END OF OVER:
20 | 3 Runs 2 Wkts | MI: 136/8 (21 runs required, RR: 6.80)

  • Jasprit Bumrah1 (2b)
  • Saurabh Tiwary50 (40b)
  • Dwayne Bravo4-0-25-3
  • Shardul Thakur4-0-29-1

Right guys. The IPL is back and how. We've had a sensational game to kick off the second installment at season-14. At 7 for 3, I was actually thinking (even if I didn't say it aloud) whether we'd all have an early finish. But hey, Ruturaj Gaikwad played a stunning knock to first give CSK a total to defend before their bowlers killed the chase. Monday is a new day, a new game. Eoin Morgan's KKR up against Virat Kohli's RCB. Don't forget to tune in for that. Until then this is Shashank saying goodbye on behalf of my crew: Sreshth Shah, Venkar Raghav and Chandan Duroah. Cheers all

Ruturaj Gaikwad is the Player of the Match for his incredible unbeaten 88. "Obviously one of my top innings until now, given the pressure we were in. I had to grind it out, bat till 10-12 overs, give myself time and push for 120-130, and then slowly 140-150 was possible. It was a matter of spending time in the middle. Mahi bhai, everyone in the CSK management, once they back you, they don't make you think anything but positive things. The Sri Lanka tour and preparation coming here helped a lot. Initially there was seam and swing movement, but I had to take my chances against the spinners. Jaddu just came in so I had to take a chance and it came off well."

MS Dhoni: "At 30 for 4, you want to put up a respectable score, I felt Rutu and Bravo got us more than what we expected. We thought of 140, to get close to 160 was tremendous. The wicket was two-paced, slightly slow to start off. Also it's difficult if you're batting lower down, if you don't get a chance to see what is happening, you want to go hard. Rayudu got injured, so it was tough to come back from there but we batted sensibly and finished superbly. It was sensible for one batter to bat right through to the end."

Noor: "A mention for Jadeja too. Sure he had a strike rate of less than 100 but without him don't think Gaikwad would have been able to play the way he played today. Oh and Hazlewood too for getting CSK's nemesis Pollard."

Kaarthikeyan S: "Apparently Cricinfo predictor was spot on."

Animesh Kherwar: "I remember that CricInfo had predicted 137 for CSK after that collapse and the commentator had said that CSK Fans would gladly take that. MI scored exactly 136. How about that?" -- How this game proves we can be made to look silly at times.

Navin: "Josh picking up Pollard is my match winning moment!! We all know what that calm looking monster guy could do to us."

Dwayne Bravo: "To start our campaign with a win is a very good feeling. I'm feeling good, was trying to protect myself in the last stage of the CPL. Had one bowling session in the nets here and I felt good. Look forward to getting through four overs in the other games too. Batting is very important, now I bat lower down the order with a batting line-up like CSK, but it's about trying to win key moments, capitalise on the 12 balls I get. Or if there's 11 overs left, adjust and adapt. It's about keeping my shape, adjusting. In five balls if you can make 20, it can make a difference like today. I have the ability to bat, can only do so much when there are few opportunities. Ruturaj batted really well, he's a quality player. Has the appetite for runs, good to have someone like him who can steady the team and others bat around him."

Losing captain Kieron Pollard: " Ruturaj batted really well. In T20 cricket, if one person bats through he can hurt you. We didn't finish off well with the ball. Losing by 20 runs you know those were the extra runs we conceded. Surface was good, new ball had movement, our seamers got early wickets. But we wanted to continue that momentum all the way. Even though they got 150+, as a batting team we could've gotten that. Losing three wickets was a cardinal sin for us. Given the circumstances, Saurabh batted really well."

9.49pm Only the second time that CSK have won an IPL game after losing four wickets in the powerplay. At 24 for 4 after six, very few experts would've said that the three-time champs could've pulled off the win. But hey, that's what one good innings can do. Ruturaj Gaikwad's 88 undid all of Mumbai's good work in the back end, and then Bravo's cameo gave CSK the momentum at the break.

Deepak Chahar's new-ball strikes then pushed Mumbai onto the back foot early, after which Dhoni's troops just marched on without looking back. An enterprising innings from Saurabh Tiwary to hit fifty, but he had two big issues: a) no big partnership with a fellow batter, and b) scored way too slowly for most of his innings. Dhoni, Gaikwad, Jadeja and Raina are all smiles near the boundary line as the organisers prepare for the presentation ceremony. CSK move to the top of the IPL 2021 points table, Mumbai in danger of falling outside the top 4 if they get on a losing streak.

19.6
1
Bravo to Bumrah, 1 run, slower ball, full outside leg stump. Clipped to midwicket where Raina misfields. CSK beat Mumbai Indians by 20 runs!

Two runs in five balls so far from Bravo.

Badri Prasad DS: "Ask Crickinfo for help, most wickets in 20th over in IPL - None other than DJ Bravo - 33, excluding these two."

19.5
0
Bravo to Bumrah, no run, yorker length, on off. Tries to dig it out, and ends up inside-edging it onto his pads
19.4
W
Bravo to Chahar, OUT, slower ball, full outside off stump. Chahar goes deep before bringing out the slog sweep. Struck well, but straight to the safe Raina at short midwicket!

RD Chahar c Raina b Bravo 0 (3m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

19.3
1
Bravo to Tiwary, 1 run, full and wide. Tiwary reaches out and nudges it to mid off. Fifty for Tiwary which the crowd acknowledges, but he himself does not acknowledge it

Tushar: "That 8 ball 23 by Bravo is going to be the difference. MI needed such a cameo from someone. "

19.2
W
Bravo to Milne, OUT, boundary rider at deep midwicket takes a simple one. Fullish, outside off and angling in. Milne swings the bat and it's got a decent connection. But Gowtham is a tall man on the boundary line, and pockets that comfortably

AF Milne c sub (K Gowtham) b Bravo 15 (29m 15b 0x4 1x6) SR: 100.00

Bravo needs to avoid the slot length. So he's better off going short or for a wide yorker instead of bowling stump to stump. Short fine leg and short third man in place.

