MATCH REPORT
Follow UsIt is Ravindra Jadeja’s world and we are just living in it. We are lucky to see a magician in flesh and blood gracing our sport with utmost authority. In what was one of the most complete T20 performances of all-time, the Saurashtra man, donning the canary yellow, dazzled at the Wankhede arena. He did not just stun Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore single-handedly, but also landed an important reminder of his unmatched quality as an all-format performer in all the disciplines.
It all started with a flat six over cow corner on the first delivery of the 19th over. Little did anyone know that the same Jadeja, who had difficulties in tackling Mohammed Siraj in the previous over, would launch a scathing assault on the best bowler of the season so far in such a fashion. A no-ball included, the over yielded CSK 37 runs - the joint highest in an over in the IPL. Length turned into bad length and then the high full toss, Jadeja had won the final over battle with the final over decimator - MS Dhoni - quietly watching from the other end.
CSK, who thanks to Faf du Plessis got to a score of 110/1 in 13 overs, could breathe easy, having posted 191 at the end - with Jadeja contributing 62 off 28 balls. Harshal Patel was bereft of ideas with every single one of them being dispatched and in the process, RCB lost the crucial momentum they had generated by tying down the middle-order with a neat exhibition of slower balls and yorkers.
Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad was in his elements, matching du Plessis stroke for stroke, although he was more cautious in his approach whenever the Saffer would put his foot on the accelerator. He graciously took on Navdeep Saini to free himself up and aim for the skies, but that never arrived in the truest sense. A classical leg-break from Yuzvendra Chahal turned just enough to force him for a slog where Kyle Jamieson was stationed at deep mid. His 33, however, set up a base for Suresh Raina to build on. Raina blew hot and blew cold as he struck three sixes in his cameo of 24.
Yet, the fireworks were far and few in between, leaving CSK much to do. MS Dhoni promoted himself up in the order ahead of Sam Curran (however, strange that sounds) was a move that could have had a discourse of its own but eventually, it hardly mattered.
192 was always going to be a stiff target to track down but if any side could have done it efficiently, it was Royal Challengers Bangalore. The side with hefty T20 stocks started with a four, courtesy of Virat Kohli. RCB raced to 44 as Kohli once again played second fiddle to Devdutt Padikkal. But an ambitious waft outside off cut short the skipper's aspirations. Padikkal also couldn't kick on and was caught at square leg off Shardul Thakur. RCB were 65 for 2 when MS Dhoni introduced Ravindra Jadeja into the attack in the seventh over and it turned out to be a masterstroke.
In his next three overs, Jadeja scalped a wicket each to break RCB’s back. Especially when two of the names were Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers. Things fell in place anyway and he complimented that with a direct throw to dismiss Dan Christian. RCB were caught completely off-guard following Jadeja’s carnage and easily, the world lost their calm too.
Being down for 89-7 in 12 overs was not a position RCB fans would have thought of their team when they ended the PP with 65-2 but that’s the beauty of the sport. Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Siraj hung around to entertain everyone with their theatrics but runs continued at a premium.
Chennai Super Kings secured their fourth consecutive win of the tournament to reach the top of the table while Royal Challengers Bangalore, with their first loss in five games, made way for their Cauvery Derby rivals. Both sides will now change their bubble once again for the second phase of the Indian Premier League. RCB will take on Delhi Capitals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Apr 27 (Tue) while CSK will square off against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on the following day.
