Massive props to CSK. A convincing five-wicket win for Chennai Super Kings and sweet revenge, you'd say, for that narrow loss to Mumbai in the IPL final last season. Dhoni and Co. lost to Mumbai on all four occasions last season. So, they will take a lot of confidence from this win. Mumbai had their moments but failed to cash in. Rayudu spearheaded the chase with a brilliant fifty and was supported by an equally impressive unbeaten half-century from Du Plessis. Credit to the CSK bowlers too who chipped away at the Mumbai batsmen every time they looked to break free. That would be all from our side. We will be back with our coverage for the KXIP vs DC game tomorrow. Until then, it is good night from our side.
Trent Boult is back into the attack. Du Plessis levels the scores with a boundary first ball. A boundary to bring up CSK's first win of IPL 2020. Top knock from du Plessis.
SIX! Curran, you beauty. Welcomes Bumrah into the attack with a massive six. What a catch. Pattinson takes a blinder to get rid of Curran. Dhoni is in the middle. Du Plessis, meanwhile, moves to 50 with a boundary and a single. The Protean has been the perfect anchor. Dhoni, taking strike for the first time since that World Cup semifinal, is given out caught behind first ball. He reviews and there's day light between bat and ball. Dhoni survives. CSK needs 5 off 6 balls.
GONE! Krunal gets Jaddu out lbw. Is there a final twist left in the tale? Chennai Super Kings needs 29 runs in 17 balls. Still no signs of M.S. Dhoni. Sam Curran is in next. SIX! Whataay strike. Curran clobbers one over deep mid-wicket for six. Make that 10 off two as the Englishman throws his hand at this wide delivery and gets four for it. 13 from the over. CSK 147/4 after 18 Overs.
Ravindra Jadeja joins du Plessis. Jaddu's off the mark with a boundary first ball. Poor delivery from Patto and duly punished. Du Plessis mistimes a slower delivery and the ball lands in no man's land - three fielders converging on it and not one of them could catch it. Jaddu now punishes a full toss - carves it through deep backward point for four. 13 off the over. CSK 134/3 after 17 Overs. Chennai Super Kings needs 29 runs in 18 balls
Rahul Chahar is back into the attack. Krunal drops Rayudu. The right-hander going for a reverse sweep, and Krunal should've taken it! A chance goes begging! But hang on, Rahul says 'I'll do it myself'! Rayudu holes out , caught and bowled by Rahul. Excellent catch under pressure. Big wicket. Rayudu gone for 71. CSK 121/3 after 16 Overs.
Bumrah is back into the attack. What can he do to turn the tide? Bowls a snorter of a short ball first up. Rayudu in a tangle and it's a dot. But he brings up the 100-run partnership with a single off the next ball. Du Plessis, on strike, celebrates the milestone with a cracking boundary through covers. CSK slowly taking this game by the scruff of the neck. A couple to end the over - 11 off it. CSK 116/2 after 15 Overs.
Pattinson is back. Faf brings up the team 100 with a single first ball. He has been brilliant with the ball so far. Plenty of injuries along the way for Pattinson but good to see him up and about again. A good over from Patto. A couple and four singles from it. CSK 105/2 after 14 Overs . Chennai Super Kings needs 58 runs in 36 balls.
Rahul Chahar [2.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack. Rayudu welcomes him with a maximum. Over extra cover for six and the pressure is now on Mumbai. Another good over for Chennai. 11 from it. CSK 99/2 after 13 Overs.
Bumrah is back into the attack. Mumbai need Bumrah to get a breakthrough now. Rayudu moves to 48 with a single. He brings up his 50 with a smashing straight drive... rather more of a tennis forehand for four. Top knock from Rayudu. Seven runs from that over. CSK 88/2 after 12 Overs.
