Highlights IPL 2018, MI vs CSK at Wankhede: Dwayne Bravo's heroics help Chennai clinch thriller

Watch! Our correspondent Devdutt Kshirsagar capturing the atmosphere outside the Wankhede stadium after a thriller.

An upset Mumbai Indians fan left this poster after the match ended. This CSK fan though was always in for some banter. What a fantastic win for them.

Bravo: It was a great team effort. I want to dedicate this win to the CSK fan, they have waited long for it. I came very early. I have been working a lot on my batting. It gave me time to set. They bowled in my areas and I backed my skills.

Dwayne Bravo is the Man of the Match (A no brainer)

Dhoni: (On opposition supporters’ support) I think they missed the competition. CSK vs MI is one game that people wait to watch. We’re coming back after two years, that’s also the reason that people are eager to watch us in action with the yellow jersey back. I’m a practical person, so I was hoping in the dressing room that the quantum of defeat shouldn’t be too big.The way Bravo batted, it was really good to see him take the responsibility.

Kedar Jadhav: I am happy psychologically, but physically I am hurt. I don’t know how long I will be out, maybe two weeks, three weeks or even a month. I would like to appreciate Bravo’s knock. Credit goes to him, he brought us back into the game. I knew I couldn’t run and I needed to get the runs. I told Immy (Tahir) that I will try and make the runs myself, play all the six balls and try and stay still. 
they were bowling same lengths and I just needed a big hit.

Most matches won in T20 cricket:

102 – Mumbai Indians 
95 – Hampshire, Lancashire, Chennai Super Kings* 
88 – Surrey

A win for CSK but still some question marks, especially in their batting department. With Kedar Jadhav out for the next few games due to his hamstring injury, their batting worries will be magnified. But a win like this will instil a lot of belief in a team that feeds off team spirit.

Indeed! Brendon McCullum started IPL with a blast in the previous season and today the start of new decade saw one of the best turnarounds in an opening game!

Wow what a game to start the @IPL #IPL #MIvCSK

— Andrew Tye (@aj191) April 7, 2018

DJ Bravo reminding his far from his end. Class is permanent!

What a game to start @IPL 2018 @DJBravo47 you legend 🙌🏾

— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26) April 7, 2018

Rohit Sharma: Not feeling good at the moment. We have to give the credit to Bravo. We couldn’t get the yorker right. We need to improve our execution. We were in the game till the 17th over.We felt we were 10-15 runs short.  It’s just the first game, it isn’t the end of the world, we will need to learn from this.

Sensational return for Chennai Super Kings!

One true spirit of the #Champion is #NeverGiveUp. That's what Bravo is made of! #WhistlePodu #CSKisTheBest #CSK #Yellove #CSKvsMI🦁💛

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 7, 2018

A get out of jail win for CSK. They were down and out when Dwayne Bravo played a whirlwind knock to bring them on the verge of an unexpected win, but it was left to a one-legged Kedar Jadhav to score 7 runs in the last over who did it with consummate patience. A sensational start to the IPL season.

MI’s IPL opening matches in last six seasons: 

Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost

CSK WIN! What a chase, what a chase! Jadhav wins it for CSK. 

Full outside off, Jadhav cracks it through covers to hit the winning runs. They are all on the field celebrating. Madness. What a start to the IPL. CSK needed 47 off the last three overs, Bravo played a blinder and then a half-fit Jadhav, who had retired hurt came out in the last over and finished it in style with a six and a four. Full Paisa vasool match for the fans at Wankhede.

SIX! THE SCORES ARE LEVEL! Jadhav gets down and laps it over fine leg. He is batting on one leg and has played an unbelievable shot.

What a terrific knock from DJ Bravo. Wow. An injured Kedar Jadhav is walking out to bat. Seven off six needed. No one’s leaving their seats. Can The Fizz carry Mumbai Indians over the line ?

Mustafizur bowls 3 dot balls first up. 7 needed off 3!

Mustafizur will bowl the final over. 7 needed. Jadhav on strike.

After 19 overs,Chennai Super Kings 159/9 ( Imran Tahir 2)

What drama in that over. A couple of sixes, then a couple, then another six from Bravo and finally a wicket off the last ball. 20 runs and the crucial wicket of Bravo. 7 needed off the last over.

OUT! Bravo is gone. Madness.

He could have taken a single and got back on strike for the last over, but instead he looks to slash it over covers, didn’t connect it well and helped it straight into the hands of the cover fielder. 

CSK 9 down, an injured Jadhav has walked out to bat. WHAT A MATCH THIS!

Is there a twist in the tale? A couple of CSK fans are returning to their seats. 20 runs off the 18th over. Hopes pinned on DJ Bravo. 27 off 12 needed!!

SIX! This is sensational from Bravo. A full toss from Bumrah. Bravo hammers it over deep mid-wicket for 3rd six of the over. 7 needed off 7.

