Defending champions Mumbai Indians once again proved why they are one the favorites to win the 13th edition of the IPL as they ripped a struggling Chennai Super Kings to shreds to restrict them to 114/9 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. CSK lost their top four batsmen for just three runs inside the first three overs and later in the game they had lost a total of seven wickets for 52 runs after first ten overs, courtesy fiery spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. Sam Curran saved CSK's blushes to give bowlers a modest 114-9 to defend.
If Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians manage to get two points by winning the match on Friday, they will put themselves very close to cementing a spot for the IPL 2020 play-offs.
Mumbai Indians faced a major blow as their star player Rohit Sharma missed action tonight. Rohit is unwell and in his absence, hard-hitting batsman Kieron Pollard will be leading Mumbai Indians in his absence. Chennai Super Kings meanwhile, made a lot of changes in their playing XI tonight as MS Dhoni finally decided to bench out-of-form all-rounder Kedar Jadhav and Shane Watson, while veteran spinner Imran Tahir got his 1st game of the season.
Youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad got a chance to open the innings for Chennai alongside Faf du Plessis. A good review from Kieron Pollard helped Mumbai get a breakthrough as Gaikwad was trapped in front of the stumps by Trent Boult for a five-ball duck.
Jasprit Bumrah destroyed CSK's top-order batsmen to put MI right on top in the game. First, Bumrah bowled a remarkable short ball to Ambati Rayudu, who could only manage to glove it to Quinton de Kock for and give the speedster his second wicket. In the very next delivery, Narayan Jagadeesan was caught at slip off the first ball and CSK lost their third wicket for just three runs.
CSK batters started falling like a pack of cards and Faf du Plessis was the latest to depart, nicking it to the keeper off Boult. With this the Mumbai bowlers were in complete control of the match and the scoreboard read 3/4 in 1.5 overs. Things went from bad to worse for CSK as Ravindra Jadeja, the next man in, looked to up the ante but only managed to hit the ball straight to midwicket for a simple catch.
Chennai Super Kings now had lost half their side, and the powerplay was not even over yet. The collapse continued for CSK with Rahul Chahar bagging the big wicket of skipper MS Dhoni for 16, in the very next ball after he was smashed for a huge six into the stands.
Rahul Chahar put the last nail in CSK's coffin by cleaning up his brother Deepak Chahar for 5-ball duck with help of De Kock to get his second wicket. This was third duck of the innings, courtesy a smart delivery from Chahar and de Kock rattling the stumps with a sharp stumping.
The three-time IPL champions were in danger of getting bowled out within 13 overs with Shardul Thakur and Sam Curran in the middle. Nathan Coulter-Nile ended the brief partnership between Thakur and Curran. The former had to return back to the pavilion for 11.
Sam Curran continued to show resistance and took Chennai Super Kings to 114/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Playing XI of both Teams-
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sam Curran, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, N Jagadeesan, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood, Imran Tahir
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Saurabh Tiwary, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard(c), Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
