In a high-octane clash at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locked horns in a crucial match to decide their playoff fate. CSK won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to capitalize on the ground’s reputation as an excellent chasing venue.

RCB’s Flying Start

RCB’s openers, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, came out with all guns blazing. Kohli, in particular, looked in sublime touch, piercing the gaps with ease and rotating the strike efficiently. Du Plessis played a captain’s knock alongside him, steadily building the innings.

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The Turning Point

The game’s momentum shifted dramatically on the last ball of the 13th over. Mitchell Santner, bowling to Rajat Patidar, created an unexpected opportunity. Patidar drilled the ball straight back, and Santner got a fingertip on it. The ball deviated onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end, catching Faf du Plessis out of his crease.

The third umpire found Faf’s bat in the air, which wasn’t conceived well by the RCB players. They were convinced that the skipper had made his ground and was unfairly given out in the high-voltage encounter. 

Analyzing the Run-Out

The on-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire, Michael Gough. Multiple replays were examined to determine if du Plessis’ bat was in the air when the bails were dislodged. After several looks and an UltraEdge confirmation that Santner had touched the ball, the decision was made – Faf du Plessis was run out for 54 off 39 balls.

Fan Reactions

The run-out of Faf du Plessis sparked a debate among fans. Social media platforms were abuzz with opinions, some supporting the umpire’s decision and others questioning it. The controversial dismissal became a talking point, dividing opinions.