Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clashed in a must-win game for both sides in IPL 2024 in Bengaluru on May 19. The winner of this match was to earn the remaining spot in the playoffs.
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and chose to field first. Virat Kohli (47 in 29) and Faf du Plessis (54 in 39) added 78 runs in the first 10 overs. After a rain break, RCB struggled to regain their momentum, but Rajat Patidar (41 in 23) and Cameron Green (38* in 17) did big damage to CSK's bowling in the middle overs.
Then cameos by Glenn Maxwell (16 in 5) and Dinesh Karthik (14 in 6) propelled RCB to 218/5 in 20 overs. Shardul Thakur was the best bowler for CSK with two wickets, but he gave 61 runs in his 4 overs.
CSK started poorly losing Ruturaj Gaikwad for a golden duck and Daryl Mitchell followed for 4 runs. But Rachin Ravindra hammered 61 in 37 balls, and with help from Ajinkya Rahane (33 in 22) brought CSK back in contention.
But RCB hit back with quick wickets including Ravindra and Rahane and also added the scalps of Shivam Dube (7) and Mitchell Santner (3). Santner could’ve been dangerous for RCB, but captain Faf du Plessis’ brilliance got his wicket.
On the final ball of the 15th over, Mohammed Siraj bowled a low full toss on the off stump and Santner lofted it towards mid-off. At first, it looked like the ball would easily sail over Faf du Plessis' head.
But considered one of the best fielders in the world, Du Plessis leaped high in the air and plucked the ball with one hand to complete a stunning catch. Not only were the bowler and other fielders happy with their skipper’s effort, but Virat Kohli was over the moon and hugged Faf.
Here is the video:
In the end, though Ravindra Jadeja (42* in 22) and MS Dhoni (25 in 13) tried their best to get to the playoff’s qualification target of 200 runs, but Dhoni’s wicket in the last over by Yash Dayal proved to be fatal as CSK finished on 191/7 and lost the game by 27 runs.
RCB qualified for the playoffs and will play in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 22.