SIX! Rayudu upping the ante - launches Krunal over deep mid-wicket for six. The partnership starting to hurt MI. That was a rubbish ball from Krunal ... Rayudu nearing his 50. Plenty of dew out there. Dhoni's reason to bowl first vindicated ... 11 runs off that over. CSK 81/2 after 11 Overs.
Rahul Chahar to continue. Rayudu collects a boundary, thanks to a slip-up from Bumrah in the field. It gets worse. He collects another boundary and this time, Boult's the culprit as he lets the ball slip. That should've been stopped. Sloppy work from Boult. 12 runs off the over. CSK 70/2 after 10 Overs. Chennai Super Kings needs 93 runs in 60 balls.
Krunal to continue after the strategic time-out. Almost had his man, did Krunal. But the ball falls short of Rahul - and Rayudu takes a single. Seven runs off that over. CSK 58/2 after 9 Overs.
Rahul Chahar, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack. Rayudu and du Plessis happy to deal in ones and twos at the moment, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Du Plessis comes down the track, goes inside out over deep extra cover for four. The team 50 comes up with a single off the last ball. CSK 51/2 after 8 Overs.
Krunal Pandya, left arm orthodox, comes into the attack. Du Plessis and Rayudu happy to take singles off the first three balls. The CSK duo will look to get to the halfway stage without losing anymore wickets and then decide on the next course of action. Six runs off that over. CSK 43/2 after 7 Overs.
Bumrah has been introduced into the attack. Du Plessis on strike. Bumrah starts off a with a pacy delivery - 142.5 kmph. Two dots to start his spell. Make that three dots in three deliveries. Sharp start from the Indian international. Rohit's had the luxury of holding Bumrah back so far. Du Plessis finally gets one away - three runs off it. FOUR! Rayudu has a go at it and he will get four for it. A boundary to deep backward point. 7 from the over.... Hang on, Bumrah overstepped on that last delivery. He concedes a free hit and Rayudu launches it over long-on for six. 14 runs off it. CSK 37/2 after 6 Overs.
FOUR! Width on offer from Boult and Rayudu pounces on it - threads the gap in the cover region for four. Good comeback from the Kiwi pace spearhead - Five dots to finish the over. CSK 23/2 after 5 Overs.
SHOT! Patto bowls short and Rayudu carves it to sweeper cover for four. CSK still have MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav waiting in the ranks. Sam Curran's no muck with the bat either. Faf collects a couple to end the over. 7 from it in the end. CSK 19/2 after 4 Overs.
Ambati Rayudu joins Du Plessis. Boult back for his second over. Faf takes a single and gives the strike to Rayudu. Oh Dear. Meanwhile, the replays show the ball missing the leg stump by a big margin. Vijay would've been still out there had he reviewed his dismissal! In the meantime, Rayudu is off the mark with a single. Faf hits a much-needed boundary to end the over. CSK 12/2 after 3 Overs.
Faf du Plessis is in at 3. James Pattinson to share the new ball duties. Du Plessis promoted to No. 3 in absence of Suresh Raina. Good start from the Aussie save the wide of course. Loud appeal for lbw against Vijay. MI decides not to review it. That looked mighty close to the naked eye. GONE! Gets his man, does Patto. Traps Vijay in front and CSK are two down. One run and a wicket off it. CSK 6/2 after 2 Overs.
Watson and Vijay to start the chase. Trent Boult with the new ball.
Watson 's Vijay's off the mark with a quick single. FOUR! Watson scythes one over deep extra cover for four. Width on offer and Watson makes the most of it. GONE! Boult takes his revenge next ball - traps Watson in front and that's an early breakthrough for Mumbai.
CSK 5/1 after 1 Over.
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Great comeback from CSK. Two spectacular catches by du Plessis and fine second spell from Lungi Ngidi has restricted Mumbai to 162. Hardik and Pollard showed glimpses of their destructive capabilities but never got going. Dhoni and Co. will be pleased with their efforts.
