Chennai Super Kings lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by 37 runs in Dubai. This was the fifth loss for CSK in seven games as their losing streak in this IPL season continues. Meanwhile, the was RCB’s biggest win in terms of runs over their arch-rivals in the competition. RCB and KKR both are on eight points each from six games. KKR is just above RCB on the fourth position. This is the first time after 2010, that CSK has lost five games in an IPL season. Their chances of making it to the final four look really difficult after this loss.
Virat Kohli Shines For Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. They did not have the best of starts as Aaron Finch (2) was dismissed cheaply. Devdutt Padikkal (33) added a 53-run stand with skipper Kohli before he was dismissed. It was a special night for the RCB skipper as he looked in from the right from the start.
He almost singlehandedly took Royal Challengers Bangalore to 169 after AB De Villiers was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Bangalore were 93 for 4 after 14.3 overs after Washington Sundar was dismissed for 10. Kohli along with Shivam Dube (22*) 76 runs in the last five overs to get them to a total which at the end proved to be enough.
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The CSK bowling attack leaked runs and more so in the death overs. Sam Curran and Shardul Thakur bowled with an economy of over 10. CSK’s death over specialist Dwayne Bravo bowled a wicketless spell giving away 29 runs in three overs. Bravo’s inability to take wickets at the death is what has been hurting CSK badly in the season so far.
In the chase, CSK lost their openers quickly. Shane Watson (14) and Faf Du Plessis (8) both fell to Washington Sundar inside the powerplay. Ambati Rayudu (42) and N Jagadeeshan (33) batted without any intent in the middle-overs to leave a lot for the lower-middle order to do in the final overs. They were not urgent with their running between the wickets and neither with their strokeplay. This aspect of their 64-run stand in nearly 10 overs was hugely criticised by the television commentators.
MS Dhoni’s Poor Form Continues
MS Dhoni walked out to bat at number five for CSK in this game. He scored 10 off 6 balls before he was dismissed by RC spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Sam Curran (0), Ravindra Jadeja (7) and Dwayne Bravo (7) couldn’t force the pace in the death overs and ultimately CSK fell short by 37 runs to hand RCB their fourth win of this IPL campaign. They finished on 132 for 8 in their 20 overs.
Chris Morris playing his first game for Royal Challengers Bangalore came back to clean up the Chennai lower-order after Sundar’s double strike at the top.
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What was the Turing Point of the Game?
The pair of Rayudu and Jagadeeshan lacking intent in their partnership in the middle-overs turned out to be the turning point in the game for CSK.
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli for his knock of 90 was awarded the Man of the Match. This was his second fifty-plus score in the tournament. He has scored 223 runs from six matches at an average of 55.75
so far in the tournament.
“It was one of our most complete performances. We got into a bit of a tricky position in the first half. From there on, we pushed forward. We spoke during the second timeout (with the bat) that 140-150 would be good. Ended up getting more than that. It was a tricky pitch. Really pleased to get two points” said Kohli after his team’s fourth win in this IPL season.
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