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Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane pulled off a jaw-dropping relay catch to send Virat Kohli back to pavilion during IPL 2024's season opener clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22. While RCB had a strong start thanks to Faf du Plessis' powerplay assault, CSK clawed their way back into the game after the initial six overs. Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman played a key role in CSK's resurgence. However, it was a sensational display of teamwork that truly stole the show. In the 12th over, Mustafizur delivered a deceptive slower ball, angling it away from Virat Kohli. The former RCB captain attempted a powerful shot towards deep mid-wicket, but the ball lacked the desired power.
Rahane-Rachin's relay catch sends marching orders to Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane, stationed at deep mid-wicket, showcased exceptional athleticism. He raced towards his right, tracking the ball intently, and managed to grab the catch. However, realizing he might touch the boundary rope, Rahane displayed remarkable presence of mind. In a split second, he cleverly flicked the ball upwards towards his teammate Rachin Ravindra, who was positioned at deep square leg. Ravindra, stationed perfectly, completed the catch with ease, dismissing the crucial wicket of Virat Kohli. This combined effort by Rahane and Ravindra not only dismissed a dangerous batsman, but also showcased the importance of teamwork in high-pressure situations.
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Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman continued his impressive spell after dismissing Virat Kohli in the 12th over. He quickly followed it up with the wicket of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. Mustafizur's second delivery to Green was a clever change of pace. Unlike the slower ball that got Kohli, this was a full-length delivery that angled into the batsman's leg stump. Green, perhaps expecting another slower ball and attempting a cut shot, completely missed the line of the delivery. The ball deceived him, snuck past the bat, and rattled the stumps, marking Mustafizur's fourth wicket of the match.
This dismissal highlighted Mustafizur's bowling prowess. He effectively varied his pace and line, creating confusion for the batsmen. Mustafizur's efforts significantly dented RCB's momentum after a strong start provided by Faf du Plessis in the powerplay. While RCB raced to 33/0 in the first three overs, Mustafizur turned the tide, picking up the wickets of Faf, Rajat Patidar, Kohli, and Green, leaving RCB in a precarious position of 78/5. However, Dinesh Karthik (38 off 26) and Anuj Rawat (48 off 25) steadied RCB's boat with commendable knocks and helped them to post a challenging total of 173/6.
Chennai Super Kings' Playing XI
Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni(w), Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman, Tushar Deshpande.
CSK Impact Players: Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Moeen Ali, Shardul Thakur, and Shivam Dube
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Playing XI
Faf du Plessis(c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat(w), Karn Sharma, Alzarri Joseph, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj.
RCB Impact Players: Yash Dayal, Suyash Prabhudessai, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, and Swapnil Singh
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