I said a while ago that CSK needs a few prayers to come back into the game. It seems Bravo is answering is the answers to all their prayers. The star all-rounder has managed to take them out of a big hole here and has put them in a position where victory is well within their reach. Is he going to be patient enough now to pick it up and pocket it back home?

SIX! Two in two, a full toss on the pads from Bumrah, Bravo flicks it over deep mid-wicket. Hardik, in the dug out is livid with himself.

Fastest fifties for CSK v MI in IPL: (By balls) 

20 – MS Dhoni, 2012
22 – Dwayne Smith, 2015
24 – MS Dhoni, 2013
24 – Suresh Raina, 2010
25 – DWAYNE BRAVO, 2018*

Windies’ players to hit 250-plus sixes in T20 cricket:

Chris Gayle 
Kieron Pollard 
Dwayne Smith 
DWAYNE BRAVO*

FIFTY! SIX! Bravo creames it over long off for a six to bring up his 50 off just 25 balls. What an innings so far!!

After 18 overs,Chennai Super Kings 139/8 ( Dwayne Bravo 48 , Imran Tahir 2)

Broavo has provided CSK a lifeline. 20 runs off the McClenaghan over. He lofted one over long off for a six off the first ball and then flicked the next one over deep mid-wicket for 2 in 2. He then hared through for a couple before smashing a pull over mid-wicket for a four. He smartly picks up a single off the last ball to keep the strike. 27 needed off 12 now.

FOUR! Bravo is turning it on. Charges down the wicket and smashes it with a pull over mid-wicket.

SIX! Wait, is there a twist in the tale? Bravo gets two in two as he flicks it over deep mid-wicket for an effortless maximum.

Dwayne Bravo scores at a strike rate of 165.38 in the death overs since 2015 in IPL.

SIX! Bravo doesn’t get it off the middle but it still clears the fence. Lofts it over long off, off McClenaghan.

After 17 overs,Chennai Super Kings 119/8 ( Dwayne Bravo 29 , Imran Tahir 1)

It’s looking pretty far fetched now for CSK. Hardik bowls another brilliant over for concede just 4 runs and picking up a wicket too. He’s got his yorkers right today from time to time. 47 needed off 18.

OUT! Hardik picks up his 3rd wicket. 

Not a wicket-taking delivery, short and on the pads, Wood swings, gets the bottom of the bat and hands it straight into the hands of the fine leg fielder.

Imran Tahir is the new batsman.

Hardik Pandya back on….

Praises galore for the young leggie!

#MARKANDE has certainly answered the questions on Mumbai Indians spin department with his match winning debut .... another leggie making an impact in this format #MIvCSK #IPL2018

— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) April 7, 2018

After 16 overs,Chennai Super Kings 115/7 ( Dwayne Bravo 28 , Mark Wood 1)

This is what MI have done well throughout this innings. After being hit to the boundary off the first or second ball, they have bounced back to limit the damage. Bumrah was hit for a six off the first ball by Bravo but he conceded just 3 runs off the next five balls. 51 needed off 4 overs.

SIX! What a cracking shot. Bravo stays in his crease and smashes it over extra cover for a flat maximum.

After 15 overs,Chennai Super Kings 106/7 ( Dwayne Bravo 20 , Mark Wood 0)

CSK started the over well as he smashes one over cover for a four off the first ball but then McClenaghan bounced back to concede just five runs and also scalp Harbhajan’s wicket. CSK need something very, very special from Bravo from here on.

OUT! Poor shot from Harbhajan. McClenaghan joins the party.

Short outside off, Harbhajan goes for a half-hearted slash, ends up helping it straight into Bumrah’s hands at third man.

Mark Wood is the new batsman.

McClenaghan into the attack**….**

After 14 overs,Chennai Super Kings 97/6 ( Dwayne Bravo 13 , Harbhajan Singh 7)

13 runs off the Mustafizur over. The CSK batsmen are going for everything. Some poor fielding did let MI down in the last over. They need to make sure they don’t give CSK even a hint of a sniff.

This is turning into a forgettable comeback night for CSK. They haven’t even managed to put up a fight against this well oiled MI bowling unit. Kedar Jadhav cramping up in the first game of the season will raise question marks over his fitness, not for the first time in his career. Bravo has hit a six off Markande but he is left with too much to do against a strong MI bowling unit. CSK can use some prayers from their loyal fans.

FOUR! McClenaghan makes a mess of it. Harbhajan slashes at it but gets a thick outside edge wide of third man where McClenaghan lets it through.

CSK fans are leaving, they know it’s over with Jadhav retired hurt and Chahar dismissed on a golden duck. Hideous shot from Chahar. Meanwhile, Markande finishes his quota. Guess the spin woes that most people were talking about have been quietly put to rest by the Mumbai youngster.

Mustafizur continues….

