stat Doctor🩺 (@stat_doctor) October 8, 2021
KS BHARAT YOU BEAUTY!!!!! WHAT A FINISH THAT IS! 6️⃣#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2021 #RCBvDC
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 8, 2021
KS Bharat remember the name! @KonaBharat held his nerves right and pulled off an incredible chase! #RCBvsDC @RCBTweets #IPL2021
— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) October 8, 2021
RCB HAVE WON: Avesh Khan bowls a wide and follows that up with a full ball that KS Bharat smashes down the ground for six. RCB have won a thriller! VIRAT KOHLI CAN’T BELIEVE THIS HEIST.
Last over: Wow! Could have been five wides easily, Avesh gets away. Just a wide! 5 off 1.
Superb penultimate ball. After hesitation, they run two. Instead of Maxi on strike for 7 off 1, it is Bharat on strike for 6 off 1.
Last over: Maxwell starts with a four in the final over but Avesh has come back brilliantly. Bharat on strike, plays out a dot ball. RCB need 8 off 2 and their main man is off strike.
Glenn Maxwell before IPL 2021: Six half centuries
Glenn Maxwell in IPL 2021: Six half centuries
Stupendous FIFTY from @Gmaxi_32. This is his 6th in #VIVOIPL 2021 👏👏
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 8, 2021
Live - https://t.co/z5hns662XQ #RCBvDC #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/rz94A6D68N
RCB need 15 off 6. Maxwell, who has had a charmed life in the middle, on strike. Avesh with the ball.
RCB 151/3 after 19 overs: Four singles off the first five balls in the 19th over is already brilliant and Nortje finishes with a dot too even if Bharat missed out a full toss there. Terrific from the South African!
Game-changing
Did You WATCH? Lucky Maxi survives twice in 1 over
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 8, 2021
📹📹 https://t.co/PYgt8tr3IB #VIVOIPL #RCBvDC
RCB 146/3 after 18 overs: Was turning into a decent over from Avesh but a tired Maxwell plays a cheeky ramp over Pant’s head for four, now 19 runs needed off 12 balls.
Rabada in death overs (16-20)
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 8, 2021
IPL 2019: 19 wkts | ER 8.74
IPL 2020: 20 wkts | ER 9.04
IPL 2021: 5 wkts | ER 11.38#RCBvsDC
RCB 134/3 after 17 overs: 15 off the over! Maxwell gets going after that recharging break with a four off Rabada, Bharat smacks a six later on. RCB need 31 runs in 18 balls. It’s been some partnership! Nearly 80 at 10+ RPO.
RCB 119/3 after 16 overs: Minimal risk and 11 runs in that Ripal over. 46 needed off 24. Maxi in fine form after a few reprieves. Needs some attention during the break. A very animated Kaif (who would not have enjoyed DC’s fielding) it seemed too.
RCB 108/3 after 15 overs: 12 runs from Nortje’s over. RCB making a superb push to the target with a solid hand of helping from DC (quite literally)
RCB 96/3 after 14 overs: Tis all happening! A couple of fours for Maxwell in Axar’s over but he should have been out twice over in that Axar over. Shreyas and Ashwin drop catches. Looks like the teams are in the beach so to speak.
RCB 85/3 after 13 overs: A quickfire 30 run stand off 22 balls between Maxi and Bharat. The latter has moved to 45 with six and four off Axar and Rabada’s overs respectively
RCB 66/3 after 11 overs: Only formalities left for the night. Bharat and Maxwell in the middle for RCB, a quiet phase in the run-chase.
#IPL2021
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 8, 2021
Playoffs lineup:
1️⃣ #DelhiCapitals
2️⃣ #CSK
3️⃣ #RCB
4️⃣ #KKR
Qualifier 1: DC vs CSK
Eliminator: RCB vs KKR
Who are you backing for the title? https://t.co/4IfIhpPbBu pic.twitter.com/gnXehAOuAg
AND IT IS OFFICIAL: MI have been knocked out of IPL 2021. SRH end the playoff hopes of MI.
WICKET! AB de Villiers c Shreyas Iyer b Axar Patel 26
A run-a-ball 26 is all ABD can manage tonight. Axar strikes.
RCB 54/2 after 9 overs (Target 165) Was turning into a good over for Ripal, but ABD takes RCB into the timeout with a brutal hit down the ground
RCB 48/2 after 8 overs (Target 165): Momentum for ABD. A four in Rabada’s over and a six off Ashwin... this night could still bear meaning for RCB.
Meanwhile, SRH virtually ended RCB’s top two hopes and MI’s slim qualification hopes in their last two matches. Talk about a strong finish to the season.
RCB 29/2 after 6 overs: A 2-run over from Avesh Khan to finish the powerplay. DC in control.
