Ravindra Jadeja, an all-rounder for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), went on a dazzling spree in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, smashing 36 runs off the final over. Harshal Patel, who had been bowling well with figures of 3/14 in three overs prior to that, ended up bowling the most expensive over in IPL history, conceding 37 runs. Jadeja struck two maximums over deep midwicket in the first two balls. Harshal then bowled a beamer, which was also caught by Jadeja. The left-hander did not relinquish control of the Free Hit, slamming another six.
On the next delivery, he took two off before ending with a six and a four.
Harshal Patel had swung the momentum in RCB’s favour with the main wickets of half-centurion Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina in the same over, and Jadeja’s stunning blitz led CSK to a total of 191/4. Later, he also shot the deadly Ambati Rayudu.
Harshal Patel is still the season’s leading wicket-taker, but that was an over he’d rather overlook.
MS Dhoni, the captain of CSK, had won the toss and elected to bat.
Their openers, du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad, got off to a fast start before Gaikwad was dismissed for 33 runs by Yuzvendra Chahal.
Faf du Plessis then crossed his half-century, putting on a 37-run stand with Raina before being dismissed off consecutive deliveries by Harshal Patel.
After that, Jadeja and Rayudu maintained their momentum before Harshal took Rayudu’s wicket.
Until Jadeja’s final-over genius, CSK seemed bound for a modest number.