IPL 2018: Match 1, MI vs CSK- Rating of the Match

More than being the opening game, the match generated tremendous buzz simply for the reason that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were staging a comeback into the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL). However, they were up against the might of Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians and hence, their return wasn’t going to be a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination.

However, the game definitely lived up to its hype and the audience was treated to a humdinger at the very beginning. There were several occasions when both got their oppositions by the scruff of their necks. Nevertheless, the game experienced twists till the very last over until the time when Kedar Jadhav scorched Mustafizur Rahman in the penultimate delivery of the game.

The track at the Wankhede Stadium had a greenish tinge, pretty unusual to the belters which were dished out during the erstwhile seasons of the tournament. The freshness of the track induced MS Dhoni to have a crack at the Mumbai batsmen. The quality of cricket displayed by the teams was contrasting, to say the least, especially in the first four overs.

Mumbai stutters but earns respectability

Rohit Sharma, being the skipper, showed recklessness. He lost his shape and yet went hell for leather, which eventually led to his dismissal. Meanwhile, the opening bowlers in Shane Watson and Deepak Chahar did the basics right and churned out full-pitched deliveries. Chahar’s display of swing was a treat to the eyes as he got rid of Evin Lewis, the IPL debutant.

Meanwhile, the Windies cricketer can’t be blamed for resorting to the opening Decision Review System (DRS) of the event as replays turned out to be umpire’s call. Thereafter, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav dished out some superlative strokes which neutralized the effective beginning by the Indians. However, both grassed the opportunities of accomplishing their half-centuries.

Mumbai was rocked in the middle as Shane Watson and Imran Tahir nipped them out in quick succession which turned the game in favor of the Super Kings. Without Krunal Pandya’s blitz, Mumbai would have fallen short by 15-20 runs. Meanwhile, Dwayne Bravo again manifested his utility by bringing out his resourceful bag of tricks to keep the batsmen guessing in the death overs.

Dwayne Bravo vandalize Mumbai

The game was competitive when Watson and Ambati Rayudu manipulated the field for some boundaries. Hardik Pandya injured himself, however, it didn’t affect his game and he nipped out the massive scalps of Watson and Raina with clever variations. Nevertheless, leg-spinner Mayank Markande emerged from the blues, churned out wrong turns and bamboozled the middle order into submission.

Meanwhile, he was also spot on while using the DRS against MS Dhoni. The game seemed like a roller coaster ride for the Mumbai Indians till a certain ‘Champion’ by the name of Dwayne Bravo who brought the visitors back into contention.

He made a mockery of the bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian bowler avenged his dismissal in the penultimate ball of the last over. However, Kedar Jadhav ensured that CSK doesn’t suffer any further heartaches to their road to victory.

Rating of the match – 5 out of 5