Heartbreak for CSK as RCB's winning bandwagon continues right into the playoffs

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Heartbreak for CSK as RCB’s winning bandwagon continues right into the playoffs

It was a night to remember for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as they rose from the ashes to secure the last available playoff spot.

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May 19, 2024 13:24 IST
Heartbreak for CSK as RCB’s winning bandwagon continues right into the playoffs
Heartbreak for CSK as RCB’s winning bandwagon continues right into the playoffs

New Delhi: It was a night to remember for RCB as they rose from the ashes to clinch the last available playoff spot. However, for the Yellow Army, it turned out to be a deep agony, on one hand even after having extra points and a superior NRR to that of RCB they failed to convert their chance into the playoffs spot. Moreover, it can be the last time Mahendra Singh Dhoni was seen in action for CSK. Naturally, every fan of CSK would have expected a proper send-off for Mahi with a win.

Nevertheless, no one can take away the fact that the match turned out to be an absolute thriller. The jubilation of the match can be seen on the faces of fans and players. RCB’s story this year has been one of rags to riches. In the tournament’s first half, the team managed to win just 1 match out of 7 games, losing 6 matches on the trot. However, since their match against SRH, the team found the perfect sync and has been winning back-to-back matches (6 consecutive matches).

What happened in the match?

Given the entire mathematical calculations and the probability of rain in the match, RCB started in the perfect manner possible. RCB raced off to 31/0 after 3 overs. Subsequently, the rain interruption came to hinder the game for a brief time. Once play resumed, it was all about Kohli and Faf du Plessis show. The duo added 78 runs for the first wicket after Kohli fell 3 short of a well-deserved half-century. However, Faf knocked the ball around the park to reach his half-century.

Once Faf got out, the onus fell on Rajat Patidar and Cameroon Green to accelerate the score. The duo added 71 runs before the in-form Patidar was dismissed for 41 off 23. However, by that time RCB had set a very challenging and respectable score. Some late innings cameo from Dinesh Karthik (14 off 6) and Maxwell (16 off 5) pushed the score past 200 as RCB ended with 218 on the scoreboard.

In response, CSK started in the worst possible manner as captain Rituraj Gaikwad was out for a duck. Next to follow was Daryl Mitchell. Seeing a mini-collapse in the batting department, Rachin Ravindra and Anjinkya Rahane began to rebuild the innings with a steady partnership, before the latter was dismissed for a 22-ball 33 to leave CSK requiring 114 runs in the last 10 overs to qualify.

The job was left on the shoulders of Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube to help the team crossover. However, the latter was very poor on the crease and could not survive for more than 15 balls. After Dube, Santner was the next to follow in the pavilion courtesy of an absolute banger from du Plessis.

In such a precarious situation, the task of winning the match fell on Chennai’s most trusted duo- Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. However, 219 was long forgotten, and the equation came down to 50 runs in 18 balls to qualify. The final equation boiled down to 16 runs off the last over. Subsequently, Dhoni hit Yash Dayal for a six of the first ball who was given the difficult task of defending 16 runs in the last over. But, today was meant to be RCB’s day of resurrection, Dayal kept his cool to see his franchise through to the playoffs.

Can this IPL finally turn into the crowning moment for Virat Kohli?

The biggest question that looms over every fan and player of RCB is can IPL 2024 finally be the crowning moment for its biggest legend, Virat Kohli. Kohli has been in phenomenal form this season, bagging the orange cap this season with 708 runs from 14 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 155.60 and an average of 64.36.

This IPL can be the last chance for Kohli to win the silverware with his beloved franchise. However, the million-dollar question is does the southpaw have it in him to levitate his team to the podium?

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