Best bowling figures for Mumbai Indians on debut in IPL:

3/15 – Lasith Malinga v CSK, 2008-09
3/23 – Mayank Markande v CSK, Today*
3/32 – Jasprit Bumrah v RCB, 2012-13

After 13 overs,Chennai Super Kings 84/6 ( Dwayne Bravo 7)

Quite a lot happened in that over. Bravo did manage to hit a six off Markande but the leg spinner had the last laugh with the wicket of Chahar. In between, Jadhav left the field retired hurt. 9 runs and a wicket in that over.

OUT! Another googly, another wicket. Markande gets his third. Chahar back for a golden duck.

Chahar dances down the track, Markande cleverly drifts it a bit wide outside off and bowls the wrongún. Chahar swings wildly but misses it completely. Ishan Kishan makes no mistakes in clipping the bails off as soon as possible.

Bad news for CSK, Jadhav has left the field, retired hurt. Deepak Chahar replaces him.

Dwayne Bravo’s scoring rate against Mumbai Indians in IPL is 7.39. However, he needs to score at a better rate than that today to help CSK to get past MI’s total.

Mini consolidation for CSK underway came at the cost of a steep rise in the required run rate and that ultimately led to an attempted slog from Jadeja and another wicket for Mumbai Indians. There isn’t enough batting to come for CSK now. They will need something special to win it from here.

Jadhav seems to have had a problem with his hamstring. There is a hold up in play.

SIX! Bravo charges down the track and plunders it over long on off Markande.

After 12 overs,Chennai Super Kings 75/5 ( Kedar Jadhav 13)

Another successful over for MI. Mustafizur is brought back and he takes a wicket giving away just 8 runs. MI bowlers have varied their pace well here and with wicket getting slow, it’s a strategy that has worked well.

OUT! Mustafizur sends back Jadeja.

It’s not going CSK’s way. They are choked. They are frustated and they are throwing it away. Mustafizur delivers the cutter outside off, it’s a tad slower one, Jadeja dances down the track and looks to hammer it over the off side but gets the bottom of the bat and mistimes high in the air, Suryakumar settles under it and takes a good catch.

FOUR! Half volley from Mustafizur, the cutter, Jadeja powers it down the ground for his first boundary.

After 11 overs,Chennai Super Kings 67/4 ( Kedar Jadhav 12 , Ravindra Jadeja 6)

After being hit for a six off the second ball, Markande hit back to concede just four singles off the four balls. 11 runs off the over. CSK need more than this. 99 needed off 54 balls.

What an inspired selection Mayank Markande is turning out to be. Just 6 List A and 4 domestic T20s before this game and here he seems unplayable against India’s top international star. It’s these surprises that make IPL so special. International games almost seem to follow a set script with the same key players deciding games on almost every occasion. Franchise cricket seems to reward imaginative team selection.

SIX! Kedar Jadhav breaks the shackles, charges and hammers Markande over long on.

Markande continues……

After 10 overs, Chennai Super Kings 56/4 ( Kedar Jadhav 4 , Ravindra Jadeja 3)

MI are applying the choke now. A lot of dot balls are mounting the pressure. They look desperate but aren’t able to connect off the middle. Hardik changed his pace nicely in that over. Just 5 runs off it.

Hardik Pandya back into the attack

Ravindra Jadeja is the only player to play more than 100 consecutive innings without scoring a fifty in IPL.

After 9 overs,Chennai Super Kings 52/4 ( Kedar Jadhav 3 , Ravindra Jadeja 0)

Excellent over from Markande. Just two runs and the wicket of Dhoni. He nearly had Jadeja with that googly again, but it just flew past Jadeja’s outside edge. The CSK batsmen are not able to pick his variations. They are in inertia.

How often do you see a debutant bamboozle Dhoni with a googly? Sensational stuff from Markande. The whole Stadium is on its feet. Priceless reaction from Markande, he is jumping with his teammates surrounding him. A dream debut for him so far…

After a good start, two quick wickets have pegged CSK back. First, a stock Raina dismissal trying to slog a short pitch delivery and then Mumbai’s surprise package for this game, Mayank Markande picked Rayudu. He would have claimed Kedar Jadhav’s scalp as well if Rohit had taken a review on a close shout. MI need these wickets at regular interval to stay in the game. As we have seen already, a big over can always be around the corner on this true Wankhede pitch.

OUT! It’s turning out to be a dream debut for Markande. He gets the wicket of Dhoni.

It’s that skiddy googly again. Outside off, Dhoni is pushed on the back foot. He is foxed by the googly and it beats his inside edge. He misses it completely and is trapped right in front. They all go up in a huge appeal but the umpire, for some unfathomable reasons says no, MI straightaway go for a review and replays show, he was dead plumb.

HUGE APPEAL FOR AN LBW against Dhoni off Markande….. The umpire says no, MI opt for a review..

