IPL 2018, CSK vs RCB: 3 masterstrokes from the game
The second encounter between two heavyweights this year, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, ended with yet another successful chase from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, thereby taking Chennai to the top of the points table.
CSK dominated the game right from the beginning and it down to the brilliant bowling display from pacers and spinners, with the latter pricing out half of the side in the middle overs.
Despite chasing a modest 128 to win, CSK faced a minor stutter in the middle overs, but calm and smart batsmanship from Dhoni and Bravo assured an easy win, preventing yet another last over heart stopper for their fans. We take a look at the three masterstrokes from CSK skipper which were instrumental to their victory.
#1 Bowling spinners in tandem
When the pitch assists spin, no captain in the world can make the most of it in recent times, other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He proved this theory by Harsha Bhogle again in this match and breaking the myth that only mystery bowlers or wrist spinners can be successful in the shortest format.
Ravindra Jadeja was introduced into the spell as soon as the powerplay overs got over and removed RCB captain Virat Kohli with a 100kmph delivery straightening off a length, hurrying the batsman.
Dhoni brought another finger spinner in Harbhajan Singh at the other end, and it again proved to be a masterstroke by getting the prize wicket of AB de Villiers who was stumped by him.
What followed is a marathon four over spells by both the bowlers and thereby squeezing the life out of RCB batsmen in the middle overs by giving away only 40 runs between them and pricing out five wickets, restricting them to 127.