CSK vs RCB HIGHLIGHTS, IPL 2021: Chennai thumps Bangalore by 6 wickets, tops points table

CSK vs RCB Live IPL Score, IPL 2021: Get the IPL live score updates between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

CSK tops the points table with a six-wicket win over RCB in Sharjah.

Hello and welcome to Sportstar's coverage of IPL 2021 Match 35 between RCB and CSK from Sharjah.

MS Dhoni:  We were worried about the dew, so whenever there's chances of dew we want to bat second. They got off to a good start but after ninth over wicket slowed down. You still had to bowl tight, and Jadeja's spell was important with Padikkal batting from one end. After that Bravo, Josh, Shardul, Deepak were brilliant. Its always on the back of your mind on which bowler can be effective over here. I had told Moeen before drinks that he would be bowling soon, but then I decided Bravo should bowl. The more you delay Bravo, the more difficult it is since he will end up bowling four straight overs in these difficult conditions. Our players have worked hard, they have understood their roles and responsibilities. Over here, the three grounds are different. This is slowest (so far) of all. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are different. We bat deep, we have a lot of left-handers, so in the back of the head its there. And I feel all of them are good enough to play in any position. That's why we went with the left-right combination, which may have pushed Raina and Rayudu down. Bravo has turned up fit - that's a very good thing. And he is executing well. I call him my brother. We always have fights over whether he should bowl the slower ball. But I told him that now everyone knows he bowls slower balls, so I told him to bowl six different balls in one over. Whenever he can, he takes up responsibilities.

Virat Kohli:  We could've got 175, that could've been a winning total. The pitch had a lot to offer but our bowlers could not make use. They got away with too many boundary opportunities. They bowled well in their back end and executed the yorkers when needed. It was difficult for us to get elevation, and only bad balls could be put away. We then gave too many boundary balls. We spoke of areas we didn't want them to hit, but we couldn't do that. The X-Factor was missing in the first five overs with the ball. But its very important to execute balls during the crunch moments. Those few moments... thats what we failed to capitalise on. We need to get on a winning run again. This game is more disappointing than the first one. We were on top and then gave it all away.

CSK's last 5 IPL Matches in the UAE: W W W W W RCB's last 7 IPL matches in the UAE: L L L L L L L

Ruturaj Gaikwad:  Happy with the win, but not happy that I couldn't finish the game. Opening partnership is always important, chasing or setting the target. The new ball was coming onto the bat, so wanted to play good cricket shots. Faf and I compliment each other well. We talk about when to attack, when to rotate strike, which bowler to attack. He knows which bowler I'll go after and vice versa.

A memorable night for MSD on the 14th anniversary of his maiden title triumph for India. RCB will have a lot of work to do as a poor second half with the bat completely dislodged them off the contest against a menacing CSK batting order. The yellow brigade is swelling in confidence as they race to the top of the points table -  a win away from sealing the playoffs spot.

CSK 157/4 in 18.1 overs: Raina closes the chase with a slog over mid-on. CSK thumps RCB by six wickets and tops the points table!

CSK 155/4 in 18 overs: Dhoni puts CSK within striking distance. Siraj rushes onto Dhoni's shoulders but he swivels and pulls in customary style to midwicket for a boundary. Siraj once again strays to the pads but Dhoni slides it down leg for another boundary. CSK needs 2 in two overs.

CSK 145/4 in 17 overs: Hasaranga keeps Raina in his tracks off the last moment as he advances to slog. Dhoni gives a piece of his mind to Raina and he follows up with a thunderous pull to the midwicket boundary aided by a misfield from Padikkal at the fence. Hasaranga goes length and Raina unleashes his fiery heave over square for six! CSK needs 12 in 18 balls.

CSK 134/4 in 16 overs: Patel to Rayudu. OUT! Harshal has the last laugh as Rayudu slams it straight to midwicket. A huge roar runs through the stadium as Dhoni walks out to bat.   Ambati Rayudu c de Villiers b Patel 32 (22b 3x4 1x6)

CSK 125/3 in 15 overs: Raina rolling back the years! Chahal slides it in sharply but Raina quickly slips to his left and carves out that marvellous inside-stroke to the extra cover boundary. CSK needs 32 in five overs.