After 8 overs,Chennai Super Kings 49/3 ( Kedar Jadhav 2 , MS Dhoni (C) (W) 4)

Decent over from Bumrah, he was lucky to get away with just a single off the free hit after he overstepped off the third delivery. All singles in that over. Dhoni and Jadhav need to get the momentum going now.

Jasprit Bumrah v MS Dhoni in IPL:

Runs conceded – 34

Balls – 27

Dismissals – 3

Balls per boundary – 9

MS Dhoni has scored 581 runs against Mumbai Indians which is the second most by any player against them.

After 7 overs,Chennai Super Kings 44/3 ( Kedar Jadhav 1 , MS Dhoni (C) (W) 1)

Mayank Makrande might have had 2 in his first over. He send back Rayudu with a google, trapping him in front and then bamboozled Jadhav with a googly to catch him on the back foot. A loud appeal was turned down by the umpire. It was close, may be they should have opted for a review. Superb over from Markande, 2 runs and a wicket off it. And well, replays show Jadhav would have been a goner had Markande opted for a review. It was hitting him right in front.

Hardly took any time to make a mark, eh? Rayudu’s wicket falls and the big screen pops up with the three words every CSK fan was eager to hear: Thailava is back! Dhoni has to play a crucial hand here.

OUT! What a start for Mayank Markande. Gets a wicket off his 3rd ball in the IPL!

Length delivery outside off, angling in. Rayudu gets down for a slog sweep but misses if completely as it goes the other way. He is caught right in front and the umpire raises his finger. Quite sensibly, he doesn’t opt for a review. Replays show it would have clipped the top of the stumps. Brilliant googly.

After 6 overs,Chennai Super Kings 42/2 ( Ambati Rayudu 22)

Hardik is battling it out in the middle. He is struggling with a leg injury but still running in and giving his best. Good change of lengths and pace. He bowls a very good yorker too. Suresh Raina gets lucky as Suryakumar misses a direct hit but then walks back to pavilion next ball. 3 runs and a wicket off it.

He might have needed the support of physio to walk off the field. He might be limping after completing his followthrough but that isn’t holding him back from picking up wickets. The thing about Hardik is, even though he doesn’t look threatening enough, he has a knack of striking at regular intervals. CSK two down after six overs. Match firmly in balance as of now and the new guy Punjab’s Markande is into the attack.

OUT! Hardik Pandya gets the big one…..

Raina gives himself room, Hardik bowls it on good length on leg stump, Raina looks to go over mid on but is cramped for room he ends up mistiming it to mod on where brother Krunal makes no mistake. He sets off in celebration….

Suresh Raina has scored 36 runs from 20 balls against Mitchell McClenaghan in IPL.

After 5 overs,Chennai Super Kings 39/1 ( Ambati Rayudu 20 , Suresh Raina 3)

McClenaghan bounced back well after being hit for a four off the second ball. Gives away just 3 runs off next four deliveries. He changed his lengths well and confused Raina a bit. 8 runs off the over.

Chennai will be happy with this start, despite the wicket of Shane Watson. Rayudu is looking in sublime touch at the other end. He is just picking up the gaps and collecting boundaries at will. They weren’t looking for a flier here, a solid steady start is all they wanted and Rayudu has provided exactly that with some help from Watson. All eyes on IPL batting superstar, Suresh Raina now.

CSK fans finding their voice after that Rayudu boundary. Kid you not, there are a lot of them in attendance. They have made a solid start to the 166 chase.

FOUR! Rayudu gives himself room and smashes it uppishly through point off McClenaghan.

Suresh Raina is the only player to score more than 600 runs against Mumbai Indians in IPL. He amassed 708 runs from 26 innings against them before today.

McClenaghan back on…..

After 4 overs,Chennai Super Kings 31/1 ( Ambati Rayudu 15 , Suresh Raina 0)

Hardik got the wicket of Watson in that over but ended up conceding 12 runs. He seems to be in pain, don’t know how far he can continue like this. Watson lofted a lovely six but was out next ball, Rayudu then played another lovely shot to bring up the second boundary of the over with a crunching cover drive.

Suresh Raina has scored 4540 runs in IPL at an average of 34.14 and a strike rate of 139.09 which is the most by any player.

OUT! A half-fit Hardik Pandya strikes. Watson is back in the hut.

The slower ball works. The change in field forces Watson to go towards the leg side, Hardik delivers it slow and outside off, Watson stays in his crease and flicks it uppishly but is done in by the lack of pace, hands it straight into the hands of Lewis at deep square leg.

SIX! What a shot from Watson! Full and a tad wide, Watson leans and lofts it over extra cover. Hardik is livid with himself. Third man comes up, cover goes back.

Good news for Mumbai Indians is that Hardik Pandya is back on the field. The bad news though is the outfield has become ridiculously fast.