SRH halfway there to eliminating MI
SIIXXX!! WHAT A STRIKE FROM ABHISHEK! Lovely start, this, from the #Risers openers! #SRH - 31/0 (3) #SRHvMI #OrangeArmy #OrangeOrNothing #IPL2021
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) October 8, 2021
RCB 27/2 after 5 overs: Rabada with a tidy start. Just 4 runs in that over. In a way this is good for RCB, de Villiers gets some solid batting time in the middle. Can he produce a special?
RCB 23/2 after 4 overs: Axar Patel has been so economical for DC but Bharat takes him early doors. A six down the ground followed by 4.
So much talk about AB de Villiers’ batting position. Here he is, at No 4.
Everyone will be watching MI v SRH wanting SRH to get bowled out under 65 while RCB will quietly do it instead
— absy (@absycric) October 8, 2021
Over 2.1 WICKET! Virat Kohli (4) c Kagiso Rabada b Anrich Nortje, 6/2
Virat Kohli survived a big LBW shout in a very good Avesh Khan over and is caught out not long after. RCB’s batting innings off to a horror start.
KOHLI GOES NEXT!
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) October 8, 2021
Anrich Nortje on FIRE!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/Jue8pk2TwH
Over 0.5: WICKET! Devdutt Padikkal (0) c Ravichandran Ashwin b Anrich Nortje, 4/1
Been a tough couple of matches for DDP. A ramp shot gone wrong,
What a batting innings from Mumbai. But if SRH cross 65, Mumbai Indians are eliminated.
84 off 32 for Ishan Kishan
82 off 40 for Suryakumar Yadav.
A strong finish to the season for Mumbai’s Indians.
That full toss from Garton that hit Dhawan on the body has him in a sling and in the dugout. DC will hope that it’s not serious.
The run-chase begins for RCB.
Delhi Capitals post 164/5 in 20 overs: Another innings where RCB finished better than they started. A brilliant opening stand, a strong recovery by Kohli’s men.
Over 19.6: WICKET! Shimron Hetmyer (29) c Virat Kohli b Mohammed Siraj, 164/5
A brilliant running catch made to look easy by Kohli as DC’s innings finishes with a good Siraj over.
DC 158/4 after 19 overs: Just the one wicket for Harshal today and that’s a rarity this tournament. A six in that over too. Strong finish by DC.
(This *other match) MI have posted 200 in 17 overs.
This match will single-handedly get Kishan and Surya feeling good about their game again. Did anyone say pointless game?
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) October 8, 2021
DC 148/4 after 18 overs: What is that decision! A ball near Hetmyer’s chest is not called a no ball by the umpires on field or after replays. He cannot believe that call, neither can we. It does go for four off a misfield.
Surya gets to his fifty with a four back over the bowler’s head. 51 off 24 balls. Classy innings. More good news for Indians (not so much MI) IPL 2021 – SRH vs MI
Over 17.4: WICKET! Shreyas Iyer (18) c Dan Christian b Mohammed Siraj, 143/4
The boundaries dry up, usually results in wickets. Siraj gets Iyer caught at long on. It’s a 18-ball 18 for the former DC Captain.
DC 141/3 after 17 overs: RCB, as they do these days pulling things back nicely after going for runs early. Boundaries have dried last couple of overs.
We’ve pulled it back considerably after that start.
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 8, 2021
Lets finish it strong. 👊🏻#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2021 #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/uybzJPXzh9
MI have lost quick wickets in search for quick runs. But they keep going for it, thats the only choice they have. 167/5 after 14. IPL 2021 – SRH vs MI
DC 128/3 after 15 overs: Huge over for DC from DC. Hetmyer goes hard on Christian for a four and six, brilliant hit down the ground. A four for Iyer too.
Timeout.
DC 112/3 after 14 overs: Chahal finishes 4-0-34-1 and it is another solid night from him. Went for a few boundaries, but picked up the big wicket to dent DC’s progress. Hetmyer survives a runout chance in that over
Over 12.4: WICKET! Rishabh Pant (10) c KS Bharat b Dan Christian, 108/3
DC gets SpiderPant. Clash of studios there. The Aussie allrounder has struggled with the bat but has picked up handy wickets. He gets Pant caught behind.
Over 11.2: WICKET! Prithvi Shaw (48) c George Garton b Yuzvendra Chahal, 101/2
RCB’s main men are delivering. The partnership is double broken. Garton fumbles in the deep but takes it. Shaw is six and out, falls just short of a half century.
Might have come too late for Mumbai Indians, but for Indians, that's a splendid innings from Ishan Kishan. #IPL2021
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 8, 2021
Malik gets Kishan. Edged through to the keeper. Kishan made 84 off 32 balls. What a knock! MI 124/3
Over 10.1: WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan (43) c Dan Christian b Harshal Patel, 88/1
Wicket No 30 for Harshal Patel! A brilliant opening partnership has been broken. And indeed it is another slower ball. DC 95/1 after 11 overs.