CSK 118/3 in 14 overs: Harshal to Ali. OUT! Straight up and Kohli keeps his cool and takes it. The slower one from Patel off the final ball and Ali fails to read it. He goes for the flick but the ball bites the toe edge and lobs over. A little too late for RCB, you'd reckon? Moeen Ali c Kohli b Patel 23 (18b 2x6)

CSK 112/2 in 13 overs: Sweet chin music! Hasaranga goes for the flipper that drifts away but Ali lands the perfect blow against the spin with a cracking thud. Wow! Moeen in full flow is a sight like no other.  

CSK 100/2 in 12 overs: Rayudu brings up the 100 in style! Full and wide outside the off-stump and Rayudu cashes in with a huge slog towards long-on for six. The momentum shifts once again and the pressure's back on Kohli and Co. in a flash.

CSK 90/2 in 11 overs: Sheer elegance! Chahal goes for the tempter outside off. Tosses it up full and wide but Moeen Ali etches the perfect inside-out shot. A clean loft over covers and the ball sails away for six. Kohli's disappointed with Chahal's length and gestures at him after the delivery.

CSK 78/2 in 10 overs: Maxwell to du Plessis. OUT! Lobs it straight to Saini at short fine! Floats in to middle-and-leg and Faf goes for the paddle. No power on it and it falls straight to Saini. Maxwell strikes first ball! Rayudu, the new man. Off the blocks, rightaway. Rayudu steps out and crashes a tossed-up ball from Maxi straight to the midwicket boundary to start things off.  Faf du Plessis c Saini b Maxwell 31 (26b 2x4 2x6)

Maxwell up with the ball

CSK 71/1 in 9 overs: Chahal to Gaikwad. OUT! Virat Kohli completes a blinder! He's pumped. Chahal slides it in and Gaikwad attempts to drive away but the ball clips the leading edge and parries over to the off-side. Kohli pounces forward in a flash from backward point and grabs the ball millimetres away from the grass in a full-length dive. These are the moments that drives a side to get back on. Even better when it comes from the skipper himself. Ruturaj Gaikwad c Kohli b Chahal 38 (26b 4x4 1x6)

CSK 67/0 in 8 overs: Hasaranga attacks the stumps and the batter negotiate on the backfoot. Just the four runs and RCB will need more of it to create pressure on CSK.

CSK 63/0 in 7 overs: du Plessis escapes! Chahal induces some pressure on Gaikwad with a couple of dot balls. He employs a sharp googly and forces Gaikwad to rock back and nudge to the off-side. Gaikwad's desperate and sets off on a single. Faf responds imminently and has a tight run to the other end. Bharat flicks the bails but the replays suggest that he's short by a second in disloding the bails.

Yuzi Chahal into the attack

CSK 59/0 in 6 overs: Faf ends the Powerplay in style. Saini is smoked down the ground for a huge six. A powerful swing from du Plessis and it goes all the way. Saini dishes in a half-tracker and this time du Plessis sends it on his way to the midwicket boundary. Strong finish there as Faf drills a fuller one outside off through covers for four!

CSK 43/0 in 5 overs: Harshal oversteps and Ruturaj gets himself a free swing. A fiery swat to follow and Harshal is slammed straight back for another boundary. CSK well in command in the chase now.

Harshal Patel replaces Siraj

CSK 35/0 in 4 overs: High Class, Rutu! Hasaranga is welcomed with a exquisite slog sweep that races to the midwicket boundary. He follows up with a gorgous six down the ground. Geez, what authority! Hasaranga slides it in full and towards the legs but Gaikwad makes just enough room to swing his arms through the arc.

Hasaranga into the attack

CSK 23/0 in 3 overs: Faf forces Siraj to have a stop-start over. Siraj runs nearly into his final stride as Faf pulls out because of a sigth-screen issue. Siraj comes in with a slow nip-backer and du Plessis plays it fine nicely off the last moment.

CSK 18/0 in 2 overs: Crafty from du Plessis! Saini drills a ball outside off and it's a sharp one. du Plessis instantly steps to his right and parries it over with a dazzling ramp shot for six! Wow. Faf pulls this one off with some style. Nothing wrong about the delivery from Saini, just the finesse of the batter that does the job.

Saini from the opposite end

CSK 7/0 in 1 over:  A hint of swing for Siraj but Gaikwad gets off the mark with a solid push to covers. du Plessis tucks a single and Gaiwad follows up with a fiery boundary past point. Width offered and Gaikwad slams it over the point fielder and the ball races to the fence.