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Deepak to wrap up the innings. Trent Boult out first ball. Bumrah is the last man in. Gets off the mark with a single. Rahul swings and misses. Dot ball. Short ball next up and Rahul takes a single. Bumrah gets two off the next ball. He picks up two more. Six off the over. Mumbai finishes on 162. Chennai Super Kings need 163 to win.
GONE! Ngidi gets the big fish - Pollard is out caught behind. He didn't start well but sure is finishing on a high, is Ngidi. Rahul Chahar joins Pattinson. Brilliant comeback from Ngidi. After being hammered in the first spell, he has fought back to snap up Krunal and Pollard. Poor work from Deepak in the field - should've been a couple for Patto but a misfield ensures he gets four. Another one bites the dust: Patto perishes , caught by that man du Plessis again. Finishes off with a top yorker. Five runs and two wickets. MI 156/8 after 19 Overs.
Sam Curran to bowl out. KP, on air, heaping praises on the fellow Englishman. WHAM! Pattinson clobbers one over the bowler's head for four. Good strike that from the Aussie. Takes a single next ball and gives the strike back to Pollard. He really is the danger man for CSK now. Curran, looking for a yorker, errs in line and Pollard collects a four. A single to end the over. Pollard will keep strike. MI 151/6 after 18 Overs.
GONE ! Ngidi gets a wicket at last and a brilliant take by MS Dhoni behind the stumps. A nothing delivery really but he will take it. Krunal departs. James Pattinson is the new man at the crease. All singles so far. Good over this from Lungi. Four runs and a wicket. MI 140/6 after 17 Overs.
Chawla to bowl out. Pollard on strike. SIX! Full and the Caribbean giant launches it over long-on for six. Krunal Pandya has joined Pollard. Pollard gets going with a straight hit for a six, his 21st hit over the fence this T20 season. Chawla finishes with figures of 4-0-21-1 on his CSK debut. MI 136/5 after 16 Overs.
GONE! Jaddu gets a breakthrough . Tiwary tries to clear the ropes but Faf does well at long-on to hold on to the ball. Big wicket for CSK. The threatening partnership has been broken. Kieron Pollard joins Hardik Pandya. CSK will be wary of the threat Pollard poses at this stage of the innings. Good over so far. Three singles and a wicket... What a catch! Hardik holes out and this is Faf's wicket! Very good comeback over from Jaddu. Five runs and two wickets. MI 126/5 after 15 Overs.
Chawla back for his third over. Hardik goes for a mighty swing and misses! The intent has been very clear from Hardik: he is going to go after the bowling. He settles for a single on this occassion. Tiwary, on strike, collects a brace next ball thanks to a misfield from Murali Vijay. DRS REVIEW ! Replays show the ball missing the off stump and Tiwary is safe. Good call from the umpire. Just five from that over. MI 121/3 after 14 Overs.
Lungi Ngidi is back into the attack. Tiwary turning it on. Joins the fun: clobbers Ngidi for a boundary. Mumbai motoring along nicely at the moment. Follows it up with yet another boundary, this time down the ground and the ball beats the fielder at mid-off and runs away for four. Tiwary is playing ahead of the young Ishan Kishan here, so far he has justified his place in the XI. 11 runs off the over. MI 116/3 after 13 Overs.
Hardik Pandya comes to the crease. Jaddu to continue. Welcome back, Hardik. Two back-to-back maximums off Jaddu. 13 runs off that over. Hardik is back in action after a long injury lay-off. MI 105/3 after 12 Overs.
Deepak Chahar back for another crack. He was expensive in his first spell: 20 off 2 overs. Deepak resorting to the slower ball. Surya collects a single off a nice off-cutter before Saurabh flat bats a delivery for a quick brace. He didn't time it at all. Another slower ball from Deepak but the radar's off: wide given. GONE! Surya perishes... Sam Curran completing a simple chance at long-on. Deepak gets a wicket. MI 92/3 after 11 Overs.
