In an intense and dramatic encounter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their spot in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs with a thrilling 27-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The match went down to the wire, culminating in the final over where CSK needed 17 runs to secure their own playoff berth. Yash Dayal, charged with the daunting task of bowling the last over, faced off against none other than MS Dhoni. The very first ball of the over, a full toss, was dispatched by Dhoni for a massive 110-meter six over fine-leg, sending the crowd into a frenzy. However, Dhoni’s subsequent attempts to clear the boundary were thwarted as he was caught out attempting another big shot off a slower delivery.
The pressure then mounted on Shardul Thakur, who missed the next ball before managing an edge for a single, bringing Ravindra Jadeja to the crease with 10 runs needed off the final two deliveries. Yash Dayal exhibited composure under pressure, delivering two excellent slower balls that stymied CSK’s final hopes and steered RCB to the playoffs. The match epitomized the spirit of competition between these fierce rivals, as both team’s futures in the tournament hung in the balance on this decisive day.
The high-stakes match commenced with CSK winning the toss and electing to bowl, setting the challenge for RCB to not only score big but to win by 18 runs to ensure their advancement. Known for producing high scores, the Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch did not disappoint, albeit RCB’s road to 200 ran into some challenges.
RCB’s innings kicked off with a powerhouse start as Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis set the tone with aggressive batting in the early overs. A standout moment early on was Kohli’s brisk flick over mid-wicket for a six against Tushar Deshpande, signaling the team’s intent. Yet, at 31 for three after just three overs, rain intervened, briefly halting play. Fortunately, it was a mere passing shower and the match resumed with no reduction in overs.
Upon resumption, batting conditions appeared to have toughened as CSK’s spinners came into play, extracting grip and turn from the pitch. Consequently, RCB managed a mere six runs in the two overs following the break. Breaking the shackles at the end of the powerplay, du Plessis capitalized with a strike down the ground against Mahesh Theekshana, with Kohli soon regaining form against Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner. Despite Kohli’s energetic hitting, his innings was cut short as he was caught by Daryl Mitchell at long-on.
Meanwhile, du Plessis maintained momentum, reaching his half-century with a flurry of sixes and a boundary against Jadeja.
. Rajat Patidar, leveraging his fine form, joined the fray with a sizeable six early in his innings off Theekshana. An unfortunate dismissal for du Plessis followed soon after – a drive deflecting off Santner’s hand hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end, dismissing him for 54. At 113 for three after 13 overs, RCB needed a late innings surge, which was duly delivered.
The partnership of Patidar and Cameron Green was instrumental, adding 71 runs off just 28 balls in a display of rampant batting. Throughout the final seven overs, only one over yielded fewer than 13 runs due to their explosive hitting. Patidar tallied 41 off 23 balls, while Green remained unbeaten on 38 off 17 balls. Cameos from Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell further propelled RCB past the coveted 200-run mark, ending with a formidable 218 on the board, meaning CSK required 201 to qualify.
CSK’s chase commenced dramatically with Ruturaj Gaikwad getting caught at short fine-leg off the first ball, bowled by Maxwell. Yash Dayal continued to wreak havoc, dismissing Daryl Mitchell in the third over. With CSK reeling at 19 for two, Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane mounted a recovery effort, blending caution with aggression, amassing 66 runs from 41 balls. However, Rahane’s departure at 33 marked another turning point as RCB tightened their grip, frustrating CSK’s scoring attempts.
Amidst mounting tension, Ravindra reached his half-century with a flourish of boundaries. Metallic overtones surged later as Shivam Dube was dropped, yet this proved inconsequential as Ravindra was run out in a mix-up shortly after, and Dube followed with his dismissal soon after. Further pressure on CSK saw Mitchell Santner’s attempt to clear mid-off spectacularly thwarted by du Plessis’ one-handed catch.
With 71 needed off the last five overs, CSK’s hopes now rested with MS Dhoni and Jadeja. A brief resurgence followed, with Jadeja striking two sixes, reducing the target considerably. The penultimate over saw umpiring drama unfold with a beamer to begin, and both Jadeja and Dhoni managing to snag boundaries. Yet, as the contest reached its climax, RCB’s cool-headed final over execution ensured that CSK fell short, leaving Dhoni and Jadeja unable to replicate past heroics in this riveting match.