Amidst the scare of a global pandemic, we had the successful inauguration of the much awaited IPL. There can’t be a better way to start the tournament than a CSK vs MI encounter. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the two most successful IPL teams with Mumbai bagging 4 trophies while Chennai bagging 3 of them. Today we witnessed the first exhibition of this rivalry this season. A chase of 163 was heading towards a tight finish when a cameo from Sam Curran decided the match in CSK’s favour.

MS decides to field first

MS Dhoni won the toss and invited MI to bat first. MI were off to a flier before introduction of spin inside powerplay applied the brakes. Chawla accounted for Rohit- unable to clear mid off. Dangerous looking de Kock, who had already hit 5 boundaries was caught at mid wicket off Sam Curran. Surya Kumar Yadav and the surprise inclusion Saurabh Tiwary then built the innings for MI. Tiwary with his big hits and regular boundaries proved his selection right. After Yadav’s dismissal , caught at long on off Chahar, Hardik Pandya came in and began his innings in style hitting two consecutive sixes off Jadeja.

CSK comeback

MI were well placed at 121/3 in 14 overs but then two spectacular pieces of fielding from Faf in Jadeja’s over changed it all. First Tiwary was caught at boundary- Faf plucked it out of thin air but as his momentum would take him beyond the rope, he threw ball in the air and came back into field of play to complete the catch. 4 ball later, Hardik thwarted Jadeja flat and hard only to be cut off by an air-borne Faf at long off boundary. Thereafter MI could not gather any momentum and little contributions from Pollard(18) and Pattinson took them to 162/9. Ngidi, who was quite expensive in his first two overs, came back well to take three for 38. Chawla was the pick of the bowlers for getting Sharma early and maintaining pressure by bowling lots of dots(11).

Faf-Rayudu century stand

MI began well getting wickets of both the openers in quick succession. Watson was caught plumb in front of stumps from Boult’s incoming delivery while Pattinson too caught out of sorts Vijay leg before. Faf and Rayudu built a century partnership from there on. Rayudu, who came in at No. 4, the same position for which he was deemed unfit for World Cup, played quite well as if he had a point to prove. He played some attractive attacking shots and in unison with Faf, scored boundaries almost every over. It appeared as if these two would finish the match quite early as Rayudu after reaching his fifty off 33 balls, was finding boundary ropes regularly. In the 16th over bowled by Rahul Chahar, MI finally got a wicket when Rahul himself ran back to complete a fabulous catch of Rayudu(71 from 48), whom he had deceived with his spin and induced a mistimed loft. Jadeja came in next and showed some urgency but was adjudged leg before as he missed a flick off Krunal’s straight faster one.

Curran’s cameo

Sam Curran was next to come in to maintain left-right combination and his cameo made the result quite clear. With a six off Krunal and Bumrah each, over mid wicket, he scored 18 in six deliveries before getting out to Bumrah. With 5 needed of last over bowled by Boult, Faf(58* in 44) sealed the deal with two consecutive boundaries. MI started well with the ball but an out of form Bumrah conceding 43 runs in his quota of 4 overs and no wickets in the middle overs from spinners proved costly for the team.

Ambati Rayudu, for his magnificent innings of 71 in 48 balls comprising of six 4s and three 6s, was given Man of the Match award.

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