Chennai: In a nail-biting Indian Premier League (IPL) showdown at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) edged past the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by a mere two runs in a last-ball thriller. Following the agonizing defeat, CSK skipper MS Dhoni took ownership of the loss, lamenting his inability to convert crucial shots during his innings.
The fiercely contested match saw young CSK batsman Ayush Mhatre blaze his way to a stunning 94 off just 48 deliveries, studded with nine boundaries and five towering sixes. He found admirable support in Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on a valiant 77 from 45 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. Their magnificent 114-run partnership for the third wicket, spanning 64 deliveries, had seemingly put CSK in a commanding position while chasing a target of 214.
However, the equation dwindled to a tantalizing four runs needed off the final delivery, a challenge that CSK ultimately failed to conquer. Reflecting on the tense moments, Dhoni stated to the broadcasters, “When I went into bat, with the kind of deliveries and the runs needed, I felt I should have converted a couple more shots to ease the pressure. I take the blame.”
Acknowledging the challenges faced by his team throughout a season marked by both on-field and off-field issues, Dhoni pointed out a specific area where his batters struggled. He noted their relative discomfort in executing the low full toss, a delivery that has become increasingly prevalent in modern cricket. “Not all batters are comfortable playing that (the paddle) shot. (It is) something the batters need to practice in the modern era. But most of our batters are not comfortable playing it,” he explained. He did, however, commend the overall batting performance in this particular match, adding, “Jadeja plays that shot but he was backing his shots (down the ground) more. Batting was an area where we were slightly behind. But today, as a department, feel the batting did very well.”
On the victorious side, RCB captain Rajat Patidar lauded the collective effort of his batsmen and specifically praised the nerve of young bowler Yash Dayal in the crucial final over. Despite conceding a six early in the over, Dayal held his composure and executed his low full tosses with precision, ultimately denying CSK the winning runs. “It was a tight game but credit goes to the batsmen the way they batted. The way the bowlers shown the courage, it was tremendous,” Patidar remarked. He expressed his faith in Dayal’s abilities, stating, “He (Dayal) is a main bowler of the team, he is a death specialist, it was a clear-cut thought to give the last over to Yash. Last year also he did well and I’m happy for him. I had confidence in Suyash (Sharma) also, till now he has been bowling good overs for RCB.”
RCB’s all-rounder Romario Shepherd played a pivotal role in his team’s triumph, smashing a blistering unbeaten 53 off just 14 balls. His explosive innings, which included six towering sixes and four boundaries, earned him the distinction of recording the fastest half-century of the current IPL season and ultimately proved to be the decisive factor between the two sides. Crediting his power-hitting prowess, Shepherd said, “(It is due to) my base and the way I swing. Timmy (Tim David) was telling me to just hold my shape and swing from there as the ball as holding.” He also highlighted the positive impact of the team’s batting coach and mentor, Dinesh Karthik, on their recent performances, stating, “The first couple of games we were failing as a batting unit. DK (Dinesh Karthik, batting coach and mentor) took us and gave us specific work, it paid off today.”
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