Intense Rivalry Renewed: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Showdown
Introduction
That was a one-and-a-half. A knockout in just 20 overs with so many subplots and drama. They gave an instant start, with Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings following up cleanly, before Dube spun back the medium pace and bit into the perfect rhythm of spin, then Bumrah bound them into chains, only for MS Dhoni to hit three sixes in that last over. Dube and Bumrah were the real stars of that innings. Coetzee thought this was about par. We agree.
Chennai have scored 206 tonight with MS Dhoni at the middle. He has smashed three sixes in the last over and scored a bottom-edge for 2 on the same over. He is now 59 off 25 balls without being dropped in this IPL.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Bowling Masterclass
Bumrah, an excellent bowler, gives a pull of yorkers in overs 17 and 19. Only one boundary off him in two overs. He ends up with just 27 runs off 24 balls. That is the difference between a par total and what MI is going to get to chase. Now they have a situation where Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kingswas defending a pitiful 151 for three in 19 but couldn’t finish it off after Dube and Gaikwad did their best.
That is the 16th over; bowled by Pandya. Now Bumrah will bowl overs 17 and 19; Coetzee will bowl one. Now, CSK proceeds to the death overs with Duce and Daryl Mitchell at the wicket.
Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings. A slower wide ball draws the mis-hit finally from Gaikwad. Since the drop, he scored 29 in nine, including three sixes. CSK 150 for 2 in 15.1.
Shepherd is back to MI with Shivam Dube getting to his second fifty in this IPL, having scored it off just 28 balls. He hits seven fours and two sixes. Now CSK is at 144 for 2 in 14.1.
CSK’s Batting Performance
I am not saying this in hindsight, but I always felt they would have been better served bowling the quicker ones—Akash Madhwal and Gerald Coetzee. Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kingswas 110 for 2 in 13 when it went to the break. Though CSK would be happy with this as they would now have a chance to get to Coetzee at the death.
Interestingly, having that one Bumrah over is the second time he has bowled his second over inside the first 10. And that other time was only because they were defending a paltry 126. Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings have opted to play him out quietly. Are they leaving it too late? CSK 65 for 2 after nine. And now Hardik Pandya is bowling the 10th.
Ishan Kishan is the only one who was anywhere close to being convinced of an edge as Shreyas Gopal pushed one across Rachin Ravindra. Hardik Pandya is convinced easily; he calls for a review, and it shows a little scratch off the toe of the bat. Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings Ravindra is gone, and now there is game on. Shivam Dube is in, and Jasprit Bumrah is back early. Bowling his second over, which is as early as the ninth over. CSK 61 for 2 after eight.
Great tactics from Mumbai Indians after taking the timeout as soon as the powerplay ends and then going back to get another quiet Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings over in from Mohammad Nabi before Shivam Dube comes in to bat. And Nabi has bowled well, conceding just 19 off three overs. And immediately after Nabi, they go to Shreyas Gopal. The added advantage also is to get through the spin overs before the dew comes in.
CSK’s Challenges and Strategy
CSK needs to take a risk here, otherwise they’ll be knocking their way to a below-par total. CSK, despite two good overs to end the powerplay, is just 48 for one in six overs. The good sign is that Ruturaj Gaikwad looks threatening at 29 off 17. Rachin Ravindra is just 12 off 11.
A superb start byMumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings so far. They have gotten through with Mohammad Nabi overs fairly cheaply, have taken a wicket, and have kept CSK to run a ball in the first four overs. CSK 24 for 1 after four.
Ajinkya Rahane starts off with a swept boundary off Mohammad Nabi, but the next over, he pulls Gerald Coetzee straight to mid-on to be dismissed for 5 off 8. Unlike in the last game, the ball is not seaming so Nabi gets another over.
