The IPL season has ended for Chennai. Last season’s champions couldn’t make it past the league stage this time. The wait for securing the record of most titles alone continues. In contrast, Bengaluru seems to have written a fairy tale.
Achieving an incredible feat, they have secured a place in the playoffs, keeping alive their dream of becoming champions for the first time.
On Saturday, in a match filled with various equations, Royal Challengers Bangalore clinched a thrilling 27-run victory at home. Batting first, Kohli’s team scored 218 runs for 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In response, Chennai managed 191 for 7 wickets in their 20 overs. This changed all the calculations. Due to consecutive failures, Bengaluru’s playoff chances had almost become impossible. The possibility was hanging on many ‘ifs and buts’.
However, Kohli’s squad did not give up. The team that had lost seven out of their first eight matches won six consecutive matches on their way to the playoffs! Truly unbelievable.
With Kolkata, Rajasthan, and Hyderabad already securing playoff spots, only one spot was left. In their last league match, Chennai and Bengaluru were fighting for that ticket. Since Bengaluru had 2 points less than Chennai, they not only had to win but also keep an eye on the run rate.
If batting first, Bengaluru had to ensure a win by 18 runs, or if batting second, they needed to chase the target in 18 overs. By scoring 218 runs batting first, Bengaluru needed to restrict Chennai before 200. Conversely, Chennai could secure their playoff spot even if they managed to reach 200 while losing the match.
In such a scenario, Chennai needed 17 runs in the last over to qualify for the playoffs. Dhoni hit a six off the first ball, making it 11 runs needed from 5 balls. But on the next ball, Yash Dayal dismissed Dhoni, who had scored 25 runs off 13 balls. That was the end of Chennai’s hopes. Despite having Jadeja and Shardul Thakur on the field, they couldn’t do much.
Chennai lost their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad on the first ball while chasing. Daryl Mitchell (4) departed at 19 runs. However, Chennai bounced back with a partnership between opener Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane. This pair added 66 runs. Rahane got out after scoring 33 runs at the team’s total of 85.
Chennai fell into trouble when they lost Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube’s wickets in consecutive overs. Ravindra got out for 61 off 37 balls at 115 runs. In the next over, Green dismissed Dube, who had scored 7 runs off 15 balls.
Santner could only add 3 runs. Dhoni and Jadeja then took the reins. Despite their excellent batting, Chennai needed 35 runs from the last two overs to qualify for the playoffs.
They scored 19 runs in the 19th over, but the final over did not go in their favor. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 42 off 22 balls.
Earlier, Virat Kohli led a batting blitz for Bengaluru. He scored 47 off 29 balls before the opening partnership broke at 78 runs. However, captain Faf du Plessis made a half-century. He got out at the team’s score of 113 in the 13th over, scoring 54 off 39 balls through a run-out.
Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green propelled Bengaluru towards a big total. Their partnership added 71 runs off 28 balls. Patidar got out after scoring 41 off 23 balls, while Green remained unbeaten on 38 off 17 balls. In the end, Dinesh Karthik contributed 14 runs off 6 balls and Maxwell added 16 runs off 5 balls.
