IPL 2019 | MS Dhoni gave us a huge scare, admits Virat Kohli

In Sunday’s second encounter, the Chennai Super Kings had won the toss and put Royal Challengers Bangalore to bat first. RCB could only manage a total of 161, courtesy a fifty from Parthiv Patel and decent starts from the remaining batsmen. But the fast bowlers, especially Dale Steyn gave an excellent start to the second innings as they sent back four CSK batsmen back to the dressing room within the powerplay itself. The Chennai-based franchise kept losing wickets throughout the innings and was unable to keep up with the run rate. 

The equation had come down to 26 off the final over, with the skipper MS Dhoni being CSK’s lone hope against Umesh Yadav. Dhoni blasted three sixes, a four and a two in the first five deliveries. RCB skipper Virat Kohli sank in as the equation had come down to two off the final ball, but Umesh held on to his nerve and bowled a slower one, which the 37-year-old failed to connect. He ran to take a single, but the wicket-keeper ensured the bails are off before the non-striker Shardul Thakur could reach the crease.

The Royal Challengers’ camp was all smiles as they managed to clinch the game by a margin of a run. However, Kohli did not shy away from the fact that Dhoni did give them a massive scare.

"A whole lot of emotion. We were outstanding with the ball until the 19th over mark. Defending 160 on that sort of pitch and the amount of dew we had was an outstanding effort. On the last ball, that (run out) was the last thing I would've expected to happen. Feels good to win a game by a small margin. We've lost a couple by small margins. MS did what he does best and he gave us all a massive scare,” he said, at the post-match presentation ceremony, reported PTI.

RCB had a horrible run this season as they started with six losses in a row. But the bottom-placed side has salvaged some of their reputation by winning three of the last four games, and the skipper was delighted with his teams’ efforts.

“We have said a lot of things in the nine games. But if you don't have confidence, none of those things matter. In the last couple of games we just said go out there and do your thing. In T20 cricket, you are going to be put under the pump. It's how well you bounce back that matters and tonight was an example of that,” rejoiced the 30-year-old.

RCB will next face Kings XI Punjab on April 24 in another home game.