19.1
1
Bravo to Tiwary, 1 run, slower ball, full and wide outside off. Digs it away, and the ball is squirted down to deep point for one

The experienced DJ Bravo will bowl the 20th. Tiwary has strike.

END OF OVER:
19 | 15 Runs | MI: 133/6 (24 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.00, RRR: 24.00)

  • Adam Milne15 (14b)
  • Saurabh Tiwary48 (38b)
  • Shardul Thakur4-0-29-1
  • Deepak Chahar4-0-19-2
18.6
0
Thakur to Milne, no run, full outside off stump. Milne gives his everything trying to slog a six over long on. But he's played that shot inside the ball's line. Through to Dhoni and Mumbai need 24 off six
18.6
1w
Thakur to Milne, 1 wide, good length delivery, but a wider ball outside off. Jagging further away as Milne can't slap a cut away. Umpire says that's one extra
18.6
1w
Thakur to Milne, 1 wide, back of a length, very wide outside off. Wayward release. Wide given - this time umpire Illingworth is 100% correct
18.5
0
Thakur to Milne, no run, back of a length on middle, and going just down the leg side as Milne looks to pull. Misses, goes past his armpits to the keeper. Wide not given! Bold from umpire Illingworth, who believes that would've hit Milne had he not moved
18.4
6
Thakur to Milne, SIX, full and wide outside off. Milne uses his long levers to get a proper golf swing into this shot. Soars over long off, despite being a knuckleball!

Hemant: "Plz update me about Rayudu's injury. I am getting tensed as he is a vital cog in this lots-of-hole CSK batting line up" -- No update yet. Reckon they will know the diagnosis only after scans come back.

18.3
2
Thakur to Milne, 2 runs, full and wide outside off. Milne walks across to the off side to ramp it over short fine leg. But mistimed to the on side
18.2
1
Thakur to Tiwary, 1 run, full outside off. He reaches out again and clubs a shot down the ground to long off for one

Athu: "Chennai also scored 39 in the last 2 overs."

18.1
4
Thakur to Tiwary, FOUR, full and wide outside off. Tiwary is a tall man and he reaches out to cream a drive through the covers!

Mumbai need 39 in 12. Otherwise CSK go to the top of the IPL 2021 points table.

END OF OVER:
18 | 10 Runs | MI: 118/6 (39 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.55, RRR: 19.50)

  • Saurabh Tiwary43 (36b)
  • Adam Milne7 (10b)
  • Deepak Chahar4-0-19-2
  • Josh Hazlewood4-0-34-1
17.6
1
Chahar to Tiwary, 1 run, sliced over cover to the fielder in the deep where Gowtham is fielding as a sub for Rayudu. Full outside off and angling away
17.5
1
Chahar to Milne, 1 run, struck down the ground to long on
17.4
1
Chahar to Tiwary, 1 run, a rare Dhoni drop! Confusion between him and Bravo at short fine leg. This was full on middle, and Tiwary tries to play a cute paddle over short fine leg. However the ball pops right up in the air, and both experienced men try to take the catch. Dhoni stretches out too, but just beyond his gloves. May have been distracted by Bravo. Can't blame anyone. But weird for two experienced men to do that
17.3
2
Chahar to Tiwary, 2 runs, attempts the wide yorker. Tiwary thought this would be full on middle/leg because he was walking across to play a paddle. However, he has to adjust, and guides this wide yorker to third man late
17.2
4
Chahar to Tiwary, FOUR, good length on off. Angling further away. Stays on the back foot and uses all that power he has to flat-bat a four down the ground! Long off was there on the boundary, but this was hit too straight
17.1
1
Chahar to Milne, 1 run, full on middle and he clears the front leg to try and hoick a shot over midwicket. Can't get bat on ball. Hits the pad and rolls away to the leg side. Chahar wobbles on the followthrough, and has a small chat with Dhoni on the way back to his mark

Chahar running in to bowl, but wait... he has pulled up on his delivery stride. Injury or cramp? CSK would hope its the latter. Chahar's having a stretch.

Kai : "I'm not celebrating just yet. I remember what happened the last time, that Pollard innings still gives me nighmares"

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs | MI: 108/6 (49 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.35, RRR: 16.33)

  • Adam Milne5 (8b)
  • Saurabh Tiwary35 (32b)
  • Josh Hazlewood4-0-34-1
  • Dwayne Bravo3-0-22-1
16.6
1
Hazlewood to Milne, 1 run, fullish, outside off stump. Flays a shot down the ground to long off for one

Developing news: Click here for details about Kohli stepping down as RCB captain after IPL 2021.

16.5
0
Hazlewood to Milne, no run, good length, just outside off stump. Defended back to the bowler

Vipul: "MI needs a Tewatia (30 runs) like batting now."

16.4
1
Hazlewood to Tiwary, 1 run, full on off, and he shovels a mistimed shot over the umpire to long on
16.3
1
Hazlewood to Milne, 1 run, good length ball angling in. Tries to pull a six after swiveling, but mistimed to deep backward square instead

MI 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st18Q de KockAnmolpreet Singh
2nd17SA YadavAnmolpreet Singh
3rd2SA YadavIshan Kishan
4th21SS TiwaryIshan Kishan
5th29SS TiwaryKA Pollard
6th7SS TiwaryKH Pandya
7th40SS TiwaryAF Milne
8th1SS TiwaryRD Chahar
9th1SS TiwaryJJ Bumrah