In a pulsating encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) triumphed over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with a remarkable 27-run victory, securing their place in the playoff stage of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The match reached its crescendo in a nail-biting final over where CSK, chasing a challenging target, needed 17 runs to book their own playoff berth.
As the final over commenced, Yash Dayal shouldered the responsibility for RCB. The seasoned icon MS Dhoni, a stalwart of CSK, faced the first delivery, a full toss, and hammered it into the stands over fine-leg, registering a monstrous 110-meter six that electrified the arena. However, Dayal recalibrated his approach, delivering a slower second ball, which Dhoni attempted to dispatch over square-leg. Unfortunately for CSK, Dhoni could only find the fielder in the deep, who calmly pocketed the catch, tilting the scales back in RCB’s favor.
Shardul Thakur stepped in next, only to miss the subsequent short and sluggish delivery. Nonetheless, his next attempt resulted in a scarce outside edge, offering him a solitary run to short third man. This left the experienced Ravindra Jadeja with the arduous task of scoring 10 runs off the last two deliveries, attempting a repeat of his 2023 final heroics. But Dayal kept his composure, delivering two expertly crafted slower balls, effectively curtailing Jadeja’s efforts and propelling RCB into the playoffs. It was a contest befitting two cricketing titans with their playoff dreams hanging precariously in the balance.
Earlier in the proceedings, CSK had opted to bowl first under the virtual knockout scenario, establishing an equation where RCB had to secure victory by a margin of no less than 18 runs. Renowned for yielding high scores, the Chinnaswamy pitch did not deviate from its reputation. Although RCB faced a potential struggle to amass a score nearing 200 at certain junctions of their innings, the opening duo of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis played vital early innings.
Kohli, making the most of Tushar Deshpande’s offerings, executed a standout flick over mid-wicket, sending the ball soaring for six. Despite the heavens opening up and demanding a brief rain-induced cessation, the festivities resumed without losing any overs, to the delight of cricket aficionados.
Following the pause, batting conditions appeared to have intensified in difficulty. CSK unveiled their spinners, with the ball exhibiting discernible grip and turn. This shift restricted RCB to a mere six runs over the two overs post-resumption, the pitch momentarily getting the better of the batsmen. Breaking the stranglehold in the powerplay’s closing over, du Plessis struck Mahesh Theekshana down the ground.
. Kohli also found his rhythm against the ongoing spin assault, smashing Jadeja over mid-wicket in the ninth over and executing another six off Santner in the tenth before being caught at long-on with a spectacular catch by Daryl Mitchell.
The baton then passed to du Plessis, who registered his half-century courtesy of two sixes and a four off Jadeja, displaying classic power hitting. With Rajat Patidar joining the fray and dispatching Theekshana over long-on early in his innings, RCB gained leverage. However, du Plessis’s stint concluded at 54 due to an unfortunate deflection off Santner’s hand colliding with the stumps.
The stage then belonged to Patidar and Cameron Green, who unleashed a breathtaking assault, catalyzing RCB’s ascension past the 200-mark with a 71-run stand crafted from just 28 deliveries. Fuelled by the partnered offensive, only one of the concluding seven overs fell short of 13 runs. Patidar contributed a brisk 41 off 23 balls, while Green remained undefeated on 38 from 17 balls. Further contributions with quickfire cameos came from Dinesh Karthik (14 off six balls) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off five balls), setting CSK a daunting chase of 201.
The CSK chase embarked dramatically with Ruturaj Gaikwad falling on the first ball, caught by Yash Dayal at short fine-leg, prompting Glenn Maxwell’s entry into the bowling attack. The subsequent overs brought no respite as CSK grappled initially, losing their second wicket in the third over to Dayal, who had Mitchell edge to mid-off.
Amidst the tumult, Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane embarked on a resurrection mission for CSK, mixing caution with strategic aggression. The pair accumulated 66 runs from 41 balls, maintaining a steady flow of boundaries to manage the required run-rate. However, upon the introduction of Lockie Ferguson, the equilibrium teetered. Rahane launched an ambitious shot off Ferguson’s first delivery, only to find himself caught by du Plessis, out for a valiant 33.
As the pressure mounted post-12th over, Ravindra orchestrated a brief reprieve with a four and two sixes, reaching his half-century. However, the excitement peaked with a dramatic turn of events that saw Shivam Dube reprieved by a Mohammad Siraj drop, before Ravindra succumbed to a run-out at 61 in a misunderstanding with Dube.
With mounting pressure and CSK needing 71 off the final five overs, MS Dhoni arrived to support Jadeja. Post time-out, CSK launched a bolster campaign, achieving a crucial six off Jadeja against Siraj, maintaining hopes as they procured substantive scores in the subsequent overs. However, with Dayal’s strategic and composed fightback, RCB emerged victorious, sealing their playoff spot amidst rapturous celebrations from their supporters. The match not only highlighted skill and strategy but also the incredible tension and drama that IPL cricket unfailingly delivers.