IPL 2024 Playoffs: RCB join Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final 4
Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs to claim the fourth and final play-off position in the Indian Premier League. The Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already qualified for the play-offs. RCB faced CSK in a must-win match and recorded a difficult 218/5. Skipper Faf du Plessis (54) and Virat Kohli (47) shared 78 runs for the opening wicket in 9.4 overs after the match was halted by rain at the conclusion of the third over. Rajat Patidar batted at No.3 and scored 41 off 23 balls, combining for 71 runs with Cameron Green (38 not out off 17) for the second wicket to maintain the tempo.Dinesh Karthik (14 off 6) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off 5) made brief cameo appearances to help RCB win. CSK needed 201 runs to make the playoffs due to a higher run rate even if they lost, but they only managed 191/7. Rachin Ravindra hit 61 off 37 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane made 42 not out and 33, respectively. Towards the end, the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who might have played his final IPL match, scored a 13-ball 25-run cameo. But that wasn’t enough. Yash Dayal maintained his cool in the final over and returned figures of 2/42 for RCB.
