CSK outwit MI by 20 runs to start IPL 2021 campaign with victory

The first match of the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 was a thrilling contest, albeit an erratic one. Winning the toss, MS Dhoni elected to bat on a good pitch and thought that putting on a total would be a good idea. However, coming in to bat, the MS Dhoni-led team suffered a horrific top-order batting collapse. But a solid unbeaten 88 by opener Ruturaj Gaekwad propelled the team to 156 in 20 overs.

Mumbai Indians, in reply, failed to chase down the target as CSK bowlers kept picking up wickets at regular intervals to put the opposition on the mat.

The Mumbai-based club needed 24 in the last over, Saurabh Tiwary and Adam Milne were on strike. In the end, the Rohit Sharma-less team lost the encounter by 20 runs as Dwayne Bravo bowled a beautiful last over.

Earlier in the match, apart from Gaekwad, Dwayne Bravo, playing his 100th match, scored a quickfire 23 off 8 balls to help CSK recover from a poor start.

Before finishing as the top-scorer, the 24-year-old CSK opener stitched together an 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (26) as both the batsmen steadied the sinking ship. After the powerplay, CSK were at 24/4.

During his stay, Gaikwad hit nine boundaries and three maximums. Bravo, on the other hand, hit three sixes.

In the powerplay, CSK lost four wickets, including the wickets of Faf du Plessis, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina.

For Mumbai Indians, Trent Boult, Adam Milne and Jasprit Bumrah shared six wickets among them as they tore through the CSK top-order.

Not only losing the wickets, but the Yellow Army also lost Ambati Rayudu as he retired hurt after taking a nasty blow on his elbow.

As for Mumbai Indians, they were led by Kieron Pollard as they missed the services of their regular captain Rohit Sharma, who was rested due to injury concerns.