IPL 2024: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings, 68th Match - Who Said What?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have done it. They have defeated Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs and qualified for the playoffs of the IPL 2024. RCB had won just one out of their first eight matches and were in shambles. However, things changed rapidly for the Faf du Plessis-led side as they won six matches on the trot to make it to the playoffs. 

Against Chennai, the odds were against RCB once again. There was a massive rain threat ahead of the match and it did affect at one point but they were determined enough to get the job done. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis gave a brilliant start as the duo stitched a crucial 78-run partnership. After Virat got back to the pavilion, Faf and Rajat Patidar took care of the business and that played a massive part in them posting a huge total.

Faf made 54 runs off 39 balls while Patidar hit 41 runs off 23 deliveries. Towards the fag end, Cameron Green played a blistering cameo of 38* runs off 17 balls, which helped RCB post 218 runs on the board.

Also Read - Fans react after RCB skipper Faf du Plessis deemed out against CSK under controversial circumstances

When it came to the chase, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad departed for a golden duck. His opening partner Rachin Ravindra hit 61 runs off 37 deliveries and looking really sharp but a misunderstanding with Shivam Dube in the middle sent him back to the pavilion. Ravindra Jadeja hit 42* runs off 22 balls but he couldn’t finish it off in the end. With 11 runs required in five balls to make it to the playoffs, the ball was in CSK’s court but it just didn’t go their way.

1. Virat, Faf camaraderie changed RCB’s fortune

The biggest reason for RCB’s failure in the initial part of the tournament was that the opening pair wasn’t giving good starts. Faf failed to live up to the potential early on but things changed. At the halfway stage of the tournament, RCB decided to change their gear and play an aggressive brand of cricket, which did the trick for them. Once RCB started playing fearless cricket, no one could stop them. In the playoffs, they would aim to play the same brand of cricket and would hope to finally win the title.

2. Yash Dayal redeems himself

After the Rinku Singh onslaught in 2023, Gujarat Titans released Yash Dayal ahead of the new season. However, RCB kept faith in him and he delivered big time. With 17 runs needed for CSK to qualify in the last over, Faf gave the ball to Dayal and despite getting hit for a six in the first ball of the final over, he came back strongly and helped gave away just one run in the remaining five balls. That’s a comeback one dreams to have.

3. MS Dhoni’s last dance?

No one knows and we will not know anytime soon. He made 25 runs off off 13 deliveries against RCB and hit a massive 110-metre six off Dayal but like in the 2019 World Cup final, he couldn’t. Only time will tell if this was the last time we saw the legend on the field.

Losing skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad said:

I think it was a good wicket to be honest, it was spinning and gripping a little bit, but I think 200 on this ground was gettable. We kept losing wickets at regular intervals, it was a matter of one or two hits, sometimes that can happen in a T20 game. Pretty happy with what the target was, to sum up the season, I am pretty happy to have seven wins out of 14 games. Just couldn't get over the line in the last two balls. With the kind of injuries we had, missing out on two frontline bowlers, not having Conway at the top of the order as well, I think missing out on three key players made a huge difference. Credit to the CSK staff and everyone who put up a great show for us throughout the season. There were many challenges for us right throughout the first game. Injury to Fizz (Mustafiur), then injruy to Pathirana as well, he came back and then again Pathirana missed out. When you have injuries around, you have to get that balance in the team and pick it (the team) for every game. I think this season sums up well where we had to tinker around with our playing XI, considering the injuries and all the illness (of the players) as well. Happy with the seven wins, couldn't get over the line though. Happy with it. We got 10 from the last 2 balls in our last knockout game last year so this was a similar situation, things didn't go our way (this season) though. For me, personal milestones don't really matter a lot, after all the ultimate goal is to win. If you are not getting there it's a disappointment. Doesn't matter if you score 100 runs or 500-600 runs in a season. I am disappointed.

Winning skipper and POTM Faf du Plessis said:

What a night! Such a great atmosphere. Just a pleasure to finish the season in front of the home seasons. There was a lot of rain falling on the pitch, and you don't want that moisture. It felt like a day-five Test match in Ranchi! The contributions from many batters at good strikes, I'm really proud. We were defending 175 [and neither 201 nor 218]! We tried to get the ball changed tonight. I dedicate the Man of the Match [award] to Yash Dayal! I said to him pace off on this wicket is the best option. It's crazy; even when we weren't winning, we had the fans here. It was set up perfectly - CSK vs RCB! Incredible. Thank you everyone for their support. It's really important that you enjoy this. Your first goal in the IPL is to try and get in the knockouts.