Mohammed Siraj with the new ball.

The chase begins! du Plessis and Gaikwad walk out to the middle.

===========================================

66/6 for in the last 10 overs. Baffling given the start Kohli and Padikkal stitched at Sharjah. Padikkal tells that the older ball made batting difficult in the second-half. An interesting chase awaits!

RCB 156/6 in 20 overs: Bravo to Maxwell. OUT! Slogs it and finds Jadeja once again at the deep midwicket fence! Unbelievable downslide for RCB and all credit goes to pinpoint bowling by the CSK bowlers in the death. Bravo slides in a fuller delivery from around the wicket, angling in to Maxwell's pads. He clears his leg for the slog but fails to find the required power on it. A wicket to finish as Patel hits a skier. Raina underneath it once again and gobbles it up nicely. Sensational comeback from CSK in the second half!Glenn Maxwell c Jadeja b Bravo 11 (9b, 1x6); Harshal Patel c Raina b Dwayne Bravo 3(5)

RCB last 5 overs: 4 wickets, 25 runs

RCB 154/4 in 19 overs: Chahar to Tim David. OUT! Easy for Raina at cover.  Excellent from Chahar as he outfoxes the new man, David. The leg-cutter on the off-stump and David's inside-shot finds minimal power and lobs straight to Raina. Some comeback this from CSK. Even 170 seems out of reach now.  Tim David c Raina b Chahar 1 (3b)

RCB 150/3 in 18 overs: The Big Show is here! Bravo wafts in the slower ball and Maxwell sets himself in the crease and wallops it over midwicket for a massive. 150 up for RCB.

RCB 140/3 in 17 overs: Thakur to ABD. OUT! High into the night sky and Raina makes no mistake at cover!  ABD's powerful six does not set him for a big one tonight as Thakur hits the straps soon after. Padikkal's on strike. Slower one from Shardul and Padikkal lobs it straight to Rayudu in the circle. Two in two for Thakur and what a turnaround for CSK!   AB de Villiers c Raina b Thakur 12 (11b, 1x6);  Devdutt Padikkal c Rayudu b Thakur 70 (50b 5x4 3x6)

RCB 131/1 in 16 overs: Stand and deliver! Hazlewood bowls in the slot and DDP whacks it beautifully over the bowler for another six. He gets off a strike with a single. ABD slams a loosener outside off towards the cover boundary but Gaikwad does well to draw it back and prevent a four.

Hazlewood is back

RCB 118/1 in 15 overs: Top stuff from Thakur. RCB's hopes for a quick aggressive shift has stalled a bit for the last couple of overs. Thakur mixes up the length and ABD treads carefully in the over. Just the four runs from it.

RCB 114/1 in 14 overs: Bravo to Kohli. OUT! Straight to Jadeja at deep midwicket! Kohli fails to fuel power on his famed short-arm jab. The ball perhaps rushed onto a bit more quicker than his exception. It still makes a bid to clear the fence but Sir Jadeja wouldn't let it loose. ABD is in! Bravo welcomes him with a wily slower-one. de Villiers does well to clear his front leg and slide the ball onto the on-side for a single.  Virat Kohli c Jadeja b Bravo 53 (41b 6x4 1x6)

RCB 111/0 in 13 overs: Fifty for Kohli! He brings it up with a boundary as well. Jadeja follows up with a sharp drifter that stuns Kohli, beats him all ends there.

RCB 104/0 in 12 overs: 100 up for RCB and that's fifty for Padikkal! Slower one from Chahar and Padikkal parries it over backward square for another boundary. Another gem of a knock from the youngster.

Chahar replaces Thakur

RCB 96/0 in 11 overs: Jadeja keeps it tight in the channel and nearly yorks DDP. A misfield from Thakur at square leg gives away an extra run. Just the six conceded and this is an excellent over under the circumstances. With ABD, Maxi and Tim David waiting, will VK and Padikkal step up a gear from here?

RCB 90/0 in 10 overs: This is batting royalty on display. Thakur fires one in the line but Padikkal makes room and carves it through point for a classic boundary. Kohli pats his young partner as RCB takes charge in Sharjah.

