In a thrilling encounter at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru seized the final playoff spot for IPL 2024 by defeating defending champions Chennai Super Kings. The victory, secured by a 27-run margin, marked a sensational comeback for RCB, who had a rocky start to their season. The win catapulted RCB to fourth place in the points table, while CSK, with an equal number of wins, finished fifth, thus missing out on the playoffs.
The turning point of the match came with Bengaluru’s remarkable defense of their 218-run total. Faf du Plessis led from the front with a brilliant half-century, while Virat Kohli’s quickfire 47 helped set a formidable target. CSK put up a fight but fell short, allowing RCB to clinch a well-deserved victory.
After starting the season with just one win in their first eight matches, RCB made a remarkable turnaround, recording six consecutive wins to end their league-stage campaign on a high note. This comeback has been historic, as no team in IPL history has managed to qualify for the playoffs after such a dismal start. With seven wins in 14 matches, Bengaluru secured the fourth position, edging out Chennai, who also had seven wins but finished fifth due to a lower net run rate.
Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli set the stage with a strong opening stand, going big from the outset. Rain briefly interrupted play after the third over, but, fortunately, the game resumed after a half-hour pause with no reduction in overs.
Kohli fell just shy of a half-century, dismissed for 47, but Du Plessis went on to score 54 off 39 balls. Rajat Patidar continued his stellar form, contributing 41 off just 23 balls, while Cameron Green’s unbeaten 38 off 17 deliveries ensured Bengaluru posted a solid total of 218/5.
On the other side, Chennai had a disastrous start, losing Ruturaj Gaikwad on the very first ball of their innings. Yash Dayal then struck again, dismissing in-form Daryl Mitchell in the third over. However, Ajinkya Rahane and Rachin Ravindra offered some resistance, adding 66 quick runs for the third wicket.
Lockie Ferguson removed Rahane in the tenth over, initiating a middle-over collapse for Chennai. Despite a top score of 61 off 37 balls from Rachin Ravindra, contributions from Shivam Dube and Mitchell Santner were lacking, leaving CSK struggling to close in on the target.
Nevertheless, a late partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni added 61 runs for the seventh wicket, giving a glimmer of hope for Chennai. Dhoni, with his characteristic flair, hit a massive six off the first ball of the last over when CSK needed 35 runs to win and 17 to qualify for the playoffs.
Yash Dayal, however, held his nerve, dismissing Dhoni and constraining Chennai to score just 10 runs in the last two balls. This sealed a memorable 27-run victory for Bengaluru, knocking out the defending champions.
The definitive win was not just a testament to RCB’s resilience but also a reflection of their all-rounded performance. Faf du Plessis showcased leadership with his bat, while Kohli continued to amaze with his aggressive batting. The bowling unit, particularly Yash Dayal and Lockie Ferguson, played pivotal roles in restricting Chennai’s chase.
Here’s a look at the playing XI for both teams:
**Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing XI:**
– Faf du Plessis (c)
– Virat Kohli
– Glenn Maxwell
– Rajat Patidar (substituted by Swapnil Singh)
– Cameron Green
– Mahipal Lomror
– Dinesh Karthik (wk)
– Karn Sharma
– Yash Dayal
– Lockie Ferguson
– Mohammed Siraj
**Chennai Super Kings Playing XI:**
– Rachin Ravindra
– Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
– Daryl Mitchell
– Ajinkya Rahane
– Ravindra Jadeja
– MS Dhoni (wk)
– Mitchell Santner
– Shardul Thakur
– Tushar Deshpande
– Simarjeet Singh
– Maheesh Theekshana (substituted by Shivam Dube)
This victory and the path it took to reach the playoffs will long remain in the memories of RCB fans as the team now looks ahead to stronger opposition in the playoffs, driven by renewed vigor and an unyielding spirit. As the tournament advances to its heated final stages, cricket enthusiasts around the world will be eagerly following the sensational rivalry and gripping matches that lie ahead.
