Royal Challengers Bengaluru managed to pip Chennai Super Kings to the playoff spot in the 2024 campaign of the Indian Premier League as they posted a 27-run win over the holders to knock the defending champions out of the money-rich event.
RCB put up a total of 218 runs riding on Faf du Plessis’ fifty and star batter Virat Kohli’s knock at the top of the order, before limiting Chennai to 191 runs for the loss of seven wickets to claim a memorable win.
RCB earned the fourth spot with the win over the holders and extended their run of wins to six on the trot and former skipper Kohli was visibly emotional as he was moved to tears of joy.
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The poster boy’s partner and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, who was in the stands to bear witness, also couldn’t hold back tears following the triumph.
Kohli opened the innings alongside skipper du Plessis in explosive fashion as they raced to 31 for no loss in 3 overs before the play was halted to showers.
However, the play resumed shortly and no overs were lost as the opening duo followed up on their partnership to post 78 runs before the 35-year-old was dismissed by Mitchell Santner at 47. Faf went on to make 54 runs before being scalped by Santner through a run out.
Rajat Patidar’s 41 and Cameron Green’s 38 run knocks laid the platform for RCB to reach the massive total before Dinesh Karthik chipped in with 14 runs and Glenn Maxwell added 16.
Chennai’s chase was off to a horrid start as skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed off the very first ball by Maxwell. Chennai lost wickets in regular intervals as Daryl Mitchell was dismissed for 4 off 6 by Yash Dayal for his second of the game.
Rachin Ravindra made 61 runs before being run out unceremoniously after Rahane was scalped for 33 runs. Shivam Dube couldn;t make his impact felt as he was dismissed for 7 runs before Santner fell for 3.
Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 42 runs gave CSK fans hope as Dhoni added 25 runs before being dismissed by Dayal in the final over before CSK’s hopes for the fourth spot came to a grinding halt with RCB winning by 27 runs.
