Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a nerve-racking 27-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, thereby securing their spot in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. The dramatic finish saw CSK needing 17 runs from the final over to qualify for the playoffs. Yash Dayal took the ball for RCB with the fate of both teams hanging in the balance.
Dayal bowled a full toss first up, and CSK skipper MS Dhoni made no mistake, launching it over fine-leg for an enormous 110-meter six. The next delivery was a slower ball, and Dhoni tried to target the square leg boundary but only managed a lofty shot which was caught comfortably in the deep. With the tension mounting, Shardul Thakur faced the next ball, a short and slow delivery that he missed entirely. He managed to edge the following ball for a single, leaving all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja with the daunting task of scoring 10 runs off the last two balls.
Dayal kept his cool, delivering two astute slower balls that Jadeja couldn’t send to the boundary, thus ensuring RCB’s qualification. The match was a fitting spectacle, underscoring the long-standing rivalry between RCB and CSK, especially on a day when both teams’ playoff qualifications were on the line.
The virtual knockout began with CSK winning the toss and opting to bowl first, setting up the scenario that RCB needed to win by at least 18 runs to secure their playoff spot. Traditionally, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been known for high-scoring games, and this match did not deviate from that history. However, there was a phase where RCB’s quest for a 200-plus score seemed uncertain.
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis set the stage early, attacking the CSK bowlers with calculated aggression. A remarkable highlight was Kohli’s flick off Tushar Deshpande that soared over mid-wicket for a six. By the end of three overs, RCB had reached 31 for no loss when a brief rain interruption forced the players off the field. The rain delay was short-lived, and play resumed with no overs lost.
Post-resumption, batting conditions appeared more challenging as CSK deployed their spinners, making the ball grip and turn. In the two overs immediately after the break, RCB could only add six runs. Faf du Plessis eased some of the pressure by hitting Mahesh Theekshana down the ground in the last over of the powerplay. Kohli then took on Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner, smashing them for sixes over mid-wicket.
Kohli’s innings ended when he was caught at long-on by Daryl Mitchell, who showcased impressive awareness to stay within the field of play. Du Plessis continued to attack, reaching his half-century with several boundaries off Jadeja. Rajat Patidar, another in-form RCB batter, contributed with a quick six off Theekshana. However, du Plessis’s innings was cut short for 54 when a drive by Patidar deflected off Santner’s hand and struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
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At 113 for three in 13 overs, RCB needed a final push to reach a competitive total. That push came from a swift partnership between Patidar and Cameron Green, who accumulated 71 runs in just 28 balls. This partnership showcased some exceptional attacking batting, with only one of the last seven overs yielding less than 13 runs. Patidar scored 41 off 23 balls, while Green remained unbeaten on 38 off 17 balls. Cameos from Dinesh Karthik (14 off six balls) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off five balls) further propelled RCB past the 200-run mark, culminating in a final total of 218, meaning CSK needed 201 to qualify.
CSK’s chase had a disastrous start when Ruturaj Gaikwad was caught at short fine-leg off the first ball by Yash Dayal. Glenn Maxwell, surprisingly given the first over, made batting difficult for CSK’s top order. Their second wicket fell in the third over when Dayal induced an edge from Mitchell, caught at mid-off. CSK found themselves reeling at 19 for two.
To steady the innings, Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane formed a vital partnership, mixing caution with aggression to add 66 runs off 41 balls. They kept the required run rate within reach, ensuring CSK remained in the hunt. However, when Lockie Ferguson was introduced into the attack in the ninth over, Rahane mistimed a shot, presenting an easy catch to du Plessis.
This was an opening for RCB to tighten the screws, and they did by halting the boundaries in the subsequent overs. Despite Ravindra’s valiant effort, highlighted by a boundary-laden 12th over to reach his half-century, CSK lost crucial wickets due to rising pressure.
An additional twist came in the 13th over when Shivam Dube was dropped by Mohammad Siraj at long-on, but the reprieve was short-lived as Ravindra was run-out in a mix-up with Dube shortly after. Dube himself perished in the next over, skying a ball to long-on. Santner’s dismissal in the 15th over, caught brilliantly by du Plessis, further swung the momentum in RCB’s favor.
With CSK needing 71 off the last five overs, MS Dhoni joined Jadeja at the crease. The time-out proved pivotal, requiring 63 runs from the last four overs. Jadeja signaled his intentions immediately, smashing a six straight down the ground. Successive overs yielded 13 and 15 runs, bringing CSK within striking distance, mainly due to Jadeja’s aggressive approach.
Ferguson’s penultimate over began with a beamer but was salvaged by incisive bowling, although both Jadeja and Dhoni managed to find boundaries. Jadeja’s six over mid-wicket off the last ball set up a nail-biting finish. However, Yash Dayal’s composed final over, despite Dhoni’s initial six, saw RCB emerge victorious and secure their place in the playoffs, sending the home crowd into jubilant celebrations.