Watch: Yash Dayal’s exceptional last over knocked CSK out of IPL 2024 playoffs contention and helped RCB qualify.
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To qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s work was cut out once the Chennai Super Kings opted to field at the Chinnaswamy Stadium: they needed to win by 18 or more runs.
After Virat Kohli (47 in 29 balls), Faf du Plessis (54 in 39), Rajat Patidar (41 in 23), and Cam Green (38 not out in 17) helped RCB post 218-5, CSK needed 201 to make it to the top four. They were quickly reduced to 19-2, but Rachin Ravindra (61 in 37 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (33 in 22) kept the chase going.
Ravindra’s run out triggered a collapse as CSK slipped to 129-6 after 15 overs. They needed 72 in five overs to qualify when MS Dhoni joined Ravindra Jadeja.
Only nine came off the next over, but the next three overs went for 13 (off Yash Dayal), 15 (Mohammed Siraj), and 18 (Lockie Ferguson), leaving CSK to chase 17 in the last over. Since RCB had fallen behind on the over rate, they also needed to bring an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle.
In IPL 2023, Dayal had famously conceded 31 against the Kolkata Knight Riders when Rinku Singh pulled off one of the greatest last-over heists in the history of franchise cricket.
Bowling from over the wicket, the left-handed Dayal began with a full toss on leg-stump. Dhoni swivelled to send the ball soaring over fine-leg for a 110m six to bring the target down to 11 from five balls.
Equipped with a new, drier ball – the previous ball could not be retrieved – Dayal now bowled a slower delivery from the back of his hand. It pitched at a good length on middle. Dhoni swung his bat at it, but the ball came too slowly for him. As Swapnil Singh held the catch at deep backward square leg, Dhoni walked back – perhaps for the last time in professional cricket – for a 13-ball 25.
Shardul Thakur walked out with 11 to score off four balls. Dayal responded with a slower ball that Thakur swung and missed. Thakur swung at the fourth ball as well, but this time he edged it, and they switched strike.
Jadeja was now left to chase 10 in two balls, exactly what he had got to help CSK win the IPL 2023 final against the Gujarat Titans. Dayal calmly bowled a slower ball on a good length outside the off stump: Jadeja swung and missed.
The match and a playoffs berth were out of the way; Dayal decided to provide an excellent finishing touch. He went even wider, and perhaps even slower. Jadeja (42 not out in 22 balls) swung again – and missed again.
