Twitter Reactions: Ambati Rayudu, Du Plessis and Curran help CSK win the IPL 2020 opener against MI

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have defeated the defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) by five wickets to start on a winning note in the IPL 2020. Ambati Rayudu was their hero with a 71-run knock off 48 deliveries while Faf du Plessis also batted well coming in at three making sure that they didn’t miss Suresh Raina. MI, however, were left ruing their mistakes with the bat especially as they bottled up a good situation and lost their way in the last six overs.

Chasing 163, CSK didn’t start well as both their openers were back in the hut thanks to MI’s new ball bowlers Trent Boult and James Pattinson. While the former nipped off Shane Watson, Pattinson snaffled Murali Vijay who scored only a single run off seven deliveries. At 6/2 in the second over, things didn’t look good for the Men in Yellow. But then Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu batted superbly together.

Surprisingly, the latter took the attack to the opposition after settling down while Du Plessis went out run-a-ball throughout the 115-run partnership. But the slow start meant they were always behind the required run-rate. In the meantime, Rayudu batted exceptionally well playing some delightful strokes taking on the young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar.

However, his wicket in the 16th over made things tricky in the chase with CSK still needing 42 runs in four overs. Moreover, MS Dhoni’s ploy to send Ravindra Jadeja failed who was caught in front of the stumps by Krunal Pandya. But the CSK skipper sent Sam Curran in to keep the right-left combination going. And this time, the move paid dividends as the England left-hander slammed 18 off just six deliveries to bring the required run-rate below six.

When Curran got out, they needed only 10 runs to win and the three-time champions got over the line in the final over without much fuss. While Dhoni didn’t have much to do, Faf du Plessis sensibly batted through the innings to remain unbeaten on 59 with six fours to his name.

CSK bowlers comeback well after a poor start

Earlier in the day, MI started well after being invited to bat first. Rohit Sharma got going with a fantastic shot off the first ball of the match itself. His partner Quinton de Kock literally hoicked at almost everything and churned out some quick runs in the powerplay scoring 33 off 20 deliveries. After the first four overs, it seemed as if the defending champions will run away with a decent start.

But MS Dhoni introduced Piyush Chawla and he struck in the very first over scalping the opposition skipper. Sam Curran sent back the dangerous looking De Kock and the latter’s South African teammate Lungi Ngidi let out a roar giving him a send-off having been at a receiving end off his batting earlier. MI’s surprise selection, Saurabh Tiwary then controlled the proceedings smartly stitching a partnership with Suryakumar Yadav.

The duo added 42 runs for the third wicket before Deepak Chahar sent back Yadav in the 11th over. Runs kept coming though before Faf du Plessis’ acrobatic skills at the boundary turned things around in the 15th over. Both Tiwary and Hardik Pandya got out to Ravindra Jadeja and this is where they lost all the momentum.

MI could add only 41 runs and lost six wickets thanks to some brilliant death bowling from Lungi Ngidi and Sam Curran along with Chahar. Ngidi recovered from early sticking to end with the figures of 3/38 and despite starting well, the Rohit Sharma-led side could only reach 162 runs for the loss of nine wickets which was still considered a par total at the halfway mark.

But CSK’s middle-order and Sam Curran’s late push helped them get over the line and register their first win over MI in six matches. And yes, the IPL has finally begun amid so many uncertainties until last month.

Here’s how Twitter reacted: