I dedicate the Player of the Match to Yash Dayal: Faf du Plessis
In a nail-biting virtual knockout, RCB emerged triumphant against CSK in a match that went down to the wire.
Last over, 17 to win. Yash Dayal at the top of his mark. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja being the two batters occupying the crease. The stage was set for a captivating climax.
Six deliveries later, it was Dayal who came out on top, steering his side to not just any victory, but one which secured them a berth in the playoffs. Despite being hit for a towering six over long leg measuring 110 meters, Dayal demonstrated incredible composure, conceding just a single run in the subsequent five deliveries. His exceptional control was evident after executing a daring back-of-the-hand slower delivery that bamboozled the formidable Dhoni, leading to a catch down deep square leg's throat. Even the blazing form of Jadeja wasn't enough, as he failed to connect with the last two deliveries of the match, ensuring RCB's unforgettable triumph.
Skipper of RCB, Faf du Plessis, was adjudged the Player of the Match award for top-scoring for his side with 54 (39), as well as plucking a worldie at wide mid-off to dismiss Mitchell Santner which compounded further pressure on CSK's batting lineup. Speaking during the post-match conference about how he felt that the match shouldn't drift away from RCB's clenched fists during Dhoni's time in the middle given the number of instances where the former Indian captain has come out on top, he lauded the manner Dayal bowled with the wet ball, and also stated that he would like to dedicate the POTM award to the 26-year-old for his commendable nervelessness and the ability to soak in the pressure in its totality, despite his recent introduction to death-bowling duties.
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"Obviously, it got a bit close there. At one stage with MS [Dhoni] there, it felt like 'oh dear, no! Don't let it go his way'. He's done it so many times. I thought the way we bowled with the wet ball - we tried to get the ball changed a few times, but it was tough for the bowlers. For me, I dedicate the Player of the Match to Yash Dayal. The way he bowled tonight was unbelievable. That pressure at the back end for a guy who is pretty new to the role, he deserves the POTM," exclaimed du Plessis during the post-match conference.
Trust your skills, you've been really good, and enjoy this: du Plessis to Dayal
In a match where bowlers struggled to execute yorkers, du Plessis confessed that he believed slowing down the pace on the particular pitch they were playing on was the wisest course of action. He also disclosed the conversation he had with the left-arm bowler after Dhoni dispatched a purposeful yorker which ended up as a hip-high leg-stump full-toss for a six, advising him to have confidence in his abilities and skills, given his history of excelling in pressure situations and bowling variations. Following their discussion, the bowler performed remarkably well, which du Plessis was really proud of.
"I said pace off on this wicket is the best option. Trust your skills, you've been really good, and enjoy this. So he tried to bowl the first one as a yorker, but the whole night the yorker wasn't working, so told him to go back to his pace-off and he did that unbelievably well," shared du Plessis.
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