Hardik is on the field and he has come on to bowl. But he is still limping……

After 3 overs,Chennai Super Kings 19/0 ( Shane Watson 9 , Ambati Rayudu 10)

Really good start from Bumrah. He hit the good length area, cramped the batsmen for room and didn’t give an inch. Rayudu got frustrated off the last ball, he charged down the track for a swing but got an inside edge to short fine leg. Just three runs off the over.

CSK openers are approaching this differently from their Mumbai counterparts. The experienced Rayudu and Watson aren’t looking to overhit the ball, they have stroked it into the gaps and have given their team a steady start. Mumbai seamers aren’t able to extract the same amount of swing from this surface either.

Shane Watson as an opener in IPL before today:

Innings – 29 
Runs – 955
Average – 35.37
SR – 128.88

Jasprit Bumrah into the attack…..

After 2 overs,Chennai Super Kings 16/0 ( Shane Watson 7 , Ambati Rayudu 9)

A mixed over for Mumbai. Watson hit a boundary over cover but then Rahman bounced back to bowl four good balls conceding just one, he errs in length off the last ball, bowls it a bit full outside off, Rayudu creams it through extra cover. 9 runs off the over.

FOUR! Lovely from Rayudu, leans and drives it wide of mid off, it races away.

FOUR! Watson welcomes Mustafizur in style, lofts the cutter over covers.

Mustafizur will bowl from the other end…..

After 1 overs,Chennai Super Kings 7/0 ( Shane Watson 2 , Ambati Rayudu 5)

McClenaghan starts off well. He didn’t get much swing but ramped up decent pace. The lengths were excellent, on and around the good length area. Rayudu was then forced to manufacture a shot to break the shackles as he charged down the track and smashed one over mid off. McClenaghan wouldn’t mind that. 7 runs off the over.

Ambati Rayudu as an opener in T20 cricket:

Innings – 11
Runs – 272
SR – 132.03
Average – 27.20

Mitchell McClenaghan has taken 54 wickets since 2015 in IPL which is the third most by any bowler.

IPL 2009 1st match: MI scored 165 runs batting first against CSK.

IPL 2018 1st match: MI has scored 165 runs batting first against CSK.

MI won the match in 2009 though played at Cape Town.

Surprise, surprise…..Rayudu has walked out to open with Watson. McClenaghan will start off proceedings for MI.

MI today:

First 10 over: 65/2 (RR – 6.50)
Next 10 overs: 100/2 (RR – 10.00)

Both teams have misfired from one end and nailed it from the other. Krunal looked in supreme touch and punished everything slightly off target while Hardik couldn’t get going at all in his brief stay. For CSK, Bravo was his usual miserly self while Wood just couldn’t get his length right. 165 is a par score for Wankhede but Mumbai with its strong pace bowling attack surely has the ability to make a match of it. We may have an interesting second chapter of this IPL opening story coming up.

The highest target successfully chased by Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians is 184 which they chased it at Wankhede in 2015.

An extraordinary knock from Krunal Pandya. Makes you wonder where does he disappear in the 10 months after IPL, doesn’t he? 166 is a good score after the start Mumbai had. But supersoppers and groundsmen with their ropes are already in action. Dew will be a massive factor, as always. Interesting chase coming up.

The highest target successfully chased by Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians is 184 which they chased it at Wankhede in 2015.

After 20 overs,Mumbai Indians 165/4 ( Hardik Pandya 22 , Krunal Pandya 41)

MUMBAI POST 165/4!!! Absolutely brilliant over from Bravo. He floored Hardik with a brilliant yorker and gave away just 5 runs. Hardik hurt himself badly looking for a second off the last delivery and was down in pain. He seems to have done his left ankle. He’s been taken off the field by the physio and the trainer. Doesn’t look good for him. But Bravo made sure he limited the damage somewhat in the last over and didn’t allow MI to cross 170.

Krunal Pandya’s strike rate is 174 in the death overs in IPL. And he is playing a gem of an innings for his team.

Dwayne Bravo is unbelievably good at the death. His famous loopy slower bowls have bamboozled batsmen across the world for years. Add to that an accurate bouncer and a razor-sharp cricket brain, Bravo is worth his weight in gold in T20 cricket.

After 19 overs,Mumbai Indians 160/4 ( Hardik Pandya 19 , Krunal Pandya 40)

Krunal stamping his authority, playing some incredible shots. A couple of thumping straight drives are punctuated by a top edge which falls safe and then hammers one over deep backward square leg for a six. 17 runs off the over. MI looking good for 175 odd.

SIX! What a shot! It’s gone into the 3rd tier. Short from Wood, Krunal moves across and swings it over deep backward square leg, it sails into the stands.

FOUR! 2 in 2 from Krunal! He thumps another one straight back past Wood, the long off fielder has no chance.

Bravo has a habit of picking wickets in the death. Almost 200 of his 400 odd T20 wickets have come in the death. Mumbai need to play him cautiously. One good over of his could change the momentum of the match. Only three off his third. One more to go…

FOUR! Overpitched from Wood, Krunal cracks it through mid off, the fielder gives up the chase.

