From Chinnaswamy to Chennai: A rivalry of the cults
What defines rivalry? Are they always based on how closely two teams have fought and how balanced the results have been?
Or are there factors that run beyond success and failure rates? Some of the fiercest rivalries in sports do not take into account head to head records. Be it an India vs Pakistan cricket clash or El Clasico or Federer vs Nadal, the numbers generate the pre-match curiosity but fade into oblivion as soon as the match starts. In the 12 years of the IPL, CSK and RCB have developed a similar rivalry. Here are the three matches between the two sides which gave racy heartbeats to the fans on either side.
RCB vs CSK, Bengaluru, April 21, 2019
The last over of this match continues to be etched in the memory of every cricket fan.
CSK won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first. Parthiv Patel’s fiery innings that saw him hit 4 sixes and 2 fours in his 37-ball 53 compensated Virat Kohli’s loss early in the innings. A few handy contributions lower down the order, particularly from Moeen Ali (26 off 16), propelled them to 161. In reply, CSK had a nightmarish start. The scores of the top 5 read: 5,5,0,29,9. But just when RCB would have thought that they had it easy, they hit the wall: MS Dhoni. In his usual style, Dhoni took the game to the last over. With CSK needing 26 runs, Kohli handed the ball to Umesh Yadav. Here’s what followed for the next 5 balls: 4, 6, 6, 2, 6. Two needed off One. And given how Dhoni was hitting, it seemed all over. One of the greatest finishers in the game had almost snatched it away from the RCB. Umesh bowled a slower outside off, Dhoni failed to connect but ran. He had to. The non-striker, Shardul Thakur, did too. But was not quite quick to beat the direct hit from Parthiv.
In a nutshell, cricket is a game of inches and singles. It was proved once again that night. Despite having clubbed 7 sixes and 5 fours in 48-ball 84 runs innings, Dhoni fell a run shorter because the non-striker was a few inches slower.
CSK vs RCB, Ranchi, May 18, 2014
“Probably one of the most difficult pitches I have ever played on,” said ABD after he was adjudged the Man of the Match for his 14-ball 28 that included 3 sixes and a four. The number of runs that he scored isn’t a true reflection on the impact his innings created. Earlier in the day, CSK were fully aware that the pitch was going to deteriorate as the day would progress. So, they opted to bat first and Suresh Raina’s one-man show dragged them to 138 for 4 at the end of 20.
Chasing 139 on a track that was slowing down with every ball that kissed its surface, RCB needed 64 runs off the last 35 deliveries when De Villiers walked in after the dismissal of Kohli. Kohli’s innings had lasted 29 balls, fetching him 27 runs. The superman targeted David Hussey first, hitting him for a six on the last delivery of 16th over.
Then one in the next over of Ashwin. David Hussey came back to bowl the 18th over and Mr 360 clubbed him for a six and a four on the first two deliveries. Hussey did manage to see ABD’s back on the last delivery of the over but by then the equation had come well within RCB’s reach. And Yuvraj Singh and Nechim Ahmed provided the finishing touches in the final over to keep their team alive in the tournament.
RCB vs CSK, Johannesburg, May 23, 2009
In just the 2nd edition of the tournament, RCB reached the final. But only after engaging in a grueling semi-final against CSK at Johannesburg. Having opted to bowl first, RCB would have hoped for a better start than what they got. CSK raced to 61/1 in 7 overs. But RCB did well to restrict the Yellow Army’s charge. In the next 13 overs, CSK could add only 85 runs and a target of 147 was set for the Anil Kumble-led side.
RCB’s start was way off the plan and they were 22/2 inside 3 overs. However, Manish Pandey, who was opening the innings, kept one end secured while ensuring a regular flow of runs. Cracking 7 fours in his 35-ball 48 runs innings, Pandey took RCB closer to the target even as Rahul Dravid aptly supported him with his 39-ball 44. RCB hunted down the target with a ball and an over to spare.
So, RCBians which is your favourite RCB vs CSK encounter? Let us know in the comments section.
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