In a nail-biting finish at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a 27-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to secure their qualification for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. The electrifying match, which could have easily swung either way, culminated in a gripping last over with CSK needing 17 runs to assure their own spot in the playoffs.
The spotlight was on Yash Dayal as he began the final over with a full toss, which MS Dhoni rocketed out of the ground over fine leg for a massive 110m six. Showing nerves of steel, Dayal bowled slower and shorter on the next balls, tempting Dhoni to try for another big hit. However, his attempts were thwarted as he skied one to the fielder at square leg. Shardul Thakur then missed a slow bouncer, managing only a scrappy single off the next ball. This left Ravindra Jadeja needing 10 runs off the last two deliveries to keep CSK’s playoff dreams alive. Dayal held his ground and delivered two perfect slower balls, extinguishing CSK’s hopes and steering RCB into the playoffs.
The match was a virtual knockout, with CSK electing to bowl first after winning the toss. The Chinnaswamy pitch is well-known for high-scoring encounters, and it lived up to its reputation. RCB’s openers, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, started strong, taking aggressive shots early on. Kohli produced a standout moment when he charged Tushar Deshpande and sent the ball flying over mid-wicket for six. RCB stood at 31 for 3 when rain interrupted play briefly. When the match resumed, the conditions had changed, making batting more challenging.
CSK’s spinners capitalized on the changed conditions, making the ball grip and turn. The run rate slowed significantly with RCB managing only six runs in two overs post-resumption. Du Plessis countered the spin threat by hitting one straight down the ground off Mahesh Theekshana, breaking the run-scoring shackles. Kohli added to the charge by smashing Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner for sixes. However, Kohli’s aggressive streak ended when Santner got him caught by Daryl Mitchell at long-on in the tenth over.
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Du Plessis continued to anchor the innings, reaching his fifty with two sixes and a four off Jadeja. Rajat Patidar, one of RCB’s dependable performers this season, joined in by hitting an early six off Theekshana, but the tenacious bowling saw du Plessis getting run-out for 54 in an unfortunate dismissal involving a drive by Patidar deflecting off Santner’s hand onto the stumps. At this stage, RCB needed some serious acceleration to reach a formidable total.
The fireworks began with Patidar and Cameron Green, who together amassed a rapid 71 run-partnership in just 28 balls. They catapulted RCB’s score as seven out of the last eight overs produced over 13 runs each. Patidar contributed 41 off 23 balls while Green remained unbeaten with 38 off 17 deliveries. The finishing touches came from Dinesh Karthik (14 off 6) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off 5), propelling RCB to an imposing total of 218, leaving CSK with a target of 201 runs for playoff qualification.
CSK’s chase started on a shaky note as Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed on the very first ball, caught by Yash Dayal off Glenn Maxwell’s bowling. Mitchell Santner soon followed with an edge to mid-off, leaving CSK in a precarious position at 19 for 2. The responsibility then fell on Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane to restore stability. They played a controlled yet aggressive partnership, adding 66 runs off 41 balls, crucially keeping the required run rate in check.
As the innings progressed, Rahane’s dismissal for 33 by du Plessis off Lockie Ferguson offered RCB a chance to tighten the noose around CSK. Despite Ravindra’s half-century and his big hits, a run-out mix-up with Shivam Dube and subsequent wickets pegged CSK back. When Dhoni stepped in with Jadeja, the equation stood at 63 required off four overs. Although Jadeja made significant strides in the chase, hitting Ferguson’s beamers and leg-side deliveries for boundaries, the final over proved insurmountable.
Lockie Ferguson’s penultimate over provided a glimpse of hope for CSK. Jadeja hit a six off the last ball, taking CSK closer to the target and setting up a thrilling finish. But Yash Dayal’s impeccable last-over bowling ensured that RCB emerged victorious, asserting their place in the IPL playoffs in a match that epitomized the excitement and unpredictability of T20 cricket.
The thrilling encounter served as a testament to both teams’ competitive spirit and left cricket fans eagerly anticipating more such scintillating matches in the playoffs.