Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) etched their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs in a gripping contest, overcoming Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 27 runs at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match reached a dramatic climax in the final over, with CSK requiring 17 runs to seal their playoff qualification. It was Yash Dayal who bore the weight of RCB’s aspirations on his shoulders as he prepared to bowl the last over.
MS Dhoni, CSK’s legendary finisher, sensed an opportunity and launched the first delivery, a full toss, a massive 110-meter into the stands over fine-leg, setting up an atmosphere of intense anticipation. However, Dayal swiftly redeemed himself. The next ball, slower and deceptive, induced a mistimed shot from Dhoni, resulting in a straightforward catch at square-leg. With Shardul Thakur on strike, Dayal bowled a short, slow delivery that Thakur couldn’t capitalize on. A subsequent single placed the onus back on Ravindra Jadeja, who now needed to replicate his heroics from the 2023 final, scoring 10 runs from two balls.
Yet, Dayal remained composed, delivering two masterful slower balls that prevented Jadeja and CSK from achieving their target, thus propelling RCB into the playoffs. The high-stakes encounter highlighted the fierce rivalry between these two cricketing heavyweights, with the match’s outcome having significant tournament repercussions.
The day began with a crucial toss, won by CSK, who decided to field first, setting the challenge for RCB to win by an 18-run margin to advance. Known for being a batting paradise, the Chinnaswamy pitch did not disappoint as both sides anticipated high scores. Despite a challenging middle phase, where scoring 200 seemed ambitious, RCB managed to set a formidable target.
RCB kicked off their innings with a solid opening partnership as Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis went on the offensive early. Kohli’s signature flick off Tushar Deshpande for a six over mid-wicket was a standout moment. However, rain interrupted play just three overs in, with the score at 31 for three. Thankfully, it was a brief disruption, and the match resumed without any overs lost.
Post-rain, CSK’s spinners exploited the altered conditions, with the ball gripping and turning, restricting RCB to a mere six runs in two overs.
. Du Plessis broke the shackles, hitting Mahesh Theekshana straight down the ground in the powerplay’s concluding over. Kohli also reignited his aggression against spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner, although he was eventually dismissed at long-on after a miscued attempt over mid-wicket.
Du Plessis, undeterred, powered through to his half-century, striking two sixes and a four off Jadeja. Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar commenced his charge with a six off Theekshana but was unlucky as a Patidar drive saw du Plessis run out after the ball deflected off Santner’s fingers. At 113 for three, RCB poised themselves for a surge in the slog overs.
Patidar and Cameron Green then ignited RCB’s innings with a blistering 71-run partnership off just 28 balls. Their audacious power hitting ensured that only one of the last seven overs went for fewer than 13 runs, crucially elevating RCB to 218. Green’s unbeaten 38 off 17 deliveries, complemented by quickfire knocks from Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell, pushed the total beyond the 200-mark, obligating CSK to chase 201 to qualify.
In response, CSK’s innings stumbled as Ruturaj Gaikwad fell on the first ball, caught by Dayal at short fine-leg. Glenn Maxwell, aiming for an early strike advantage, managed to edge Mitchell to mid-off in the third over, leaving CSK at a precarious 19 for two.
Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane exhibited a blend of cautious and aggressive stroke play, stitching a 66-run stand to bring CSK back into contention. Their timely boundary hitting ensured the required rate remained within reach. However, Lockie Ferguson’s reintroduction disrupted their rhythm, dismissing Rahane for 33.
As CSK’s chase intensified, RCB seized control, curbing boundaries and applying pressure mid-innings. Ravindra’s spectacular hitting briefly eased the pressure, but a sequence of events, including a run-out, a catch, and a diving one-hander by du Plessis kept the outcome in RCB’s favor.
With CSK needing a daunting 63 from the final four overs, Dhoni joined Jadeja at the crease. Despite Jadeja’s spirited attack, and a nervy penultimate over which yielded 15 runs including beamers and boundary strikes, RCB clung on. Ultimately, Dayal’s composed final over ended in triumph for RCB, securing their advancement and leaving CSK to rue opportunities missed in a match that was breathtaking until the last ball.