MS Dhoni’s 34-ball 70 unbeaten not only helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) win against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 5 wickets but also the famed CSK skipper became the first captain to score 5000 T20 runs, which is a world record. It’s extremely surreal to see MS Dhoni, who is at the twilight of his career, win these last-over encounters with such ease.
That is exactly what makes MS Dhoni a class apart. Earlier in the day, amidst huge fan-frenzy, CSK won the toss and asked RCB to take the first strike. RCB managed to score 205, which looked like a match-winning total. AB de Villiers was the pick of the RCB batsmen as he smashed a 30-ball 68 which looked emphatic at that point. But, who knew MS Dhoni had other ideas?
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CSK played the match right down to the wire and when that happens, they emerge victorious. Today was nothing different. MS Dhoni showed nerves of steel even when the required run rate was 13+.
But this match also saw a lot of new records being created and some shattered.
MS Dhoni becomes the first captain to score 5,000 runs in T20 cricket. #RCBvCSK
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 25, 2018
THE RECORDS:
- This is the first-century stand by a CSK pair (Rayadu-Dhoni) for the fifth or lower wicket in IPL. 101 off 59 balls.
- This was the highest target chased by CSK in IPL. The previous best was also against the same opposition way back in 2012 in Chennai.
Highest targets successfully chased by CSK in IPL:
206 v RCB at Bangalore, 2018*
206 v RCB at Chennai, 2012
203 v KKR at Chennai, 2018 #RCBvsCSK— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 25, 2018
- MS Dhoni now has the most runs against RCB in IPL, he has pipped Gautam Gambhir on his way.
Most runs v RCB in IPL:
648* – MS DHONI* (and counting)
647 – Gautam Gambhir
617 – Suresh Raina#RCBvCSK— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 25, 2018
- This game also saw the most number of sixes hit in an IPL match ever. This is a big record considering this is the eleventh edition of the IPL. This match saw a total of 33 sixes being hit. The previous best was last year when Gujarat Lions played against Delhi Daredevils in Delhi, 31 sixes were hit.
Most sixes in a T20 match in India:
33 – RCB v CSK, Bangalore, 2018*
31 – DD v GL, Delhi, 2017
31 – India v SL, Indore, 2017
31 – CSK v KKR, Chennai, 2018#RCBvsCSK— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 25, 2018
- Umesh Yadav picked up 100 IPL wickets in this match. Coincidentally, this happens to be his 100th IPL match.
Umesh Yadav in IPL at the moment:
Matches – 100
Wickets – 100#RCBvCSK— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 25, 2018
The two teams are the only two sides to chase down scores in excess of 200+ twice in one IPL season.
CSK (in 2018) & KXIP (in 2014) are the only two sides to chase down 200+ targets TWICE in one #IPL season.#RCBvCSK #IPL2018
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) April 25, 2018
This win takes CSK to the top of the points table, they have played 6 matches and won 5. RCB are languishing at the sixth spot, having won 2 out of 6 matches.
