Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to ride the wave of its exhilarating last-ball win in front of its adopted home crowd at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium when it faces Kolkata Knight Riders here on Wednesday.

In a season with fine margins and unpredictable outcomes, the positive result helped RCB get some breathing space in the playoff race.

A victory against the 2024 winner in the following encounter will be crucial before RCB’s last two games against teams vying for the top spot (Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad).

Despite the mediocre batting effort against Mumbai Indians, there were plenty of positives the defending champion could take home. The significant one being Romario Shepherd’s spell (3-0-18-1) through the middle overs. Before the last game, as the team’s sixth bowling option, the West Indian had been leaking runs at 12.94 and had managed only five wickets in nine matches.

The Knight Riders have been quietly making up places in the shadow of those in the playoff struggle. After all looked lost following a six-game winless start to the season, the side has conjured up four back-to-back wins to remain in the fight. A main characteristic of these victories has been a concerted bowling effort in comparatively low-scoring games, allowing the batting core to get the job done despite its imperfections. The return to form of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who has eight wickets in the last four games at an economy rate of 6.93, has been vital in this run. The side will hope the TN spinner can shake off a leg injury he has been carrying over the last couple of games.

Can RCB inch closer to that coveted playoff spot? Or will KKR further its winning run and stake a claim? Another noisy night in the 65,000-capacity stadium will help us find out.