The Mayhem in Chinnaswamy! In an absolute Indian T20 League classic, Bengaluru has defied all odds and pulled off the impossible, edging out Chennai to secure a playoff spot. Despite the looming threat of rain and a brief passing shower, Bengaluru needed to win by at least 18 runs but surpassed expectations by securing a 27-run victory. This remarkable triumph, marked by six consecutive wins, clinched them the fourth and final playoff berth.

Spare a thought for Chennai, who staged a roaring comeback in the latter stages of the match. The formidable duo of Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni nearly snatched victory, but it wasn’t meant to be. As a result, the reigning champions are now out of the competition, marking a dramatic end to their campaign.

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Understanding Adjusted On-batter Impact on CSK Innings

What a game this was for the home side, Bengaluru. Backed by a vociferous crowd, their players stepped up and got the job done. They had a target to defend, and only one number mattered: 201. They managed to keep Chennai 10 runs short of that mark. The hosts got off to a fine start with the ball, as Glenn Maxwell dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad on the very first delivery and soon after claimed Daryl Mitchell.

Despite some resistance in the middle, Bengaluru picked up multiple wickets in quick succession, almost losing the plot in the final four overs. Yash Dayal bowled a pressure-packed final over after both Mohammed Siraj and Lockie Ferguson had conceded heavily in the previous two overs. Dayal gave away a six off the first ball but held his nerve, conceding just one more run. This performance marked a great redemption story for the pacer after his previous season’s mishap against Rinku Singh.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Chennai, and perhaps this was MS Dhoni’s last dance a speculation we face almost every year. Dhoni and the team gave it their all but were undone by a few injuries and some great cricket from the opposition in the latter half of the season. Rachin Ravindra had a modest maiden season in the Indian T20 League, but he showed his prowess in the big game. Alongside Ajinkya Rahane, he steadied the ship after losing two early wickets.

Once Rahane fell, Rachin had to take on the bowlers more aggressively, especially since Shivam Dube couldn’t get going. It all went downhill when Rachin was run out, triggering a mini-collapse and leaving Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni with too much to do. The duo did manage to hit a few lusty blows, but Dhoni getting out in the 20th over was the final nail in the coffin.

During the powerplay overs, RCB bowlers induced false shots 41.6% of the time and claimed 2 crucial wickets. Their effectiveness increased from overs 13 to 15, with false shots induced 61.2% of the time and 3 key wickets taken, highlighting their growing impact as the innings progressed. CSK’s only positive phase came from overs 16 to 19, when they connected with high true shots 62.5% of the time, indicating a period of strong batting performance and execution.