In an electrifying contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs with a dramatic 27-run triumph against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The match, a virtual knockout, came down to the last over, creating a gripping climax that left fans on the edge of their seats.
With CSK requiring 17 runs in the final over to confirm their spot in the playoffs, it was up to RCB’s Yash Dayal to defend the target. The crowd roared with anticipation as the over began. Dayal started with a full toss, and the ever-reliable MS Dhoni, a master of such situations, launched it over fine-leg for a colossal 110-meter six. CSK’s hopes rose with the massive hit, but Dayal was not bowing out yet. His second delivery, a slower one, forced Dhoni to attempt an ambitious shot over square-leg, only to see the ball ascend high into the night sky before descending safely into the hands of a deep fielder.
As tension mounted, Shardul Thakur found himself at the crease facing Dayal. The first ball came in short and slow, forcing a miss from Thakur. The subsequent delivery resulted in an outside edge, collecting a single to short third man. This left Ravindra Jadeja with the daunting task of scoring 10 runs off the remaining two deliveries. However, Dayal remained composed, delivering two perfect slower balls that deprived CSK of the runs they desperately needed and clinched RCB’s passage into the playoffs. It was an apt ending for such a thrill-laden encounter, showcasing the fierce rivalry between these two IPL giants.
The match set the stage dramatically from the toss, where CSK decided to bowl, knowing they had to defeat RCB by 18 runs or more to advance. The Chinnaswamy pitch, known for high scores, presented no surprises today. Nonetheless, RCB’s innings witnessed a fluctuating pace, with early indications suggesting that even a score of 200 might be challenging to attain.
RCB started aggressively, led by their formidable duo, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. A particular highlight was Kohli’s impetuous flick against Tushar Deshpande over mid-wicket, resulting in a spectacular six. Just as the momentum was building, an unexpected rain interruption forced a break in play at the end of the third over, with RCB positioned at 31 for three. Thankfully, the disruption was brief, and the game resumed with no overs deducted.
Upon resumption, the conditions seemed to favor the bowlers as the ball started gripping the pitch. CSK’s spinners capitalized on this, tightening the screws. In two post-rain overs, they restricted RCB to a mere six runs, with several deliveries evading the bat altogether. It was du Plessis who managed to seize back some momentum for RCB, launching a strike down the ground in the powerplay’s final over against Mahesh Theekshana.
Kohli and du Plessis reignited RCB’s charge post the powerplay, tackling the spin challenge posed by Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner. Kohli smashed Jadeja over mid-wicket for six in the ninth over and dispatched Santner similarly in the 10th.
. However, Kohli’s fiery knock ended abruptly when Santner ensnared him with a smart catch by Daryl Mitchell at long-on. Du Plessis pressed on, registering his half-century with a blend of aggressive and strategic plays, including significant strikes against Jadeja.
RCB’s innings received a further boost courtesy of Rajat Patidar. Despite du Plessis’ unfortunate dismissal—run out on 54 after Patidar’s drive accidentally hit the stumps—Patidar partnered with Cameron Green to deliver a thrilling 71-run partnership in just 28 balls, substantially elevating RCB’s total past the 200 mark. Patidar scored 41 off 23, while Green remained unbeaten with 38 off 17. Quick blitzes from Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell further embellished RCB’s score to a daunting 218.
Entering their chase, CSK’s start was anything but ideal. Ruturaj Gaikwad departed first ball, edging to short fine-leg off Dayal, reflecting a turbulent outset akin to RCB’s innings. The situation worsened in the third over as CSK lost their second wicket, Dayal inducing an edge off Mitchell, caught at mid-off. With the score at a nervy 19 for two, CSK were reeling.
However, Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane steadied the ship with a crucial partnership, blending caution with calculated aggression. The duo contributed a valuable 66 off 41 balls, managing the run rate to prevent it from spiraling out of control. Their alliance took CSK to 85 for two by the ninth over when RCB introduced Lockie Ferguson into the attack. Ferguson made an immediate impact as du Plessis caught Rahane, who miscued a high catch for 33.
RCB seized the opportunity to intensify pressure on CSK, and the run flow was gradually stifled. Ravindra’s half-century momentarily alleviated the tension with a series of lusty blows in the 12th over. The contest, however, refused to lose its edge. Siraj’s drop of Shivam Dube offered some respite, which soon faded as Ravindra succumbed to a run-out debacle in collaborating with Dube. The redoubtable Dube’s game ended with a mistimed hit off Ferguson.
With mounting pressure, Santner tried to unsettle the RCB bowlers with a big shot, only for du Plessis to pull off a sensational catch. With CSK needing 71 from the last five overs, the imposing figure of MS Dhoni stepped onto the scene alongside Jadeja. As the game approached its denouement, Jadeja signaled his intent with an emphatic six right after the strategic timeout.
Progressively, CSK seemed to have narrowed the gap, gathering significant runs off the 13th and 14th overs largely due to Jadeja’s explosive batting. Ferguson’s penultimate over proved pivotal; despite a wayward start with a beamer, CSK couldn’t fully capitalize. Both Jadeja and Dhoni managed boundaries, yet the required rate kept the tension alive as Jadeja punctuated the over with an elegant six over mid-wicket.
In the gripping final act, even after Dhoni’s heroics, RCB held firm to carve out a memorable victory that not only secured their playoff spot but also underscored the drama and unpredictability that the IPL has always promised.