Hardik Pandya hits atleast two boundaries in the death overs (16-20) after every 10 balls.

After 18 overs,Mumbai Indians 143/4 ( Hardik Pandya 18 , Krunal Pandya 24)

Yorker, slower ball, slower ball, yorker. Bravo mixing it up to befuddle Krunal Pandya. Excellent over under pressure. Just 3 singles off it. He is one of the best in the business when it comes to death bowling and it is on display.

Dwayne Bravo continues**….**

After 17 overs,Mumbai Indians 140/4 ( Hardik Pandya 16 , Krunal Pandya 23)

19 runs off the Wood over. MI needed this desperately and it is Krunal Pandya who is playing a crucial role once again. A six, two fours and two 2s with some blistering running made it 19 from the over.

FOUR! Krunal gives himself room, Wood follows him but Krunal still manages to drive it through extra cover in spite of being cramped. Fab shot!

Michael Clarke on air says that 160 is a good total for MI considering they have a formidable bowling attack……

FOUR! Another clever shot. Wood drops it short, Krunal shuffles a tad and pulls it uppishly wide of the short fine leg fielder.

SIX! Brilliant from Krunal, premeditates the slower short ball and pulls it over mid-wicket.

After 16 overs,Mumbai Indians 121/4 ( Hardik Pandya 15 , Krunal Pandya 6)

Tight over from Bravo. It’s his change of pace that has been doing the trick so far. With just 4 overs to go, MI need to up the ante big time now.

A good knock from Ishan Kishan but Imran Tahir has the last laugh. The customary sprint follows. The Pandya brothers are at the crease now. The pitch has eased out and with the dew being a factor, Mumbai would eyeing anything around 170. Pollard is still in the dugout, so these two can play their shots with liberty.

The game is beautifully poised at the 15th over mark. Both teams have had their moments and both have saved their trump cards for the final battle. Pandya brothers or Bravo/Wood? CSK will be happy to chase 160 odd runs while Mumbai would love to cross that 180 mark to put that extra pressure on the CSK batsmen.

Dwayne Bravo back into the attack…..

Krunal Pandya’s strike rate in IPL:

v Pace – 147.36
v Spin – 177.00

Strategic time-out…..

After 15 overs,Mumbai Indians 117/4 ( Hardik Pandya 13 , Krunal Pandya 4)

A brilliant over from Tahir. He gave away just one run off the first three balls which fetched him the wicket of the set Ishan Kishan. Krunal started off in style with a crunching cover drive but Tahir ended the over with a dot. 5 runs and a wicket off it. The Pandya brothers are at the crease.

Is there anything Watson can’t do on the cricket field, tonight? He can swing it with the new ball, he can come back for the second spell and bowl his yorkers and slower bouncers. He disguises his variations well and that element of surprise contributed to the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, a breakthrough CSK desperately needed.

Hardik Pandya plays with a strike rate of 131.94 in the first 10 balls that he faces since 2015 in IPL.

OUT! Tahir sends back Ishan Kishan!

Tahir built the pressure and got rewarded. Hardik could manage just one off the first three balls which built the pressure, Ishan then went for a wild slog from way outside off but ended up getting a top edge to short third man. Tahir set off in his typical Tahir celebrations.

Imran Tahir back into the attack…..

After 14 overs,Mumbai Indians 112/3 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 40 , Hardik Pandya 12)

Mark Wood bowled a decent over but still, Mumbai managed to score 11 runs off it. A fortuitous four followed by a well-guided one by Pandya coupled with three singles made it 11 from the over.

FOUR! Trademark Hardiik Pandya shot. Stays back and upper-cuts it to third man off a short ball.

FOUR! Wow! That was quick. A bouncer from Wood, Hardik looks to at first duck but it’s on his body so he has no option but to fend-pull. He gets a top edge to fine leg.

Suryakumar Yadav missed out on becoming the fourth player to score fufty-plus runs on debut for Mumbai Indians in IPL. 

Here are players who have scored fifty-plus runs on debut for Mumbai Indians in IPL:
Herschelle Gibbs
Ambati Rayudu
Richard Levi

After 13 overs, Mumbai Indians 101/3 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 39 , Hardik Pandya 2)

Impressive spell from Watson. 4-0-29-2. He got the breakthrough of Suryakumar in that over. And conceded just 4 runs off it. It’s his skiddy pace and variations that stood out in his spell.

A lot of misfields in the last couple of overs. So uncharacteristic of Bravo and Jadeja. A tough catch dropped too. This partnership is undoing all the good work done in the powerplay for CSK.

OUT! Watson gets the breakthrough. Suryakumar departs.

A much-needed wicket for CSK. It’s Watson with his slower ball bouncer doing the trick. Suryakumar looks to pull but gets a top edge straight to Harbhajan at fine leg. Watson celebrates, Dhoni applauds. A fine innings of 43 (29) comes to an end.

