The IPL contests between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore is considered to be THE marquee contest of the tournament, not because of the rivalry and tensions due to the Kaveri issue but also because of the contest between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.
The IPL 2020 is three weeks old and finally, THE marquee clash of the tournament is upon us. On Saturday, October 10, at the Ring of Fire in Dubai, another chapter in the Kaveri Derby will be added when Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore take on MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. This contest is dubbed the ‘Ashes of the South’ or India’s cricket version of the ‘El Clasico’. The contests have often lived up to the hype. The rivalry between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings has been distinct.
In the first half of this rivalry from 2008 to 2013, barring the 2008 event, Chennai Super Kings never won at the M Chinnaswamy stadium and Royal Challengers Bangalore never won in Chepauk. However, from 2014 till now, Chennai Super Kings dictated the rivalry and pulled away in their head-to-head record.
Yet, the nature of the contests has been such that it has been thrilling and heartbreaking for fans on both sides of the Kaveri. Here is a list of some of the best matches between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
- Virat Kohli’s 28-run blunder in Chepauk heartbreak IPL 2012
Chris Gayle blasted six sixes in his knock of 68 while Virat Kohli and Mayank Agarwal made solid contributions. Chennai Super Kings pulled things back in the death overs but Royal Challengers Bangalore still managed 205/8. In response, Faf du Plessis hit 71 and MS Dhoni blasted 41 off 24 balls. However, Chennai Super Kings needed 43 off 12 balls. In came Virat Kohli to bowl the 19th over. Albie Morkel was on strike. In what proved to be a colossal blunder, Kohli was hit for three sixes and two fours as 28 runs came off the penultimate over. 17 runs were needed off the final over. Vinay Kumar bowled a no-ball and that was hit for a four followed by a six by Dwayne Bravo. When Ravindra Jadeja edged a boundary, Chennai Super Kings had secured the highest successful chase at that time. It was truly an unbelievable match.
- Two runs needed off one ball, gets caught but still CSK win
How can a team win when two runs were needed off one ball and the batsman gets caught? Yes, it did happen. ‘Sir’ Ravindra Jadeja did the unthinkable in IPL 2013. During the Kaveri Derby clash in IPL 2013 in Chepauk, Royal Challengers Bangalore batted first as Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers hammered fifties to help Royal Challengers Bangalore reach 165/6. In response, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Subramaniam Badrinath kept Chennai Super Kings in the hunt. With 16 runs needed off the final over, Ravindra Jadeja hammered a four and a six to get the equation down to 6 off 4 balls. With two runs needed off one ball, RP Singh bowled a short ball outside off and Jadeja cut it to third man. He was caught but RP Singh bowled a no-ball. In the process, the batsmen crossed and Chennai Super Kings stole an unlikely win.
- Raining sixes at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in IPL 2018
AB de Villiers blasted eight sixes in his knock of 68 and he was given good support by Mandeep Singh who hit 32. Royal Challengers Bangalore reached 205/8. In response, Ambati Rayudu walloped 82 off 53 balls which included eight sixes. MS Dhoni turned the clock back with some magnificent batting as his 70 off 34 balls included seven sixes. Chennai Super Kings won the match in blazing fashion by five wickets as a record 33 sixes were hit in the match.
- A one-run win to end the losing streak
Parthiv Patel’s 53 boosted Royal Challengers Bangalore to 161/7. However, MS Dhoni was once again in prime form and he kept Chennai Super Kings in the hunt. With 26 runs needed off the final over, it looked like the game was up for Chennai Super Kings. However, MS Dhoni unveiled his brilliant finishing. He blasted a four and three sixes, including one that hit the roof. With two runs needed off one ball, Umesh Yadav bowled an off-cutter and MS Dhoni missed. Shardul Thakur, who was in the crease and had not ventured out due to the mankading storm that was created, tried to dive but could not make it as Royal Challengers Bangalore won by one run. Had Shardul tried to venture out of the crease earlier, he would have made it. It was a thrilling way for Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore to end their losing streak against MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings.
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