A Chennai Super Kings (CSK) performance, featuring contrasting fifties from Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis, meant that defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) suffer a five-wicket defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 opener at Abu Dhabi, UAE on Saturday.
CSK skipper MS Dhoni, as always, played his part by brilliantly marshalling a side which was hit by coronavirus and exodus. The former India captain won the toss and opted to field first, and it proved decisive.
Despite running into Rohit Sharma-Quinton de Kock opening stand, they restricted the four-time champions to 162/9 with Lungi Ngidi taking three wickets, and Faf taking three big catches.
The chase, however, got off to a nightmarish start, losing both openers Murali Vijay and Shane Watson cheaply. Then, Faf and Rayudu added 115 runs for the third wicket to take the game away from MI. Now, MI have not won their first match of a season since 2013. Interestingly, CSK lost all their matches against MI last season, including the final. On Sunday, Delhi Capitals meet Kings XI Punjab at Dubai.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 is well and truly back. The two most successful outfits, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, engaged in a slugfest of a clash at Abu Dhabi, UAE on Saturday with stars from both the camps showing their worth.
Mumbai Indians started off to a flier after MS Dhoni asked them to bat first with Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock adding 46 runs in 4.4 overs, then Saurabh Tiwary played a very good innings. But CSK bowlers, specially Lungi Ngidi, fought back to restrict the four-time champions to a par score of 162/9. Deepak Chahar and Ravindra Jadeja took a brace each. The bowlers were superbly back by some brilliant fielding efforts, with Faf du Plessis taking three catches.
CSK skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Fine start. Well played Chennai Super Kings.