The IPL ‘El Clasico’ lived up to the billing, as Mumbai Indians completed their biggest chase in the tournament’s history, 219 runs, to defeat CSK by 4 wickets. Kieron Pollard took the CSK bowlers to the cleaners, notching the fastest fifty of the season en route to an unbeaten 34-ball 87. This came after Rohit and de Kock gave MI the ideal start, scoring 71 runs for the opening wicket, before CSK jolted Mumbai’s chase with 3 quick wickets. 

Earlier, a late flurry from Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja propelled CSK beyond 200 after Kieron Pollard snapped their momentum by dismissing both Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina in the same over. Jaspirt Bumrah dismissed Moeen Ali to break up a dangerous partnership as the Englishman brought up his fourth IPL fifty in just 33 deliveries and forged a 108-run partnership for the second wicket with Faf du Plessis. Boult dismissed Gaikwad in the very first over of the match, to give the defending champions an ideal start.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on the Chennai Super Kings in match 27 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitey Stadium on Saturday. 

Here are the highlights of the match:

. That’s the win! Pollard digs out a yorker to steer it towards long-on, and the batsmen easily complete two to seal a famous win for MI!

. MI need 16 off the final over! All down to whether Pollard can get them! (MI score: 203/6 from 19 overs)

. Sam Curran strikes to break the partnership, dismissing Krunal. CSK would’ve wanted the other man, but this will do for now. (MI score: (MI Score: 170/4 from 16.3 overs)

. 16th IPL fifty for Kieron Pollard. Quickest of the season! If MI have any chances of pulling of this win, it rests with this man. (MI score: (MI score: 150/3 from 14.4 overs)

. Fifty partnership between Pollard and Krunal. Comes in quick time as well, just 26 deliveries. (MI score: 131/3 from 14 overs)

. Thats three wickets in quick succession and MI are on the backfoot. de Kock falls this time, caught and bowled by Moeen Ali. (MI score: 81/3 from 9.4 overs) 

. Ravindra Jadeja gets the big wicket of Suryakumar Yadav. (MI score: 77/2 from 8.4 overs)

. Shardul Thakur strikes, dismissing Rohit Sharma. (MI score: 71/1 from 7.4 overs)

. Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock have given MI the ideal start agianst CSK scoring 68 runs in the first 7 overs. 

. Rayudu (72* from 27) and Jadeja’s (22 from 22) late flurry takes CSK to 218 from 20 overs. 

. Rayudu brings up his 20th IPL fifty. 

. Pollard with two huge breakthroughs to jolt CSK. Dismisses both Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina in consectuive deliveries to end the 12th over. (CSK score: 116/4 from 12 overs)

. Bumrah dismisses Ali! Great comeback from the paceman, after taking some punishment earlier in the over. Ali looks to cut finely to get a boundary at third man, but only flicks it to de Kock behind the stumps. (CSK score: 112/2 from 10.5 overs)

. Ali and du Plessis have now added 100 runs for the second wicket. These two are taking the Mumbai bowlers to the cleaners. The landmark comes with the second consecutive six du Plessis just smashed off Jasprit Bumrah. (CSK score: 107/1 from 10.2 overs)

. Ali brings up his 4th IPL fifty. Comes in quick time as well, in 33 balls. Scored 3 fours and five maximums in his innings. (CSK score: 84/1 from 9.2 overs) 

. Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis bring up their 50-run stand. These two are looking well-settled, with Ali especially finding his timing sweetly. 

. Boult stikes in the very first over to dismiss Gaikwad! Gets his man with an in-swinger that the 24-year-old only manages to get a leading edge on and set up an easy catch for Hardik Pandya at backward point. (CSK score: 4/0 from 0.4 overs)

Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first.

He said the pitch looked good and expected it to get better as the match went on, making it easier to bat on later. Emphasising on the importance of understanding the opposition and conditions, the ‘Hitman’ named two changes to his side. Kiwi all-rounder James Neesham and Dhaval Kulkarni come in for Jayant Yadav and Nathan Coulter-Nile. 

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Meanwhile, Dhoni said he would’ve elected to chase as well. He named the same playing eleven which beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad by nine wickets on Wednesday. 

Playing XIs:

MI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi, Deepak Chahar

CSK: Rohit Sharma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, James Neesham, Rahul Chahar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult

Also Read | Punjab Kings win by 34 runs against RCB, Harpreet Brar and KL Rahul shine 

Mumbai have the upper hand in this fixture in recent years, winning six of their eight matches since CSK’s comeback to IPL in 2018. The record champions have also won four of their last five matches, with an overall head-to-head record of 18-12. 

However, CSK have found the form they so desperately lacked last season, where they finished seventh on the points table. They are on a five-match winning streak a run that has taken them top of the points table. 

Meanwhile, Mumbai are fourth with three wins from six.