Virat Kohli’s rapid start
When Virat Kohli hit a four off the second ball, it was evident that he would take off. In the next 27 deliveries, Kohli put on a show with the bat, scoring four sixes, scoring 42. He took his season tally to 37 sixes, only behind his 2016 season, when he hit 38 sixes.
At that point, Faf du Plessis was on 30 off 29 balls.
A day off for Ravindra Jadeja
With the ball gripping and turning after the rain break, it was the perfect pitch for Ravindra Jadeja. However, unlike Mitchell Santner, whose average pace was 94, Jadeja was bowling at an average speed of 100 kmph.
What was the other reason? The left-arm spinner also strayed his line and length, with 55.5% of his deliveries in good while 44.4% short. Santner finished with figures of 1/23, while Jadeja finished with figures of 0/40 in three overs.
Glenn Maxwell’s all-round impact
Just when it felt like RCB’s innings was tapering off, Glenn Maxwell came in. The Australian all-rounder not only made an instant impact with a five-ball 16, scoring two fours and a six, but he was also critical with the ball.
The 35-year-old struck with the first ball, removing the in-form Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) Ruturaj Gaikwad for a duck.
Rachin Ravindra provides hope
At 0/1, Rachin Ravindra had to put on a show, and the left-handed batter showed his range in his first half-century of the season. Ravindra kept CSK in the run chase with a 37-ball 61, scoring five fours and three sixes.
His knock was in two phases: He scored 23 off 16 in the powerplay and 38 off 21 balls in the middle overs, and he took 18 runs off Lockie Ferguson’s five deliveries. If not for the run-out………
Yash Dayal vs MS Dhoni
17 off the last over for a spot in the playoffs.
Yash Dayal vs MS Dhoni.
One has aced the test multiple times, while Dayal’s failure in 2023 put him under immense pressure. Dhoni hit him for a six in the very first delivery, but from there to seal a 10-run win for RCB, the story couldn’t have been made any better.
Dayal’s precision in the final over was arguably the biggest difference between a win and a loss.
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