Virat Kohli celebrates during the match against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024
“There is a one percent chance, and sometimes that chance is good enough”. This statement perfectly defines Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s dramatic turnaround in IPL 2024. After losing 7 of their first 8 matches, RCB was on the brink of elimination. However, they staged an incredible comeback, winning five consecutive games to keep their playoff hopes alive. The ultimate challenge awaited them on May 18, 2024 — a must-win clash against Chennai Super Kings. With the entire season on the line, RCB needed one last victory to secure a playoff spot. What happened next was nothing short of spectacular, making it one of the most unforgettable nights in IPL history. Let’s dive into the epic showdown!
It was the 68th match of IPL 2024, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Three playoff spots were already secured, leaving just one up for grabs. The battle was set between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with everything on the line. To make things even more intense, Net Run Rate (NRR) was also a crucial factor. At the toss, CSK won and chose to field first, knowing that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru favored chasing teams.
As the crowd roared, RCB openers Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis walked out with determination. They knew this was their moment. Right from the start, RCB’s intent was clear. In the second over, Shardul Thakur was hammered for 16 runs, followed by Virat Kohli smashing Tushar Deshpande for 13 in the next over. The fans were on their feet, sensing something special. But just as RCB was building momentum, rain interrupted play.
The delay changed the conditions, making the pitch slower and trickier for batting. However, Kohli and Du Plessis remained aggressive, ensuring RCB reached 42/0 in the powerplay and they knew they had to keep going. In the 10th over, Kohli took on Mitchell Santner, launching a six that sent the crowd into a frenzy. But on the very next ball, heartbreak struck as Kohli was dismissed for a brilliant 47 off 29 balls. RCB was now 78/1, and the game was still wide open.
With Virat Kohli back in the dugout, RCB needed to keep their momentum going. Faf du Plessis took charge, and in the very next over, he went after Ravindra Jadeja, smashing 20 runs, reaching his well-deserved half-century. On the other end, Rajat Patidar also found his rhythm, playing some delightful strokes. Just as RCB looked set for a massive total, disaster struck. Patidar drove a straight shot back towards Mitchell Santner, who instinctively got a hand to the ball. Faf, caught out of his crease, was run out for 54 off 39 balls. The Bengaluru crowd fell silent for a moment as their captain walked back. RCB was now 113/2 in 13 overs.
Cameron Green joined Patidar, and the two took charge, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking. In the 16th over, they smashed 17 runs, pushing RCB to 155/2. The target of 200 looked very much within reach. Then came the big hitting as in the 18th over, Green launched Shardul Thakur for two back-to-back sixes. But on the very next delivery, Patidar fell for a well-made 41 off 23 balls. RCB was now 187/3. With just two overs left, Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell stepped in. Karthik’s 14 off 6 and Maxwell’s 16 off 5 provided the final boost, pushing RCB to a commanding 218/5. Now, the equation was clear as CSK needed at least 201 runs to qualify, while RCB had to restrict them below 200. The battle was about to begin.
The pressure was sky-high as CSK stepped in to chase 218 runs, knowing they needed at least 201 to qualify for the playoffs. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra walked out with determination, but disaster struck immediately. On the very first ball, Glenn Maxwell delivered a dream start for RCB, trapping Gaikwad for a golden duck. CSK was already on the back foot, and things got worse when Yash Dayal dismissed Daryl Mitchell for just 4 runs off 6 balls. At 26/2 in 3 overs, the chase looked shaky.
However, Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane began to rebuild, finding the gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking. By the end of the powerplay, CSK reached 43/2, but the required run rate was mounting. Then came the 10th over, and just when Rahane was looking settled, he fell to Lockie Ferguson, scoring 33 off 22 balls. CSK was now 85/3, and Shivam Dube joined Rachin in the middle. Rachin took charge, smashing two huge sixes in the 12th over to bring up his fifty. The hopes of CSK fans were reignited, with 90 runs needed from the last 8 overs.
But in the 14th over, a disastrous miscommunication resulted in Ravindra being run out for 61 off 37 balls. The setback worsened when Shivam Dube fell cheaply for 7 runs in the very next over, reducing CSK to 125/5. The collapse continued as Mitchell Santner edged one to Faf du Plessis, who pulled off a stunning catch. CSK was now 129/6 in 15 overs, needing 71 runs off the last 5 overs to keep their playoff hopes alive. The match was slipping away, and RCB could sense a famous victory.
With CSK needing 71 runs off the last five overs, the equation seemed tough, but not impossible, especially with MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. The legendary finisher Dhoni, alongside the calm and composed Jadeja, started to build a crucial partnership. With each passing delivery, CSK edged closer, and by the time they reached the final two overs, they needed 35 runs to qualify for the playoffs. Then came the 19th over, and Ravindra Jadeja took matters into his own hands. Facing Lockie Ferguson, he smashed 18 runs off the over, hitting powerful boundaries and reducing the equation to 17 runs needed off the last six balls. The tension in the stadium was at its peak.
RCB had to make a big decision as to who would bowl the final over? Faf du Plessis put his trust in Yash Dayal, a bold move given the high stakes. And to make matters worse for RCB, MS Dhoni was on strike. The crowd held its breath as Yash delivered his first ball and a full toss and in typical Dhoni style, it was dispatched into the stands for a six. CSK now needed just 11 runs from 5 balls, and it looked like they were pulling off a stunning comeback.
But then, the ball was changed, and fortune shifted. Yash adjusted his strategy and bowled a slower delivery. Dhoni, attempting another big shot, mistimed it and was caught at deep backward square leg. The RCB players erupted in joy, while Dhoni walked back after a fighting knock of 25 off 13 balls. With four balls remaining, CSK still needed 11 runs. Shardul Thakur joined Jadeja, but he struggled to connect, managing just a single.
With two balls left, CSK needed 10 runs, and Jadeja was back on strike. Yash bowled a clever slower, wider delivery, and Jadeja completely missed it. The crowd knew as it was over for CSK. On the final ball, Jadeja swung and missed again. The RCB players exploded in celebrations, running across the field, knowing they had done the impossible — winning six consecutive games to reach the playoffs. Meanwhile, the CSK players stood in disbelief, stunned by the heartbreaking defeat.