Chennai Super Kings were on the cusp of elimination three times in IPL 2012 but they escaped each and every time as other teams choked.
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The 2012 edition of the Indian Premier League was going to see something spectacular. Chennai Super Kings, led by MS Dhoni, had won the title two consecutive times in 2010 and 2011. They were now on the cusp of elimination in the league stages itself in IPL 2012. The league stages had seen Chennai Super Kings put up an inconsistent show. In their first five games, they lost three and won only two matches. Dhoni’s team put up a better performance in the next six games, winning four games and losing only two with one game against Royal Challengers Bangalore being abandoned.
In the last remaining games, Chennai Super Kings was plagued with inconsistency yet again. They lost to Mumbai Indians but crucially, they lost to Kings XI Punjab in their last league game. Chennai Super Kings were the first team to play all their 16 league games and now the opportunity was ripe for other teams to capitalize.
There were six league games remaining in IPL 2012. The top three spots were decided with Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians secure. The battle for the fourth spot boiled down to Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals.
Kings XI Punjab needed to win their last game against Delhi Daredevils. They were also hoping that Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore do not win more than one game. Chennai Super Kings had to ensure that Kings XI Punjab lost and also that Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals do not win more than one game. Thus, the remaining three teams had four opportunities to knock Chennai Super Kings out.
However, there was something in the stars that aligned spectacularly for Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. Deccan Chargers defeated Rajasthan Royals to knock them out of contention. Delhi Capitals did both Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore a big favour by defeating Kings XI Punjab and knocking them out of the play-off race. Royal Challengers Bangalore, though, remained in contention as they defeated Delhi Daredevils.
Heading into their final league game of IPL 2012 on May 20, the equation was simple for Royal Challengers Bangalore. They had to win against Deccan Chargers. A loss by any margin would mean they would be eliminated. It seemed a hopeless situation for Chennai Super Kings.
Royal Challengers Bangalore reduced Deccan Chargers to 51/4 in the 12th over at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium. However, JP Duminy blasted 74 off 53 balls which included five sixes and four boundaries. Deccan Chargers reached 132/7 thanks to Duminy’s knock. In response, Chris Gayle started off like a train. The left-hander smashed 24 runs in one over Manpreet Gony that included three fours and two sixes. Royal Challengers Bangalore were going to knock out Chennai Super Kings in a big way.
But, disaster struck in the form of the ‘Steyn-Gun’. Dale Steyn produced a magical spell in which he dismissed Gayle for 27. When Steyn dismissed Tillakaratne Dilshan, Royal Challengers Bangalore stalled. Virat Kohli was still there but RCB could manage just 54 in nine overs. Amit Mishra tightened the screws when he dismissed both AB de Villiers and Mayank Agarwal in quick succession.
Suddnely, Chennai Super Kings fans found their voice. The impossible was going to happen. In the last six overs, RCB needed 56 runs from 36 balls. Saurabh Tiwary and Virat Kohli hit a six and a four in subsequent overs to ease the pressure. But, when Ashish Reddy dismissed Kohli for 42, the game was done. Steyn got the wicket of Zaheer Khan to end with figures of 3/8. RCB needed 22 off 12 balls with Tiwary the key. However, when he mistimed a short ball from Veer Pratap Singh to fall for 30, the game was up for RCB.
RCB needed 12 off the last over but Ashish Reddy held his nerve and took two wickets as they lost by nine runs.
In the space of three results, Chennai Super Kings entered the playoffs in the most dramatic manner. Deccan Chargers did them a favour by beating both Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Delhi Daredevils laid the foundation when they defeated Kings XI Punjab. But, it was Deccan Chargers that knocked both Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore out of contention in two consecutive games.
Chennai Super Kings peaked in the playoffs as they knocked Mumbai Indians out in the eliminator. This was the first season in which the new playoff format was tested. They pounced upon Delhi Daredevils’ team composition issues to knock them out in the second qualifier. In the final, they faced Kolkata Knight Riders but they lost to an inspired knock of 89 by Manvinder Bisla to win the IPL for the first time.
Chennai Super Kings would make it to the playoffs in every edition of the IPL that they played in. It would be a proud record until 2020, when coronavirus and team issues saw them finishing seventh and not entering the playoffs for the first time in their history.
The 2012 IPL season was made interesting primarily due to Chennai Super Kings’ inconsistency. The two-time champions were on the cusp of elimination three times, but each time, they survived. As the old saying goes, three times is the charm.
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