RCB’s Yash Dayal turns hero as MS Dhoni and CSK fall short in chase | Ipl News
SYNOPSIS: Dhoni the finisher and last year’s hero Ravindra Jadeja fail to deliver when it matters as RCB hold nerve to knock out defending champions and qualify for PlayoffsThe back of the hand slower ball from medium pacer Yash Dayal was in the slot to be hit. The previous ball had travelled 110 metres into the deep backward square leg stands after MS Dhoni swung with all his might. With that six CSK needed 11 off five balls to reach 201, a score that could have helped them pip RCB on net run rate. But the slower ball from Dayal did the trick. Dhoni instinctively went for it, targeting the same area to which he had just hit a six. But he was a little too early into the shot and the bottom end of the bat made connection with the ball. When he looked skyward, Dhoni would have known he was a goner. Swapnil Singh held onto what would have been the most important catch of the match. Dhoni smashed his gloved f on the bat and muttered to himself as he walked off.
Over the years, the man with the famous mane and swagger when at the crease, has done it time and again. But tonight was not his day. He and CSK were up against an RCB team that were in the midst of a remarkable comeback. With 10 needed off 2 for CSK to make the Playoffs, Ravindra Jadeja, the hero of last year’s run chase in the final, failed to connect off consecutive balls. Dayal was the hero of the moment, conceding just seven runs in the final over of the game. Dhoni sat slumped in a chair in the dugout, the ever-animated Kohli ran towards captain Faf Du Plessis. The contrasting images told the story of both teams.
Aaarrr Ceeee Beeee ❤️👏
6️⃣ in a row for Royal Challengers Bengaluru ❤️
They make a thumping entry into the #TATAIPL 2024 Playoffs 👊
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/7RQR7B2jpC#RCBvCSK | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/otq5KjUMXy
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2024
Only a month back, exactly at the half-way stage, RCB were sitting at the bottom of the table, with just a defeat away from elimination. With nothing to lose, they appeared a totally different outfit. After five wins on the trot, on Saturday they were a win away from making the playoffs. They had to beat CSK 18 runs or more. They won 27.
It turned out to be an electric night, with rain staying away after a brief shower. RCB put on a grand show that their loyal fans craved for. That they did so despite losing Will Jacks, a towering figure in their turnaround, made it even more special.
Nail-biting overs like these 📈
Describe your final over emotions with an emoji 🔽
Recap the match on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #RCBvCSK pic.twitter.com/XYVYvXfton
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2024
The knock-out punch
At the half-way stage, it was pretty much clear what Chennai were looking for. Having struggled to get tall scores consently right through the season, a target of 219 looked beyond their reach. However, a total of 201, which would see them progress to play-offs, was more attainable provided their batsmen clicked as a unit, something that has not happened during the season.
They got off to a bad start with a tame dismissal of Ruturaj Gaikwad. When Glenn Maxwell sent an innocuous delivery towards the leg side, Gaikwad could have deposited it anywhere on the square boundary. Instead, he mis-hit it straight to the fielder at short fine-leg. Two overs later as Dayal removed Daryl Mitchell – who once again tried to go extra hard and ended up being caught at mid-off – Chennai’s chase was beginning to fall apart.
DO NOT MISS!
Captain Du Plessis’ FAFULOUS catch 🎥🔽#TATAIPL | #RCBvCSK | @faf1307 https://t.co/nHkj2oJJW8
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2024
Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane revived the chase with a 66-run stand for the third wicket as Chennai caught up with the required run-rate. For a team that appeared to lose the plot with the ball at home, RCB held their nerves despite facing pressure on the night. After Swapnil bowled a tight over, Lockie Ferguson came in and got rid of Rahane. Shivam Dube was expected to make the most of the three overs that RCB spinners needed to deliver. Even as Dube struggled for timing, Rachin fought a lone battle before being run-out in the 13th over. That dismissal, virtually took the fizz out of the chase before Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni threatened to bring them back.
Rachin Ravindra ☝️Shivam Dube ☝️
The hosts are back in this and HOW! 🔥🔥
Watch the match LIVE on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #RCBvCSK pic.twitter.com/UXTJxKjkpE
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2024
Steady start
From the time Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli came out to bat, their body language suggested they meant business. The show began in the second over with Kohli striking a boundary before Du Plessis finished it with a four and a six. But the real statement came in the next over, off Tushar Desphande’s second over, as Kohli brought out a no-look, disdainful flick that hit the roof of the stadium. A ball later, he would step out and pull one over deep square-leg.
Like in the case of his first six, this was a shot made possible purely because of his bat-speed and those magical wrs. It was a sight to behold. In the stands, chants of “RCB, RCB, RCB” were only getting louder as Kohli now was f-pumping each time the ball crossed the boundary ropes.
ICYMI 📽️
Vibrant Virat Kohli’s determined 47(29) ❤️
WATCH 🔽 #TATAIPL | #RCBvCSK https://t.co/FQzx7Yh4OA
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2024
A brief spell of showers that lasted about 15 minutes would then cause a 41-minute break. After the restart, with the ball stopping a bit, Chennai would control the flow of runs, with Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner conceding 11 runs in the next three overs as RCB ended powerplay at 42/0.
But the onslaught would restart as Ravindra Jadeja came on. Despite the pitch offering good turn, especially when the spinners bowled it slower through the air, Jadeja endured a bad outing on the night. With Du Plessis and Kohli – favourable match-ups to bowl to – Chennai needed Jadeja to continue doing what Santner and Theekshana did. Instead, in three straight overs, he conceded 40 runs. Santner had Kohli caught at long-on in the 10th over but RCB had firepower down the order.
!
Rajat Patidar departs not before scoring a quick-fire 41 off just 23 👏👏
Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱#TATAIPL | #RCBvCSK pic.twitter.com/wlrEQSWIMs
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2024
Leaking runs
The next 10 overs decided Chennai’s destiny. Rajat Patidar came in and immediately put Chennai under pressure as Du Plessis brought-up his fifty before being run-out in the 13th over. From there on, Chennai’s bowling plans totally went awry.
Having successfully employed a widish off-stump line successfully at the death, Simarjeet Singh, Thakur and Deshpande struggled to execute it on the night, as they delivered in the perfect slot for Patidar and Cameron Green to free their arms. With Chennai lacking Plan B, RCB kept the tempo going, scoring 105 runs off the last seven overs to put one leg in the play-offs.
