Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Royal Challengers Bengaluru after they made it to the playoffs of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024 by beating the defending champions Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday.
RCB needed to win by at least 18 runs and they were able to restrict CSK to 191-7 after posting 218 runs on the board. Meanwhile, RCB could only manage a solitary win out of their first eight matches but they were able to turn the tables as they won six matches on the bounce to make it to the last four.
RCB came with an aggressive batting approach and their bowlers were also able to execute their plans to perfection.
“What a game, what a season. Such comebacks are also possible. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru did an incredible job – Royal Comeback Bengaluru. They changed their name this year and have changed their deeds. The start was not that good. It seemed like they wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. Take a bow,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator hailed Yash Dayal for bouncing back in the ongoing season. Dayal was smashed for five consecutive sixes by Rinku Singh in the previous season however he was able to defend 17 runs against CSK and got the big wicket of MS Dhoni.
“Fantastic, whether it was Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis or Yash Dayal. Remember, there was a night when 29 runs were scored in the last over, five sixes, and today was a night where despite being hit off the first ball, he didn’t even concede 11 runs off the next five balls. They have reached the playoffs after a disastrous start to the tournament,” Chopra observed.
Meanwhile, after being put into bat, RCB scored 31 in the first three overs before rain intervened. After the halt, the ball was turning square but Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli did a great job in adding 78 runs for the opening alliance. The renowned commentator hailed the opening duo for bringing their best in the difficult conditions.
“They scored 30 runs off three overs at the start. Then the rain came and suddenly the pitch changed. The ball was spinning yards. It was important for Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis to play there, to keep fighting, and not to concede defeat. The pitch changed after that,” he said.
RCB will be in action against either RR or SRH in the Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
