Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs with a dramatic 27-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The match culminated in an intense final over, with CSK needing 17 runs to guarantee their own playoff spot. With the crowd on the edge of their seats, Yash Dayal nervously approached his bowling run. His first delivery was a full toss, seized upon by the ever-reliable MS Dhoni who sent it sailing over fine-leg for a monumental 110-meter six. However, Dayal’s subsequent delivery was a slow, well-pitched ball that Dhoni failed to connect with properly, resulting in a catch in the deep.
Shardul Thakur, under immense pressure, missed the third ball of the over, which was short and slow. An outside edge fetched a single to short third man, handing the baton to Ravindra Jadeja who was left with the challenging task of scoring 10 runs off the last two balls. Dayal maintained his composure, delivering two excellent slower balls that successfully contained Jadeja and secured RCB’s place in the playoffs. The match was a fitting testament to the fierce rivalry between these two teams as their fates in the tournament hung in the balance.
CSK opted to field first after winning the toss, adding a layer of complexity to the game’s equation – RCB had to win by a margin of 18 runs to qualify. The Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for its high-scoring games, did not disappoint. However, there was a moment in RCB’s innings when surpassing the 200-run mark seemed uncertain.
From the outset, RCB’s openers, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, took on CSK’s bowlers with aggressive intent. Kohli’s elegant flick off Tushar Deshpande for a six over mid-wicket was an early highlight. But in the third over, with RCB at 31 for three, rain interrupted play. The delay was brief, allowing the match to resume without any overs lost.
The post-rain conditions appeared more challenging for batting. CSK’s spinners exploited the situation, demonstrating turn and grip. RCB managed only six runs in the two overs following the interruption, with the ball frequently beating their bat. Du Plessis finally broke the drought in the last over of the powerplay, hitting Mahesh Theekshana down the ground. Kohli, showing renewed vigor, attacked Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner’s spin, smashing Jadeja for a six over mid-wicket in the ninth over and replicating the feat against Santner in the 10th over. Nevertheless, Kohli’s innings ended when Daryl Mitchell caught him at long-on, thanks to excellent field awareness.
Du Plessis continued his assault, reaching his half-century with two sixes and a four off Jadeja. Rajat Patidar also made his mark early, hitting a six off Theekshana. Du Plessis’s attempt to stretch his inning further was curtailed when a powerful drive from Patidar deflected off Santner in his follow-through, resulting in a run-out. At 113 for three in 13 overs, RCB required a surge in the final overs to post a formidable total.
.
The pivotal partnership for RCB came from Patidar and Cameron Green, who added 71 runs in just 28 balls, showcasing aggressive batting. The final seven overs were particularly productive, with only one over yielding less than 13 runs. Patidar scored 41 off 23 balls while Green remained unbeaten on 38 off 17 balls. Valuable cameos from Dinesh Karthik (14 off six balls) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off five balls) propelled RCB past the 200-run mark, setting CSK a target of 201 to qualify.
CSK’s chase began with a hiccup as Ruturaj Gaikwad was caught at short fine-leg off the first ball, bowled by Glenn Maxwell. The initial overs were challenging for the batters, and CSK lost their second wicket in the third over when Yash Dayal induced an edge from Mitchell, taken at mid-off. At 19 for two, CSK was in a precarious position.
A pivotal partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane followed, the duo putting on 66 runs off 41 balls. They found boundaries consistently, ensuring the required run rate remained manageable. At 85 for two in nine overs, Rahane was dismissed following a catch by du Plessis off Lockie Ferguson’s first ball, scoring 33 runs.
RCB seized this opportunity to exert further pressure. Boundaries became scarce, heightening the tension. In the 12th over, Ravindra temporarily alleviated the pressure with a four and two sixes, completing his half-century.
The drama escalated in the following overs. A crucial moment occurred when Shivam Dube was dropped by Mohammad Siraj at long-on in the 13th over, but Ravindra was soon run-out in a mix-up with Dube, for 61. Dube’s failed attempt to swing the momentum continued as he was caught at long-on off Ferguson. Mitchell Santner’s dismissal in the 15th over, courtesy of a spectacular catch by du Plessis, further compounded CSK’s troubles.
With CSK requiring 71 runs off the last five overs, MS Dhoni joined Jadeja at the crease. The next-over time-out left CSK needing 63 runs from four overs. Jadeja quickly signaled his intent by hitting the first ball after the time-out for a six. CSK closed in on their target with 13 and 15 runs off the following two overs. Jadeja took charge by striking Siraj for a six and a four.
In the penultimate over, needing 35 runs, Ferguson bowled a beamer that Jadeja and Dhoni capitalized on. Both picked up a four, and Jadeja finished the over with a six over mid-wicket, setting up an electrifying final over.
Ultimately, it was RCB’s Yash Dayal who held his nerve, delivering the decisive final over that carried RCB into the playoffs and left CSK hoping for favor in other results. The blend of emotions and high stakes made this match an unforgettable spectacle.