IPL 2018, RCB vs CSK: Hits and Misses

One of the fiercest rivalries in IPL resumed after a span of three years as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) took on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a mouth-watering clash. MS Dhoni won the toss and put RCB into bat first.

RCB skipper Virat Kohli walked out to open the innings and looked in good touch and got the hosts off to a good start. However, he was dismissed for 18 but it brought AB de Villiers in, who continued his excellent form. He struck a fabulous 68 in just 30 deliveries while Quinton de Kock supported him well with a very good half-century.

But Imran Tahir got CSK back in the game with wickets off successive deliveries (dismissing de Villiers and Corey Anderson). However, a cameo from Mandeep Singh and last over blitz from Washington Sundar helped RCB get past the 200-mark.

Chasing 206, CSK did get off to a good start despite losing Shane Watson as they got to 50/1 in 5 overs. But Yuzvendra Chahal bowled a fantastic spell where he picked up the wickets of Sam Billings and Ravindra Jadeja to put RCB in total control.

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#5 Miss: Corey Anderson

Corey Anderson struggled during his 8-ball stay.

After Nathan Coulter-Nile was ruled out of the IPL, RCB decided to rope in Corey Anderson. After the middle-order failed to deliver in the first few games, Anderson was brought in ahead of Colin de Grandhomme. He had a poor RCB first game but he complimented AB de Villiers well in the last game.

The 27-year-old all-rounder’s place was under threat ahead of this game but he was backed by the team management. Coming into bat at No. 4 after a superb partnership between De Kock and De Villiers, Anderson struggled to get going. He started with five consecutive dot balls as the pressure mounted on the Kiwi left-hander.

He was dismissed for just 2 in 8 balls as he edged one to slip off Imran Tahir to give him his second wicket. With the ball, he was very expensive with the ball. He went for 58 runs in his 3.4 overs as his execution at the death was not up to the mark as MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu took him for plenty as he was quite predictable.

#4 Hit: AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers was once again phenomenal.

AB de Villiers has been phenomenal touch in this season. He’s already taken RCB home in a couple of games. In the last game, he was on fire as he scored a superb 90 in 39 balls as he single-handedly took his team home.

He continued his excellent touch in this game as after Virat Kohli’s dismissal, he took the responsibility of taking RCB to a good score. He got off the mark with a six over long-on. He then struck another six and a four off Harbhajan Singh to get going.

He struck a breath-taking 68 off just 30 balls. He hit 8 sixes stunning in his 30-ball innings, including one which went out of the ground (111 metres which is the longest six in this season).

He stitched a superb partnership with Quinton de Kock as the South African duo put on 103 runs for the second wicket. RCB got to 205 in their 20 overs and it was mainly on the back of De Villiers’ brilliance.

#3 Miss: Suresh Raina

Raina once again struggled against the short ball.

Suresh Raina has been one of the best batsmen in the history of the IPL. But he had an underwhelming start to this year’s IPL before he missed a game due to a calf injury. However, he came back well and returned to form with a couple of good knocks.

Chasing 206, CSK lost Shane Watson in the first over and thus, Raina was going to be the key. He did go past Virat Kohli and once again became the leading run-scorer in IPL history but the CSK left-hander failed to deliver in a big run-chase.

For the most part of his 9-ball stay at the crease, the 31-year-old was hanging back expecting the short ball. Despite scoring a couple of boundaries, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj hurried him for pace.

He tried to move around a lot in the crease and didn’t look comfortable at the crease. Eventually, the Uttar Pradesh batsman was out trying play across the line against Umesh Yadav.

#2 Hit: Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu's 82 was one of his best IPL knocks.

Ambati Rayudu has been CSK’s best batsman in this season. He’s opened the batting, he’s batted in the middle-order and has done everything the team has asked from him.

He scored a superb 79 in the last game batting at No. 4 but he returned to the top of the order and played another excellent knock. He led CSK’s charge in the powerplay as he took the attack to the RCB bowlers. But when wickets fell around him, he held one end up. And when the time came, he went after bowlers and kept CSK in the hunt.

He had an answer to everything that was dished out to him. He kept finding the boundaries at regular intervals which meant that the required rate never had out of hand. He struck a superb 82 off 53 balls and brought CSK close. However, he was run out at a crucial moment in the game but the brilliance and calmness of MS Dhoni took CSK over the line.

#1 Hit: MS Dhoni

It was vintage Dhoni at the Chinnaswamy today.

MS Dhoni has been in good form this year. His 79 against KXIP was one of his best IPL knocks, but CSK lost that game.

In this game, Dhoni unleashed beast mode once again. Coming into bat at 74/4 in the 9th over, the CSK skipper was off the mark the second ball he faced with a magnificent six over mid-wicket. That six set the tone for his innings and he had raced off to 21 in 12 balls. And then with Rayudu going great guns at the other end, he took the back seat and rotated well. He did score boundaries when the opportunity arose.

With 99 required off the last 7 overs, Dhoni unleashed himself on the RCB bowlers as he struck a magnificent 70 off 34 balls and took CSK to an unbelievable win. The former Indian skipper was very wise with the way he paced his innings as he planned which bowlers to target.

He waited for Chahal to finish his quota and then he knew RCB didn’t have the best of death bowlers and hence, went after them. He struck 7 mammoth sixes in his unbeaten knock of 70.

And to cap off the magnificent knock, Dhoni finished things off in a typical fashion as he struck a massive six over mid-wicket on the fourth ball off the final over. Fittingly, MS Dhoni was also the Man of the Match.

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