Winning the toss and electing to field first did not work out well for Ruturaj Gaikwad and his team, as their bowlers conceded 218 runs in 20 overs despite a rain break.
The chase started shakily for the visitors, but a 66-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings.
However, RCB bowlers fought back during the middle and slog overs. Despite the mounting pressure, Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja’s resilient performance kept the audience on the edge of their seats, with Dhoni’s gigantic six stealing the spotlight.
Needing 17 runs in the last over to qualify, Yash Dayal bowled a full-toss at the leg stump, which Dhoni slogged across the line. The 42-year-old got a top edge, but the swing was so powerful that the ball flew over the fine leg boundary, crashing into the upper tier of the stadium.
The fact that Kohli chased Dhoni to the dressing room after the game when he left without shaking hands tells you a lot about Kohli's character. True sportsmanship ❤️pic.twitter.com/H4Z6nQOqUG
— Yashvi (@BreatheKohli) May 19, 2024
Although Dayal had the last laugh by dismissing Dhoni on the next ball, the Twitterverse buzzed with the realization that this could potentially be the farewell big hit from the former CSK skipper in the Yellow jersey.