DC 88/0 after 10 overs: Harshal Patel, as expected. And Dhawan welcomes him with a six! Just about clears the fielder at square leg. Shaw then takes on Chahal in the next over, a briliant hit down the ground for six. RCB’s best bowlers are under pressure from DC openers. This is a superb start and then some for the table-toppers.
DC 68/0 after 8 overs: Chahal has been great for RCB this leg, but Shaw spoils what would have been a good first over with a four over cover off the last ball. #Shawan making merry.
DC 59/0 after 7 overs: Good over post powerplay Siraj, just 5 runs there. Harshal would come on soon you’d think. Chahal from the other end.
Over in Abu Dhabi, Rohit Sharma has fallen at the end of the powerplay but MI are on track for a huge score. 83/1 after 6 overs. Live updates: IPL 2021 – SRH vs MI
DC 55/0 after 6 overs: A productive Powerplay for #Shawan. Garton goes for 10 in that over, with a four each for the openers.
DC 45/0 after 5 overs: The Maxwell in powerplay experiment gone too long for RCB. Huge over that, with Dhawan scoring the first six and followed by a Shaw four.
Ishan Kishan's fifty in 16 balls today
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 8, 2021
- Fastest for Mumbai Indians in IPL
- Fastest in UAE in IPL
- Joint third fastest in IPL ever#SRHvMI
DC 31/0 after 4 overs: Garton into the attack. And there is a dangerous no ball at Dhawan’s body! Apologies from the bowler. Free hit doesn’t cost much.
Just four overs into the innings and MI have already reached 63. Kishan has his 50 in just 16 balls. Madness. IPL 2021 – SRH vs MI
DC 25/0 after 3 overs: Maxwell has a second over too, and this is tidy one. No boundaries.
#300Watch in Abu Dhabi? #IPL2021
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 8, 2021
DC 20/0 after 2 overs: A couple of boundaries in Siraj’s over. RCB have an issue taking wickets in powerplay, DC have a crack opening pair. It’s started that way here.
#IPL2021 #SRHvMI
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 8, 2021
David Warmer's emotional message to #SRH family. Looks like it is indeed farewell and the end of an era.https://t.co/4IfIhpPbBu pic.twitter.com/xWZLV65bGv
DC 10/0 after 1 over: A boundary for Dhawan over cover to get things going for Delhi.
Maxwell starting proceedings for RCB with #Shawan in the middle.
Elsewhere, an era ends for SRH. Not in the playing XI, Warner bids goodbye today.
Playing XIs
DC: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ripal Patel, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje
RCB: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KS Bharat, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dan Christian, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Md Siraj, Yuzi Chahal
Captain Kohli has won the toss and we will be bowling first. 💪🏻
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 8, 2021
Unchanged team tonight as well. 🙌🏻#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2021 #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/hptwwSzpAH
🚨 NO CHANGES 🚨
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) October 8, 2021
Presenting the DC XI for the final league-stage clash against RCB ❤️💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/3hEsxAszE8
Right then, we will focus on RCB vs DC... a potential playoff match in the coming days. There is pretty much no hope for RCB to go second, so it is just a good test for both these teams. Both are unchanged, meaning both are looking for a strong outing.
TOSS FROM SRH vs MI: So can Rohit and Co post a massive total? They need to win by a 170-run margin to have a chance. Never done before in IPL.
MI to bat first. #WeBelieveInMiracles
— It's A(c)LIVE 👻 🎃 (@_vanillawallah) October 8, 2021
The more (relatively) relevant match for the playoffs is SRH vs MI. Manish Pandey is the captain for SRH. If MI lost the toss, their playoff hopes (mathematical as they are) hang on the toss. It goes Rohit’s way.
Haha! Rohit Sharma with a sheepish "heads!!" and it lands heads. And with that, we don't see a team eliminated (mathematically) from playoff race by toss... 😅#IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/6ZS3sDKgke
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 8, 2021
TOSS: Virat Kohli wins the toss (and Rishabh Pant makes crying noises!) and RCB will be bowling first.
🗣️ "It's important that we don't let our foot off the gas." 👊@KagisoRabada25 calls for no complacency as he has his say on #RCBvDC and our season so far 📊#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 #DCSpecials @OctaFX pic.twitter.com/RqmwUEeptv
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) October 8, 2021
The toss is just 3️⃣0️⃣ mins away. Help Captain Kohli decide what we should do if we win the toss, 12th Man Army. ✅✅#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2021 #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/CLPK7kReuc
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 8, 2021
Hello and welcome to Match 56 of #VIVOIPL wherein @imVkohli led #RCB is all set to take on @RishabhPant17's #DelhiCapitals.#RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/2IiZwf5xSW
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 8, 2021
6.50 pm: Hello and welcome to live coverage of match No 56 of Indian Premier League 2021. Tonight, Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals in Dubai.