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Virat Kohli laid the platform, Krunal Pandya finished strongly, and Tim David again stayed unbeaten as Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased 206 to stay in touch with the IPL leaders.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept pace in the IPL finals race with a composed five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans, chasing down 205 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium behind another masterclass from Virat Kohli and a calm finishing hand from Australia's Tim David.
Set 206 to win after Gujarat posted 3,205, Bengaluru reached 5,206 with seven balls to spare, trimming the gap on ladder leaders Punjab to a single point and strengthening their push towards the top of the table.
Kohli set the platform with a commanding 81 from 44 balls, once again anchoring the chase with authority and control. He found a powerful ally in Devdutt Padikkal, who blasted 55 from just 27 deliveries, including six sixes, in a partnership that swung momentum firmly towards Bengaluru.
When the match tightened late, Krunal Pandya and Tim David completed the job.
Needing 33 from the final four-and-a-half overs, Pandya provided the decisive burst, smashing 23 from 12 balls to take the pressure out of the finish. David, usually Bengaluru's designated late-over wrecking ball, played a quieter role, finishing unbeaten on 10 from nine deliveries. Even so, he still produced one moment of familiar damage, slicing a thick outside edge over third man for a fortunate but valuable six that left Kagiso Rabada visibly unimpressed.
David's innings was modest by his standards, but his season numbers remain anything but modest. Across seven knocks, the Australian has scored 183 runs while being dismissed only twice, averaging 91.5 at a strike rate approaching 195. He has already struck 15 sixes and 12 fours from just 94 balls faced, numbers that underline his growing value in Bengaluru's middle order.
Earlier, Sai Sudharsan gave Gujarat a formidable total with a brilliant 100 from 58 balls, a polished century that briefly put the Titans in command. Josh Hazlewood eventually removed him with a sharp caught-and-bowled straight after the milestone, although the Australian quick proved unusually expensive, conceding runs at 10 an over.
For Bengaluru, though, the result mattered most. Stylish when required, steady when needed, and once again finishing strong, they remain firmly in the hunt.
