IPL 2020: Yuzvendra Chahal Emerges As RCB’s ‘Match-Turner’ Against Hyderabad

A split-second brain-fade and a moment of genius, off successive balls, orchestrated an escape for Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad. A familiar defeat loomed when Jonny Bairstow was chewing into the seemingly inadequate target of 164, riding his bravado as much as good fortune. But two deliveries by Yuzvendra Chahal rewrote the script and destiny of the contest, which Bangalore nicked by 10 runs.
The first ball was nothing extraordinary — a loopy, full delivery on leg-stump, utterly harmless. But Bairstow, a drop of fatigue kicking in, heaved wildly, the sort of shot that used to be the staple of a 90s tail-ender. The Yorkshireman missed the ball completely and got himself bowled. The usually inexpressive Bairstow hit the bat on the ground in anger. Maybe, he knew his team, thin on middle-order heft, would unfold. And unfold they did with chaotic ineptitude.