Shane Watson into his last over**….**

After 12 overs,Mumbai Indians 97/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 37 , Suryakumar Yadav 43)

Suryakumar has raced to 43 off 27 balls. He smashes 3 fours off the first three balls. But then Bravo pulled it back with change in pace to concede just two singles off the last three balls. 14 runs off the over.

The two youngsters are making up for the sluggish start for Mumbai. CSK’s two overseas bowlers have had a dreadful start. Dhoni needs fresh ideas here. Kishan and Yadav are lining everything up here. Time for Dhoni to pull something out of his bag of tricks. An over for Jadhav or Raina may be?

Dwayne Bravo is the only all-rounder to score 1000-plus runs and take 100-plus wickets in the history of IPL.

FOUR! This time he gets the elevation. Suryakumar hammers it over wide mid off.

Dropped! FOUR! Suryakumar smashes it to mid off where it goes through the hands of a leaping Jadeja.

FOUR! Bravo starts off with a short delivery, Suryakumar pulls it over mid-wicket.

Dwayne Bravo into the attack now**..**

After 11 overs,Mumbai Indians 83/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 36 , Suryakumar Yadav 30)

Not a good start for Tahir. Kishan had the better of him with 4-6-4 off the first three balls. Suryakumar Yadav nearly flicked one straight to mid-wicket but it flew wide of the fielder. 18 runs off the over. A good one for MI. The youngsters have done a good rebuild job.

Right then, Ishan Kishan, who has entered this IPL with a lot of expectations, is making a move here. He is going after one of the most reputed T20 leggie, Imran Tahir. A nice little partnership building between Suryakumar and Ishan.

FOUR! 4-6-4: Kishan again thumps this down the ground, this time Bravo has no chance at long off fence.

Mark Wood in T20 cricket:

Matches – 18
Wickets – 20
Eco – 8.37
Average – 24.50

SIX! Kishan lofts it over long on, it flies just over the leaping fielder.

FOUR! Kishan hammers it straight back past the bowler, Bravo on the fence makes a mess of it.

After 10 overs,Mumbai Indians 65/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 19 , Suryakumar Yadav 29)

A very good start from Wood. He ramped up good pace and bounce. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan swung and swung across the line but either missed them or couldn’t connect off the middle. Just 3 runs off it.

Jigar Mehta, CSK has a habit of springing up surprises. Although Chahar’s performance shouldn’t come as a surprise for those who followed his exploits at Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he was the highest wicket taker. The big question was whether he can handle the pressure of the big stage at an IPL opener and he has answered in the affirmative.

Chahar’s first spell:

There was a lot of talk about CSK being a bit weak in pace department, but Chahar bowled an impressive spell up front. Rajesh Tiwary, what did you make of his bowling?

Ravindra Jadeja’s economy rate of 8.96 against Mumbai Indians in IPL – the worst for any bowler. (Min.45 overs bowled against them)

Mark Wood into the attack now…..

Bit surprised at Dhoni’s move to bring in his spinners right away instead of giving a couple of overs to Mark Wood while the ball is still new and swinging. Saving Bravo for the death is understandable, but surely Mark Wood deserved a crack at the newish ball.

Time for a strategic timeout…..

After 9 overs,Mumbai Indians 62/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 18 , Suryakumar Yadav 28)

MI upping the ante big time. CSK fielded well off the first two balls to restrict MI to a couple off both the deliveries. Suryakumar then cracked one over extra cover for a boundary. Two more singles make it 10 runs off the over.

Harbhajan Continues……

After 8 overs,Mumbai Indians 52/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 17 , Suryakumar Yadav 19)

A decent over for MI. The 50 is up. Ishan too has got into the groove now. Jadeja bowled a lot of side-arm deliveries. Kishan smashed one through covers and then guided it through short third man for a couple of boundaries in the over. 9 runs off the over.

Ravindra Jadeja has taken 82 wickets in IPL which is the second most by any left-arm spinner.

FOUR! 50 up for Mumbai Indians! Ishan Kishan waits and steers a length delivery from Jadeja wide of short third man.

FOUR! Width offered by Jadeja, Ishan smashes it through cover and it races away.

Ravindra Jadeja into the attack now…..

Harbhajan Singh in yellow. Seems a bit odd given that he spent 10 years at Mumbai Indians. But that is how IPL functions. This has been an ideal start for CSK. Watson and Chahar have bowled three each and cashed in on the conditions. Don’t think the batsmen are going to enjoy batting on this deck.

CSK will be happy to get 3 overs out of Shane Watson during the power play. He was one of the smart buys for them this season. An IPL legend in his own right, he has been a key player for any team he has played for over the last 11 seasons. He isn’t the same all round force as he was in the first season of IPL where he was in contention for both orange and purple cap, but he is still a batting powerhouse and will give you 2 or 3 overs every game.

