In a thrilling Indian Premier League encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru secured the final playoff spot for the 2024 season by defeating Chennai in a dramatic match. Despite rain interruptions, which added to the tension, Bengaluru emerged victorious by 27 runs, capping off a remarkable six-match winning streak.

Bengaluru’s spectacular victory secure final playoff spot

The victory means Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Bengaluru has all secured playoff spots, leaving Chennai, the reigning champions, out of the running. Chennai’s spirited fightback, led by Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni’s powerful hitting, ultimately fell short, marking a disappointing end to their title defense.

Batting first, Bengaluru set a formidable total of 218 runs, with key contributions from Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell. Rain briefly halted play with Bengaluru at 31/0 after 2.6 overs, but the match soon resumed. Virat Kohli fell to Mitchell Santner for 78/1 after 9.1 overs, followed by Rajat Patidar’s unfortunate run-out, leaving Bengaluru at 113/2 after 12.6 overs. Daryl Mitchell and Shardul Thakur took crucial wickets, but Bengaluru maintained their momentum, finishing at 218/5 after 19.6 overs.

Chennai end in heartbreaking defeat

In response, Chennai suffered an early blow with Glenn Maxwell dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad on the first ball. Yash Dayal then removed Daryl Mitchell, and Lockie Ferguson took Ajinkya Rahane’s wicket, leaving Chennai at 85/3 after 9.1 overs. Despite a fightback, Maxwell’s run-out of Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube’s dismissal by Cameron Green added to Chennai’s woes. Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal’s effective bowling sealed Chennai’s fate, with MS Dhoni’s dismissal marking their seventh wicket down. Despite their efforts, Chennai fell short, scoring only 191 runs.

See Also: Is it the end for Dhoni? Looking at the memorable IPL journey

Speculation now swirls around whether this was MS Dhoni’s final IPL appearance. Despite Chennai’s determined efforts, injuries and exceptional opposition batting during the latter half of the season proved insurmountable. The home crowd roared as Bengaluru showcased excellent composure under pressure, securing their place in the playoffs with a significant win.