The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched their spot in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs with a nerve-wracking 27-run victory over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This high-stakes match culminated in a dramatic last over where CSK needed 17 runs to secure their playoff spot but fell short, highlighted by pivotal moments involving star players MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.
In the final over, CSK’s veteran MS Dhoni faced Yash Dayal, who bowled a full toss on the first ball. Dhoni struck it powerfully over fine-leg, sending the ball 110 meters into the stands for a six. The tension escalated as Dayal’s second ball, a slower delivery, saw Dhoni attempting another big hit over square-leg but only managing to sky it into the hands of a deep fielder. Following this, Shardul Thakur swung and missed at a short, slow ball, then eked out a single with an outside edge, leaving Jadeja with 10 runs needed from two balls. Dayal’s composed bowling denied both CSK and Jadeja, confirming RCB’s place in the playoffs. It was a fitting end to a game that saw two fierce rivals clash with their tournament futures on the line.
CSK began the game by winning the toss and opting to bowl first, knowing they needed an 18-run victory margin to qualify for the playoffs themselves. The famed Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch lived up to its reputation for high scores, though at one point, it seemed RCB might struggle to reach 200.
RCB’s innings started explosively with openers Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis taking the attack to CSK’s bowlers. A standout moment came when Kohli flicked Tushar Deshpande over mid-wicket for a six. After three overs, RCB stood at 31 for three when a sudden downpour interrupted play. The rain delay was brief, and play resumed without any overs being lost. The conditions post-resumption appeared tougher for batting, with CSK deploying their spinners who extracted turn and grip from the surface. RCB managed only six runs in two overs after the restart, with batters struggling to connect.
Du Plessis broke the shackles in the final over of the powerplay, hitting one down the ground off Mahesh Theekshana. Kohli followed suit, striking Ravindra Jadeja for a six over mid-wicket in the ninth over. His aggressive batting continued against Mitchell Santner, another six over mid-wicket off Santner’s bowling, but he was soon caught at long-on by Daryl Mitchell.
. Du Plessis then shifted gears, smashing two sixes and a four off Jadeja to reach his half-century.
RCB’s Rajat Patidar, known for his form, also joined the onslaught with a six off Theekshana. Their partnership was building momentum until an unfortunate run-out saw du Plessis dismissed for 54. A drive from Patidar deflected off Santner’s hand in his follow-through, hitting the stumps at the non-striker’s end. By the end of 13 overs, RCB stood at 113 for three, needing a late surge to push their total past 200.
Patidar and Cameron Green then combined for a crucial 71-run partnership in just 28 balls, displaying aggressive and skillful batting. Their effort ensured that six of the last seven overs produced over 13 runs each, setting up RCB with a strong total. Patidar scored 41 off 23 balls and Green contributed an unbeaten 38 off 17. Brief but impactful innings from Dinesh Karthik (14 off six) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off five) boosted RCB to a score of 218, thereby setting CSK a target of 201 to qualify.
CSK’s chase started dramatically, with Ruturaj Gaikwad caught at short fine-leg on the first ball by Yash Dayal. Glenn Maxwell’s introduction as an opening bowler added to the twists, as early wickets put CSK in a precarious position at 19 for two by the third over. Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane set about rebuilding the innings with a 66-run partnership off 41 balls, mixing caution with calculated aggression.
The partnership kept CSK in the game, but upon Lockie Ferguson’s introduction, Rahane fell, caught by du Plessis after a mistimed shot. With CSK at 85 for three in nine overs, the pressure mounted as boundaries dried up in the ensuing overs. Ravindra’s half-century included critical hits but was overshadowed by a run-out following a mix-up with Shivam Dube, and Dube’s struggle ended soon after he was caught at long-on off Ferguson’s bowling.
CSK needed a heroic finish, and MS Dhoni joined Jadeja with 71 runs required off the last five overs. CSK made significant inroads with Jadeja leading the charge, hitting boundaries and specifically targeting Siraj for a six and four. Jadeja’s quick scoring brought CSK within striking distance, with 35 needed off the final two overs. Ferguson’s penultimate over was costly, including a beamer and two boundaries but ended with Jadeja’s six, setting the stage for the thrilling finale.
Ultimately, Yash Dayal’s nerve held firm as he delivered precise slower balls in the final over, preventing Jadeja and CSK from securing the win, propelling RCB into the playoffs and concluding a memorable contest in the IPL 2024 season.