After 7 overs,Mumbai Indians 43/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 9 , Suryakumar Yadav 18)

Good tight lines from Harbhajan and he changed the pace and lengths cleverly with Kishan charging down the track but forced to defend. Disciplined over, just 4 runs off it.

Harbhajan Singh has taken 127 wickets in IPL which is the third most by any bowler.

Harbhajan Singh into the attack now**….**

After 6 overs,Mumbai Indians 39/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 7 , Suryakumar Yadav 16)

Suryakumar Yadav turning it on. He thumps one through covers on the up for a four and then flicks one over square leg. The ball seems to be holding up on the pitch. 13 runs off the over. End of the powerplay MI – 39/2

SIX! Suryakumar Yadav looking in the mood! He just flicks it over square leg and it sails over the fence!

FOUR! Another cracking shot from Suryakumar. He stays in his crease and punches it through cover. Stylish!

Shane Watson continues……

CSK appeared light in the pace bowling department on paper. But they have used the conditions brilliantly here. Getting Lewis and Rohit out inside the first powerplay is a huge boost for Team Yellow. Dhoni will hope to turn the screws with his more experienced bowlers in the middle overs now.

After 5 overs,Mumbai Indians 26/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 6 , Suryakumar Yadav 4)

Another tight over from Chahar. He’s lived up to the expectations of Dhoni so far. Five dots and a four in that over. There was a lot of talk about the inexperience of CSK’s pace attack but Chahar is making sure he is answering his captain’s call.

It was coming, always coming. Rohit Sharma was playing a few too many shots and respecting the conditions. It is swinging and seaming. An ugly slog ends his innings. Mumbai two down already. The middle order will be put to test today.

FOUR! Suryakumar Yadav starts off in style as he stands tall and crunches one through point off Chahar.

After 4 overs,Mumbai Indians 22/2 ( Ishan Kishan (W) 6 , Suryakumar Yadav 0)

Good comeback from Watson in that over. He bounced back well after being hit for a six over extra cover and sent back Rohit Sharma. 9 runs and a wicket off it.

Deepak Chahar has made a brilliant start for CSK. He was the top wicket taker in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year and he is showing everyone why. He has managed to get consistent swing on this surface and got rewarded with the wicket of dangerous Ewin Lewis. Just goes to show, no matter what format you are playing if you can move the ball at a decent place, you are always going to be a handful for the batsmen.

Evin Lewis becomes the 11th player to be dismissed for a duck on debut for Mumbai Indians in IPL.

OUT! Rohit departs, this was coming!!!!

Rohit wasn’t looking comfortable at the crease. It’s a full delivery on off, Rohit goes for a wild hoick across the line but gets a top edge high in the air, Rayudu charges in from point and pouches a very good catch. Good start this for CSK.

Jigar, Rohit looks in two minds here. He is trying to impose himself on the opposition but also want to go the distance. Mumbai would want him to stay there even if he is not scoring freely.

SIX! Rohit gets the first one of the 11th edition. He lofts it over extra cover. Just went with his followthrough.

Deepak Chahar was the highest wicket taker in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He took 19 wickets at a strike rate of 10.68.

Rohit Sharma as an opener in IPL before today:

Innings – 17
Runs – 587
Average – 45.15
SR – 134.32
HS – 98*

Rohit’s approach:

Rohit Sharma hasn’t found his rhythm yet. Looks a bit impatient. Rajesh, are you surprised with his approach?

A poor start to Evin Lewis’ IPL career. But he will also be a part of history now: he becomes the first batsman to use DRS in IPL (albeit unsuccessfully).

After 3 overs,Mumbai Indians 12/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 9 , Ishan Kishan (W) 3)

A cracking over again from Chahar. He is getting good movement. He got the wicket of Lewis in that over and then beat Rohit with a beautiful outswinger. Rohit then looks to go over the top but again mistimes it over mid off for just a couple.

OUT! Chahar draws the first blood. 

It’s full on leg stump and swinging in. Lewis is late on his flick and misses. Chahar falls over in his followthrough and follows up with a half-hearted appeal. The umpire, surprisingly, lifts the finger. Even the MI players are surprised as they celebrate. Lewis opts for a review and replays show it was clipping leg.

We have our first review of the IPL! Lewis is given out LBW and he has opted for a review.

After 2 overs, Mumbai Indians 7/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 7 , Evin Lewis 0)

Rohit is looking a bit impatient at the crease. After defending the first ball, he charges down the track and looks to hammer it out of the park but misses. He then looks to hoick one but gets the bottom of the bat and it lands safely at deep mid-wicket. Watson then produces a beauty to almost have Rohit caught at first slip but it falls short of Harbhajan at wide slip. Watson then delivers one full, Rohit looks to hoick again but gets an inside edge onto the pad. He guides the last delivery straight to point. Superb over from Watson. With the way Rohit is going about his innings, one feels, something’s got to give.