Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) qualified for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs after an intense showdown with Chennai Super Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday and their wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik credited MS Dhoni for that.
In one of the best matches of the season, Chennai needed to score 201 runs in 20 overs as they were batting second. While RCB managed to halt their opponents considerably, Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni almost took the game away from them.
On the first ball of the last over, Dhoni smashed a massive 110-metre six on Yash Dayal’s knee-height full toss that went out of the ground. The ball had to be replaced after which Dayal managed to remove the 42-year-old on the very next ball and conceded only 1 run in the remaining four deliveries.
Karthik, who scored 14 off 6, was heard saying in a video posted by RCB that the new ball helped Dayal bowl smoothly which cruised them to victory.
"The best thing to happen today was Dhoni hitting that six outside the ground (because) we got a new ball, which was much better (drier) to bowl with," Karthik said.
Remember, RCB finished the round stage with 14 points and will now play Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals or Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders have been booked to play Qualifier 1 after they bagged 19 points in the 13 games.
RR and SRH will battle for the Qualifier 1 spot on the last day of the league stage. SRH are scheduled to play Punjab Kings in the opening fixture of the day while RR play KKR later in the night.
If SRH win, they will hope RR to lose but if they can’t beat PBKS, Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan will play KKR in Qualifier 1 on May 21.
IPL 2024 Playoffs Schedule
May 21: Qualifier 1 — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals/Sunrisers Hyderabad @ Ahmedabad
May 22: Eliminator — Rajasthan Royals/Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru @ Ahmedabad
May 24: Qualifier 2 — Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator @ Chennai
May 26: Final — Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2 @ Chennai