RCB vs CSK IPL 2023 emotional rollercoaster: Rahane proves a point, Dube makes merry & Akash Singh snares Kohli

Slinga Pathirana
Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana, referred back home as Ba Malinga because of a similar bowling action, made the same impact in the death overs as his renowned compatriot. His wicket-and-four runs 18th over decisively swung the match in CSK’s favour. Pathirana even earned his skipper’s approval with the wicket of Shahbaz, as Dhoni flashed a warm smile and a word of encouragement. Newcomer Parnell then struggled to read Pathirana, whose wide arm action troubled the South African. He then fooled Hasaranga and Prabhudesai in the last over with slower ones and yorkers to seal the deal for CSK. Move over Slinga Malinga. There’s now a Slinga Pathirana.
-Mihir Vasavda

Rahane on the offensive
Ajinkya Rahane seems to have a point to prove this IPL. Almost the forgotten man in Indian cricket, he would have not left the bench if Chennai Super Kings were not hampered so many injuries. He has been known as a dependable player at the top of the order, but his strike rate has been a revelation in the three knocks he has played this year. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium is a venue where even 200+scores are never safe. Hence, teams batting first like to be on the charge from the start. But CSK, who lost the prolific Ruturaj Gaikwad early, were stalling at 25/1 after four overs. Devon Conway had hit a few boundaries, but it was Rahane’s all-out aggression that put the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers on the backfoot. It needed a Wanindu Hasaranga’s googly to get rid of the veteran for a 20-ball 37, but he had injected the much-needed momentum in the innings.
– Tushar Bhaduri

Faf misses a trick
Shivam Dube’s weakness against short-pitched stuff aimed at his body is common knowledge now, so much so that opposition captains employ this tactic as soon as the left-hander comes to the crease. But RCB captain Faf du Plessis seemed to have not read the book. So he confronted Dube with the off-spin of Glenn Maxwell, probably thinking the ball spinning away will be effective.
Wrong choice. Dube hit the roof of the stadium with a six that went more than 100 metres. Harshal Patel tried change of pace and yorkers, but the ball travelled the dance. Even Mohammed Siraj was thumped down the ground, and when he did try the bouncer, Dube saw it well enough to hook it over square-leg for the maximum. He was looking unstoppbale, and du Plessis may be regretting letting him settle at the crease. The 80 runs in the third-wicket stand with Devon Conway came off just 37 balls before the New Zealander departed for 83 off 45 deliveries.
– Tushar Bhaduri

Divided teams, united Dhoni
They may be die-hard supporters of their own city franchise but one man seems to unite Indian cricket fans – MS Dhoni. It’s almost become a ritual at all grounds to celebrate the dismissal of a CSK player just so that the paying public can catch a glimpse of Dhoni, who is on his farewell lap across the country. It doesn’t matter if it’s Wankhede, Ahmedabad, Chepauk or, as was the case on Monday, Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. They made short trips from Goa and took long-haul flights from US to see Thala in the flesh. And they very nearly returned home disappointed – until Jadeja holed one to the deep. The home crowd went berserk but not because their team had taken a wicket – it meant they could, after all, get to watch Dhoni bat. It didn’t matter that it was anti-climatic – there was no six as the crowd demanded instead just a single off the only ball he’d faced. But with every match CSK play, one thing’s getting certain: most fans may be divided teams, they are all united Dhoni.
– Mihir Vasavda

Akash, the Kohli-slaying super sub
A boundary. A wicket. And a dropped catch. Akash Singh was subbed in as an Impact Player for Ambati Rayudu and the CSK pacer made an instant impact. It looked ominous for a second when Kohli charged forward and smashed him for a boundary off the second ball. If Kohli thought his aggressive approach would upset the young bowler, he was maken. Akash got the big wicket soon after, with Kohli getting an inside edge, which first hit his front leg then the back leg before rolling on to the stumps. The 20-year-old, who plays for Nagaland, punched the air and jumped in joy right in Kohli’s face, unable to contain his emotions. It could well be the moment that’ll mark a giant career leap for the super sub.
– Mihir Vasavda

Mad Max fury
In the dugout, Stephen Fleming had a frown on his face. On the field, Moeen Ali stood puzzled and behind the wickets, MS Dhoni’s eyes widened. They might be among the coolest minds in CSK’s colours, but the trio reflected the mood within the team after being at the receiving end of Glenn Maxwell’s onslaught. It took the Australian just three balls to get first of his eight sixes – it could’ve been nine if not for Rahane’s acrobatic effort on the boundary line to keep one from sailing over the ropes. It was an innings that swung the momentum in RCB’s favour and just when it looked like he’d single handedly help them cross the finish line, Maxwell was caught out. It took a loud call from Dhoni as three CSK players tried to get under the ball. The captain did well to catch the skier, as the ball swerved in the air. Maxwell’s innings may have ended, but he did have a quick word with incoming batsman Shahbaz Ahmed before returning to the dugout. No wonder Shahbaz’s first big shot was a six.
– Mihir Vasavda