In a captivating showdown at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) left cricket fans on the edge of their seats with an exhilarating 27-run victory over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This victory secured RCB’s place in the playoffs in dramatic fashion, with the fate of the game hanging in the balance until the very last moment.
As the match reached its climax, CSK needed 17 runs from the final over to guarantee their spot in the playoffs. Yash Dayal was tasked with defending RCB’s total in a high-pressure situation. The over commenced with a full toss delivery that MS Dhoni effortlessly dispatched over fine-leg, sending the ball soaring out of the ground for an impressive 110-meter six. The excitement in the stadium was palpable as Dhoni’s heroics temporarily tilted the scales in favor of CSK.
However, Dayal, undeterred by the pressure, adjusted his approach for the subsequent balls. He delivered a slower delivery on the very next ball. Dhoni attempted to clear square-leg, but the ball only found height, resulting in a comfortable catch for the fielder in the deep. Shardul Thakur, at the crease now, missed the next delivery, a short and slow ball, but then managed an edge for a single, thus leaving Ravindra Jadeja with the daunting task of scoring 10 runs off the last two balls to emulate his heroics from the 2023 final.
In what was a nail-biting finish, Dayal bowled two perfect slower deliveries, keeping his nerve as CSK faltered. This tenacious display ensured RCB’s hard-earned victory and propelled them into the playoffs. The match, a thrilling encounter between long-time rivals, reflected the essence of competitive cricket, especially on a day when the tournament’s dynamics were so delicately poised.
Winning the toss and opting to field first, CSK set the equation: whatever score RCB amassed, they would need to triumph by 18 runs to make the playoffs. Known for yielding big scores, the Chinnaswamy pitch lived up to its reputation on the day, although RCB’s innings saw a phase where reaching 200 seemed uncertain.
RCB’s innings began with a flurry of aggressive strokes, led by the dynamic duo of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. One of the highlights was Kohli’s audacious flick, charging Deshpande to send the ball soaring over mid-wicket for a six. RCB stood at 31 for three after three overs when rain temporarily disrupted play. Fortunately, it was a brief interruption, allowing play to resume without any overs lost.
Post-rain, batting conditions appeared more challenging, prompting CSK to introduce their spinners as the ball displayed tendencies to grip and turn. In the two overs after the interruption, RCB managed only six runs, as the ball spun and deceived the batters. Du Plessis, however, counterattacked in the final over of the powerplay, hitting Theekshana down the ground. Kohli, drawing energy from his partner, took on the spin challenge, dispatching Jadeja for a mid-wicket six in the ninth over and following it up with another against Santner in the 10th, only to be caught at long-on by Mitchell on the next delivery.
Du Plessis, undeterred, continued the charge with two sixes and a four off Jadeja, reaching his half-century. Rajat Patidar joined the party with an early six off Theekshana in his innings. However, du Plessis’ efforts came to a halt at 54 when a drive from Patidar deflected off Santner’s hand onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end, catching du Plessis short of his crease. At 113 for three in 13 overs, RCB found themselves needing a surge in the slog overs.
.
The partnership between Patidar and Cameron Green then propelled RCB past the 200-run mark, adding 71 runs in just 28 balls with some breathtaking stroke play. The final seven overs saw only one score under 13 runs, showcasing the duo’s devastating impact. Patidar contributed 41 off 23 balls, while Green remained unbeaten on an explosive 38 off 17. Short but impactful cameos from Dinesh Karthik (14 off 6 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off 5 balls) ensured RCB finished with a daunting total of 218, setting a target of 201 for CSK to qualify.
CSK began their chase with high drama as Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed first ball, caught at short fine-leg by Dayal, who bowled the opening over. The early overs posed challenges for the CSK batters. With two wickets down for just 19 runs, CSK found themselves in a precarious situation.
Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane then mounted a recovery effort with a critical 66-run partnership off 41 balls. Their mix of caution and aggression maintained CSK within touching distance of the required run rate. As both batters found boundaries regularly, they effectively shared the task of run-scoring. The partnership took CSK to 85 for two at the end of nine overs, setting the stage for Lockie Ferguson’s introduction. Ferguson’s first ball saw Rahane sky one, resulting in a catch by du Plessis for 33.
Sensing an opportunity, RCB intensified their defense in the subsequent overs, applying pressure by stemming the flow of boundaries. However, CSK momentarily relieved the pressure in the 12th over, during which Ravindra struck a four and two sixes, completing his half-century.
The narrative took another turn in the 13th over when a miscommunication led to Ravindra’s run-out for 61. Dube’s struggle ended as he was caught off Ferguson soon after. The pressure on CSK mounted significantly when Santner attempted a bold strike over mid-off in the 15th over, only for du Plessis to demonstrate incredible agility, executing a remarkable one-handed catch.
With CSK requiring 71 runs from the final five overs to qualify, MS Dhoni and Jadeja faced a challenging task upon Dhoni’s arrival at the crease. Consequent to a strategic time-out, CSK had to chase down 63 from the last four overs. Jadeja showcased his intent by smacking the first ball for a six straight down the ground. Thanks to the efforts of Jadeja, and a calculated attack on the bowlers, CSK garnered 13 and 15 runs from the two overs following the time-out.
Jadeja took on Siraj, dispatching him for a six and a four, reducing the target with poise and power. When Ferguson stepped up for the penultimate over, CSK needed 35 runs. His over began with an errant beamer, later allowing both Jadeja and Dhoni to each score a four. Jadeja concluded the over with a stunning six over mid-wicket, setting up an edge-of-the-seat finish.
The final over, however, saw Dayal rise to the occasion, outsmarting CSK’s remaining hopes. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru now march confidently into the playoffs, leaving an indelible mark with their performance and ensuring this match remains a standout fixture in the annals of IPL history.