Chawla is back into the attack. He starts off with a loosener - a wide delivery first up. Conditions are perfect for the leggie. He is a slow operator is Chawla and the wicket is slowing down as the innings progresses. Turning out to be yet another good over from Chawla. Just three off it in the end. MI 86/2 after 10 Overs.
Jaddu continues. Surya drives one down to long-off for a single. SIX!
First maximum of IPL 2020. Saurabh launches one over long-on for six. Plays a late cut next ball and gets
off strike. a couple. Follows it up with a deft cut shot for four more. 15 from that over. An expensive one for CSK and Jaddu.
MI 83/2 after 9 Overs.
Third over for Sam Curran, who has been quite exceptional so far. Tiwary and Surya collect a single each off the first two deliveries. A great third ball: just leaving the left-hander - play and a miss for Saurabh. SHOT! Cuts and cuts well does Surya and gets four for it. Good effort from Chawla but in the end, Surya collects a boundary. Eight runs off that over. MI 68/2 after 8 Overs.
Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack. Just an one over for Piyush. Saurabh takes a single and gives the strike to Surya, who lifts one over deep extra cover for four. Good comeback from Jaddu. A boundary and five singles off the over. MI 60/2 after 7 Overs.
WICKET! Sam Curran, the CSK debutant strikes: gets Quinton de Kock out and MI have lost two in quick succession. The slowness of the pitch starting to play tricks here. Saurabh Tiwary joins Surya. Tiwary brings up the team fifty with a brace. This is Saurabh's first IPL match in three years! A dot to end an excellent over: three runs and a wicket. MI 51/2 after 6 Overs.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla into the attack. Quinton brings out the reverse sweep and misses. Quinton takes a single off the next ball. OUT! Rohit departs. Hits one straight to Sam Curran at mid-off. Soft dismissal. Piyush getting the important breakthrough. Suryakumar Yadav joins Quinton. Great over. Three runs and a wicket. MI 48/1 after 5 Overs.
Lungi Ngidi into the attack. Starts by drifting onto Rohit's pads. The MI skipper flicks it for a single. SHOT! Quinton at his best: lifts this one to long-off for four. That was in the slot. He follows it up with a couple off the next ball. Lungi tries the slower ball but concedes a wide in the process. FOUR! Quinton wallops this one... four more to long-on. Another wide! A very expensive start this for the Protean seamer. Cheeky! Quinton getting stuck into his South African team-mate: walks across his stumps and sends it to fine-leg for four more. A single to end the over. 18 off it. MI 45/0 after 4 Overs.
Deepak to continue. Starts off by conceding a single to Quinton. Both bowlers have struggled to swing the ball so far. Shot. But no run. Rohit gets one off the middle but straight to the fielder. Third ball a dot. What will Rohit's response be? He drives to mid-off and takes off for a single. It was proving to be a good over until Quinton swings one to deep mid-wicket for four. A brace from Quinton to finish the over. MI 27/0 after 3 Overs.
Sam Curran to share new ball duties. He arrived here just a couple of days ago. Should be interesting to see how he adapts to these conditions. Starts off with two dots. Quinton is on strike. The left-arm medium pacer gives width on the third delivery and Quinton cuts it to deep backward-point for a single. FOUR! Now a wide half-volley and Rohit creams it square of the wicket for four more. Seven runs off it in the end. MI 19/0 after 2 Overs.
Two slips in place. Rohit on strike... some delay in the start because of sightscreen issues. Meanwhile, pre-recorded crowd noise has been woven into the broadcast. The new normal, eh! We are all set. FOUR ! Rohit gets off the mark with a terrific drive through the covers. What a start. Follows it up with a single next ball. Quinton opens his account with a single. FOUR ! Quinton de Kock flicks this one away through mid-wicket for four. Good start for MI. A quick single to end the over. MI 12/0 after 1 Over.
