IPL 2019: Parthiv Patel didn't expect MS Dhoni to miss the last ball of the match

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have suddenly started winning and most importantly, they have somehow managed to close out thrilling last-ball finishes. After coming out trumps in a high-scoring thriller against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), they survived a massive MS Dhoni scare at the Chinnaswamy stadium thanks to Parthiv Patel’s direct hit to run Shardul Thakur out.

When 26 runs were needed off the last over, many felt that RCB had the game in the bag. But Dhoni had other ideas. He took Umesh Yadav to the cleaners in the first five deliveries to bring the equation down to two runs off the final ball. No wonder CSK were the favourites here as their ‘Thala’ was once again doing the unthinkable.

However, there was another twist in the tale. Surprisingly, Umesh went for the slower ball only for Dhoni to miss it and he tried to steal a bye. But Parthiv was alert at that stage and affected a direct hit to find Shardul exactly 12 centimetres short of the crease as RCB stole the game by just 1 run.

Parthiv reveals the plan

Speaking to the reporters after the match, Parthiv Patel revealed what they expected the veteran MS Dhoni off the last ball. He also went on to add that they wanted him to hit through the off-side to avoid giving a couple of runs and which is why Umesh Yadav bowled a slower delivery wide outside the off-stump.

“We honestly wanted him (Dhoni) to hit through the off-side on the shorter side of the ground. If he had hit it on the leg-side, there were two runs because I don’t think the way he runs, there was any chance of stopping those two,” he said at the post-match press conference.

Parthiv further went on to add that he never expected Mahi to miss the ball and how it unfolded in the middle. “So we wanted (Umesh) to bowl slower and outside the off-stump and surprisingly he missed it. I wasn’t expecting him to miss it but surprisingly he missed it,” the Man of the Match of the game added.

As for Parthiv, it was one of the best games for him both with the bat and behind the stumps. He slammed a 37-ball 53-run knock when all the focus was on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers who failed. Moreover, he took a brilliant catch to dismiss Dwayne Bravo in the 19th over before affecting a game-changing run-out in the last over.

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