Virat Kolhi ( Source : Star Sports )
Emotions were running high during the high-voltage Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) versus Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 18, as both teams battled hard to clinch a playoffs berth. However, in the end, the hosts emerged victorious by 27 runs to become the final team to progress beyond the round-robin phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
After conceding 218/5 in their 20 overs, the Super Kings had to get to 201 to keep their net run-rate (NRR) above the Royal Challengers and enter the playoffs. However, the defending champions got off to the worst possible start as they lost their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, off the first ball of their innings. A couple of overs later, Daryl Mitchell departed as the visitors slumped to 19/2. The CSK fans at the stadium were left crestfallen after the two initial setbacks. Meanwhile, RCB legend Virat Kohli rubbed salt into the wounds of the Chennai fanbase as he was seen shushing them with the ‘finger on lips’ gesture.
The former five-time champions were eventually restricted to 191/7 in their 20 overs as Yash Dayal bowled a brilliant last over under pressure against two of the greatest finishers in world cricket, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. With this win, RCB qualified for the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Also Read: ‘God’s plan baby’ – Rinku Singh congratulates Yash Dayal after pacer’s emphatic redemption at Chinnaswamy
Virat Kohli continues splendid form
Kohli played a blinder of a knock on Saturday, as he scored a quickfire 47 off 29 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. After the third over of the RCB innings, the umpires had to stop the play due to rain. After the interruption, the CSK spinners got the ball to turn square off the surface. However, this didn’t perturb Kohli, as he played fluently.
Also Read: IPL 2024: Dejected MS Dhoni leaves field without shaking hands with RCB players after CSK’s loss
With his 47-run knock, Kohli went past 700 runs for the season. In IPL 2024, he has amassed 708 runs from 14 matches at an average of 64.36 and a strike rate of 155.60. He has hit five fifties and a solitary century so far this season. This is his most productive season with the bat after the 973 runs he aggregated in IPL 2016.