Familiar sights... M.S. Dhoni leading his troops to the middle. This is the first time since that World Cup 2019 semifinal against New Zealand that Dhoni will take the field. All eyes will be on MSD. Both teams are out and ready to get cracking. Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock will open the innings for the four-time IPL champion. Deepak Chahar to start proceedings with the new ball.
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TOSS UPDATE: Chennai Super Kings has won the toss and elected to field.
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Murali Vijay, Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Lungi Ngidi
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, James Pattinson, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Dhoni: "Will bowl first. Late evening you get dew. Also to keep wicket in good condition they water it, so it tends to be tacky at the start. Have the liberty during lockdown to spend time on yourself to keep fit. Have to applaud every member of the squad. First six days in quarantine were very difficult. Felt each individual used that time well and nobody was disappointed or frustrated. The practice facilities were very good. After the first 14 days it was nice to get out. CSK's four overseas players: Watson, Faf, Sam Curran and Lungi Ngidi."
Rohit: Would've bowled first as well, gets better under lights. Have been here few weeks, so understand conditions better. Before coming here, we had a camp in Mumbai. Also had quality practice out here in Abu Dhabi. Key here will be to understand conditions. Pitches for the practice matches will be similar to what we'll get here. Ready to go. Pattinson, Quinton, Pollard and Trent Boult are the four overseas players.
PITCH REPORT: "Even covering of grass on the wicket. Start of the tournament, you want to start well. Par score has been 167," points out Kevin Pietersen. The former English captain expects it to be a high-scoring contest. Michael Slater alludes to the "carpet like" outfield. All things pointing to a run fest!
First glimpses of M.S. Dhoni on the field. He can be seen having a chat former India international and member of Mumbai Indians support staff, Zaheer Khan. Dhoni announced his international retirement on August 15 and will make a return to competitive cricket after 447 days!
BUILD-UP
The Chennai Super Kings, led by the charismatic M.S. Dhoni, are on their way to the stadium. Last season, despite being in the driver's seat till the end, CSK saw the final slip away from its grasp. Revenge will be on the mind of Dhoni and Co.
Mumbai Indians are en route to the venue for the IPL 2020 opener. The Rohit Sharma-led side has won a record four IPL titles. Can it add a fifth to its tally?
After six months of inactivity, Indian cricketers will be in action at the IPL 2020 opener between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. Here's the match preview - READ
Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said on Friday that skipper M.S. Dhoni is “mentally engaged and determined” to encounter the challenges of a “tactically different” IPL - READ
M.S. Dhoni has enjoyed phenomenal success with CSK, both as a batsman and skipper. Here are Dhoni's top five moments with the Men in Yellow - READ
The desert sands in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may not instantly offer cricketing symbolism in an Indian context. But prod your memory and two searing images emerge. The first, a heart-breaking one as Javed Miandad launched a match-winning last-ball six off Chetan Sharma in the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup final at Sharjah. The second, a delirious string of desert-storm nights as Sachin Tendulkar single-handedly stunned Australia with his two blazing hundreds at Sharjah while India seized the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup. K.C. Vijaya Kumar writes how IPL’s bio-secure avatar set to quench fans’ thirst - READ
If the unprecedented delay in staging the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 13th edition, owing to the pandemic, seems to have been a boon for a team, it has to be the defending champion. Here's Amol Karhadkar's team preview for MI - READ
The three-time champion has been the epitome of ruthless efficiency, reaching the final four — the first target for all teams — in every edition it has been a part of. Here's Dipak Ragav's team preview for CSK - READ
James Pattinson talks about replacing Lasith Malinga at Mumbai Indians, how his Big Bash League performances could help him in the UAE and his expectations going into IPL 2020 - READ
The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports network in India on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 1 Hindi. It will be live streamed on Star’s video on demand platform Disney+Hotstar.
Hello and welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of the IPL 2020 opener between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi.
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