In a dramatic night in Bengaluru, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 27 runs to secure their sixth consecutive win in IPL 2024 and make the playoffs, knocking CSK out of the tournament. Virat Kohli was nearly in tears, and Faf du Plessis could not contain his joy, while MS Dhoni was notably absent after the game.
RCB, needing to win by at least 18 runs to advance, posted a formidable 218 for 5 after being asked to bat first. Kohli and du Plessis provided strong starts, scoring 47 and 54 respectively, supported by Rajat Patidar’s 41 and Cameron Green’s 38. CSK, chasing the target, came close but ultimately fell short, finishing at 191 for 7.
In a high-pressure finish, Yash Dayal’s crucial final over denied CSK the win. Ravindra Jadeja, who needed 10 off the last two balls, couldn’t deliver, despite hitting a six earlier in the over. Dayal had previously dismissed MS Dhoni, who hit a massive six but was caught off a slower ball.
RCB’s early success with the ball saw Glenn Maxwell dismiss Ruturaj Gaikwad first ball, and Dayal soon had Daryl Mitchell out. CSK’s powerplay charge was led by Rachin Ravindra, who added 66 off 41 balls with Ajinkya Rahane. Ravindra’s 61 off 31 balls, including boundaries against Maxwell and Siraj, kept CSK in the hunt. However, his run out after a mix-up with Shivam Dube proved costly.
The dew in the middle overs hindered RCB’s spin attack but allowed Jadeja to settle quickly, hitting sixes off Dayal, Siraj, and Lockie Ferguson. Despite his efforts and Dhoni’s 25 off 13 balls, CSK couldn’t bridge the gap. The middle overs were pivotal: while RCB scored 113 runs, losing just two wickets between overs 7 to 16, CSK managed only 80 runs and lost four crucial wickets.
Du Plessis’ brilliance in the field was highlighted by his one-handed catch to dismiss Mitchell Santner, which contributed to CSK’s collapse from 115 for 3 to 129 for 6 in just 13 balls. This collapse forced Dhoni to bat earlier than usual, but his late cameo wasn’t enough for a fairytale finish. RCB’s comprehensive performance, especially in the middle overs with Patidar and Green’s aggressive batting, set them up for a tall score. In contrast, CSK’s failure to capitalize during the same phase led to their exit from the tournament, despite a valiant effort from their lower order.
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