Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed to beat Chennai Super Kings by less than 18 runs to reach the playoffs. The task was daunting, but the RCB players were laser-focused on achieving it. They gave themselves a strong chance by posting a formidable total of 218. While they needed to defend 219 for the win, their qualification depended on restricting CSK to 201 or less. Rising to the occasion, RCB’s spirited bowling attack held CSK to 191, securing a crucial 27-run victory. RCB won six in a row to go through. CSK, the defending champions, were knocked out
Story of the first Powerplay
The Powerplay was a game of two halves. Before the rain interruption, RCB managed to score 31 runs in three overs, with all three overs bowled by the pacers. There was a hint of movement for Tushar Deshpande, but not as much for Shardul Thakur, whose over gave RCB the momentum they needed early in the innings. After the rain came and the game was halted for a while, CSK spinners came into play, and RCB could only score 11 runs in the next three overs. The pitch was turning square, and the RCB openers were taken aback by the amount of turn the CSK spinners extracted from the wicket. It’s not easy to start again after a short break, but both Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis did well to take RCB to 42/0 in the Powerplay.
Big total on a challenging pitch
Kohli and du Plessis, delivered a solid performance in this crucial match, effortlessly taking on the CSK pacers and hitting multiple sixes. Their dominance was evident until rain caused a nearly 30-minute delay. Upon resumption, the pitch had dramatically changed due to the increased moisture, providing assistance to the spinners. Kohli and Du Plessis struggled to find boundaries as the track turned sharply. Despite this, Kohli managed a few flat sweeps and cuts before Mitchell Santner dismissed him. Following his departure, Du Plessis took charge, aggressively targeting Ravindra Jadeja and scoring a rapid half-century before his innings came to an end.
Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green then unleashed an onslaught on the CSK pacers. Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell played cameos towards the end as RCB finished on 218/5.
CSK’s bowlers had a challenging night, with only Maheesh Theekshana and Santner managing to bowl economically, while the rest were heavily punished by the RCB batters.
RCB take early control
Defending a big total, RCB got off to a dream start, with Maxwell taking Ruturaj Gaikwad’s wicket im the first ball of the innings. A over later, the in-form Daryl Mitchell was dismissed while attempting a big shot. CSK were cornered at 19/2. Ajinkya Rahane walked in and steadied the ship with Rachin Ravindra. RCB managed to pick up two key wickets, but Rachin and Rahane looked fearless as they took the attack to the opposition in the final three overs, steering the team to 58/2 by the end of six overs.
Dayal’s last over heroics seal the deal
The 66-run partnership between Rahane and Rachin steadied the CSK innings. Rahane perished in the 10th over, triggering a middle-overs collapse. Rachin, who smashed his first IPL fifty, was involved in a horrible mix-up with Shivam Dube and got out. The latter inexplicably didn’t sacrifice his wicket. Soon after, Dube was dismissed while playing an ugly pull shot. Santner departed close on his heels. MS Dhoni walked in and played a few big shots along with Ravindra Jadeja. Their partnership of 61 off 27 balls brought their team close to the finishing line. But a resilient Yash Dayal held his nerve in the last over, defending 17 runs against the two set batters, to win the game for his team.
As for Dhoni, this could well be his last.