In an electrifying spectacle at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a nail-biting 27-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to secure their entry into the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. This intense match, filled with drama and tension, was decided in the final over, as both teams vied for a coveted playoff spot.
The scenario was set for a thrilling finale, as CSK found themselves needing 17 runs from the last over to keep their playoff hopes alive. RCB’s Yash Dayal took the charge of delivering the crucial over against none other than veteran MS Dhoni. The atmosphere was electric as Dhoni hammered the first full toss delivery for a massive 110-meter six over fine-leg, sending waves of excitement through the crowd.
However, Dayal quickly adapted, delivering a slower ball on the next delivery. Dhoni attempted to clear the field over square-leg but only managed to send the ball skyward, allowing the deep fielder to settle underneath for a straightforward catch. As tension mounted, Shardul Thakur, the next man in, faltered on the following delivery, missing a short, slow ball. He managed an outside edge on the subsequent ball, scampering for a single to short third-man, which left Ravindra Jadeja with the task of conjuring 10 runs off the last two balls to recreate his final-over heroics from the 2023 IPL final.
With immense pressure on his shoulders, Dayal exhibited remarkable composure and precision, delivering two well-executed slower deliveries that denied CSK and left Jadeja unable to bridge the gap. RCB’s pathway to the playoffs was thus secured in a captivating match that reflected the competitive spirit between these long-standing rivals.
In what was effectively a knockout encounter, CSK won the toss and opted to bowl, setting the stage for an enthralling contest. RCB needed to win by a margin of 18 runs to advance. The pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for producing high-scoring games, lived up to its reputation. However, there was a moment midway through RCB’s innings where reaching the 200-run mark seemed a daunting challenge.
RCB’s innings commenced with an explosive start, courtesy of the formidable opening duo of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, who attacked the CSK bowlers from the outset. A standout moment came when Kohli stylishly flicked a delivery from Tushar Deshpande over mid-wicket for a remarkable six. Despite a brief rain interruption after three overs, which halted play temporarily with RCB at 31 for three, the match resumed with full overs intact, to the delight of cricket fans.
The conditions appeared more challenging for batting post-resumption, with CSK’s spinners capitalizing on the gripping and turning surface to stall RCB’s momentum.
. Theekshana and Santner exerted control, limiting RCB to just six runs in the two overs following the break. Nonetheless, du Plessis broke free in the final over of the power play with a powerful six straight down the ground off Theekshana, and Kohli regained his stride, dismantling Jadeja and Santner as the game progressed. Kohli’s aggressive six off Jadeja in the ninth, followed by another against Santner, intensified the tempo, but he was dismissed attempting a further assault, caught by Daryl Mitchell at long-on.
Du Plessis continued the aggression, surging to his half-century with two sixes and a four off Jadeja before falling victim to a freak run-out incident. Patidar added fervor to the innings with his own six, although it was Patidar and Cameron Green’s blistering partnership that truly set the tone for RCB’s innings, propelling the score past the 200-run threshold. Patidar contributed a fiery 41 off 23 balls while Green remained unbeaten on 38 off 17, with invaluable support from Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell, pushing RCB’s total to a formidable 218 runs.
CSK’s response began on a precarious note, losing Ruturaj Gaikwad for a duck with the first ball, caught at short fine-leg off Dayal. Glenn Maxwell opened the bowling for RCB, setting the tone for their defense of the total. CSK’s innings stumbled further at 19 for two when Dayal trapped Mitchell into edging to mid-off, creating early pressure.
Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane steadied the innings with a calculated yet brisk partnership, amassing 66 off 41 balls to keep CSK in the hunt, tactically mixing aggression with caution. However, Rahane’s dismissal on Ferguson’s first delivery in the tenth over, caught by du Plessis for 33, marked a decisive shift.
RCB tightened the screws in the middle overs, stifling the flow of boundaries and increasing pressure on the CSK batters. Although Ravindra temporarily relieved that pressure with a flurry of boundaries, reaching his half-century with adept strokes, a critical mix-up with Shivam Dube led to his run-out for 61. Dube’s struggles ended soon after, as he holed out to long-on against Ferguson.
Facing a steep task of scoring 71 off the last five overs, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja were CSK’s last hopes. Jadeja displayed immediate intent, hammering the first ball after the strategic time-out for six straight over the bowler’s head, and continued the assault in the subsequent overs, collecting 13 and 15 runs respectively with skillful hitting.
With 35 required off the last two overs, Ferguson’s beamer set the tone for a tense penultimate over. Jadeja and Dhoni wrested a few boundaries, and Jadeja’s towering six off the final ball over mid-wicket raised hopes of a miraculous finish, but ultimately, CSK fell short, ensuring RCB’s progression, and bringing another gripping IPL contest to a close amid cheers from the RCB faithful.