Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis produced a 115-run opening stand as the Royal Challengers Bangalore beat the Gujarat Titans by eight wickets on Thursday.

Kohli, who has three golden ducks in his worst IPL season so far, ended his batting slump with an inspiring 73 off 54 balls while Du Plessis made 44 off 38.

The win keeps Bangalore alive – but dependent on the Delhi Capitals losing to the Mumbai Indians on Saturday – while Gujarat have already sealed a spot in the playoffs.

Bangalore skipper Du Plessis fell to Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, who also took Kohli’s wicket with Bangalore only 23 runs away from victory.

A blitz by Glenn Maxwell, who hit an unbeaten 18-ball 40 with five fours and two sixes after the skipper’s wicket, sealed the win in the 19th over.

Khan finished his four overs on 2-32. He was well supported by Indian rookie spinner R Sai Kishore, who bowled four wicketless but tight overs for 20 runs.

Earlier, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat started badly, losing opener Shubhman Gill for one.

Matthew Wade fell to fellow Australian Maxwell for 16 off 13 balls but Gujarat opener Wriddhiman Saha scored a 22-ball 31 and stabilised the innings with Pandya, who remained unbeaten on a 47-ball 62 with four boundaries and three sixes.

Proteas batsman David Miller (34 off 25 balls) supported Pandya after Saha was run out by Du Plessis and fell to Sri Lankan Wanindu Hasaranga.

Khan propelled Gujarat to 168-5 with his six-ball 19 and hit two sixes and a four.

Josh Hazlewood was Bangalore’s most successful bowler, taking 2-39 in his four overs.

© Agence France-Presse