Thakur is back

RCB 82/0 in 9 overs: BAANG! Padikkal absolutely creams Jadeja with a humongous hit over long-on. Jadeja continues to keep a slower trajectory, one that you simply can't afford on a track like this. Padikkal prods forward and fires it deep into the stands.

RCB 70/0 in 8 overs: Vintage Virat! Bravo hits the slot as well and gets punished. Kohli once again steps out of his crease and launches a fierce flick to the midwicket boundary.

Bravo up with the ball

RCB 61/0 in 7 overs: Padikkal goes downtown again! Stand and delivery approach from DDP. Jadeja tosses one in and Padikkal lobs it from the slot for another sharp boundary straight over the bowler's.

Jadeja into the attack

RCB 55/0 in 6 overs: Fifty up for RCB! Kohli thwacks the short ball from Hazlewood for a crisp boundary through midwicket. Absolute authority on that one as he finds plenty of time to dismiss it from his presence.

RCB 46/0 in 5 overs: What a shot! Thakur hits the length and Kohli hammers the ball over long-on for a massive six. He's not even bothered to have a look at it in the follow-through and that tells us, he's found his zone.

Thakur replaces Chahar

RCB 36/0 in 4 overs: DDP special! Fends one in the slot and gets whacked by a marvellous stroke. Padikkal stands in his stride and simply swings through the arc and hits a straight six. Pressure on CSK.

RCB 28/0 in 3 overs: Boundaries galore! Padikkal drills a loosener from Chahar for another exquisite boundary through cover. He gets off strike with a single. Kohli then takes charge with a cracking stroke. He advances, picks the knuckle ball early and slams it to the midwicket boundary for four.

RCB 18/0 in 2 overs: VK in the mood! Hazlewood finds the outside-edge as Kohli steps down to attack first ball. Hazlewood offers length and this time Kohli pummels it through the covers for a glorious drive. He's on his way tonight. Can he make it count?

Hazlewood into the attack

RCB 13/0 in 1 over: Welcome to Sharjah! Kohli gets off the mark with back to back boundaries as there's no swing on offer for Chahar. Absolute belter of a pitch and Kohli nonchalantly flicks Chahar to midwicket for a breezy four. He takes a single. Chahar finds a hint of shape and beats the outside edge off Padikkal, an inch away from the off-stump. Padikkal responds in style with a glorious boundary through the covers. Dream start for RCB.

Deepak Chahar with the new ball.

And we're ON! MS Dhoni's yellow brigade march to the field. Kohli and Padikkal at the middle.

==========================================

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI:  Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing 11: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KS Bharat, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Tim David, Wanindu Hasaranga, Navdeep Saini, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Kohli:  "Wicket looks nice and hard. Don't think it will change too much. We would've probably bowled as well. Few extra runs would be nice. We looked at the positives after the last game. You have to start over right over again, and it's probably good to get a knock early on. It was the right thing to happen to us at an early stage, wakes us up. Its an opportunity to play the cricket we want to play. Got in Saini for Sachin Baby. Jamieson is out Tim David is in." Dhoni:  "Small venue, few wet patches, and we have some dew last time we played here. No changes in the XI. Our last game was an incredible team effort with Rayudu injured. It was a special performance from the bat. Still it was not a par score, so the bowlers kept us in with wickets. Toss: CSK wins Toss, to bowl first

 

TOSS TIME!

7:24PM IST: Toss scheduled in 5 minutes.  First ball at 7:45PM.

7:22PM IST: Inspection in 3 minutes!

 

7:12PM IST: UPDATE: Next inspection at 5:55 PM (Local Time) & 07.25 PM IST

As we wait, here's a little viewing on CSK's new poster boy, Ruturaj Gaikwad!

 

Well, well. The toss is further delayed, folks. It's pretty dark and breezy at the moment.

7:05PM IST: Toss in five minutes.  Dhoni and Kohli are at the middle and continue to hold talks with the umpires and match referee Javagal Srinath.

UPDATE: DESERT STORM RETURNS. The toss is delayed due to a raging sandstorm in Sharjah.

6:45PM IST: PITCH REPORT - "There were 220 sixes hit last year (at Sharjah) However, this wicket is patchy, you are not going to get the normal sheen. I actually think you should have a bowl here, just to see exactly how the wicket is going to play tonight," - Kevin Pietersen

6:25PM IST: Right, is this the eve for King Kohli to bounce back?

Virat Kohli's short on runs. Can he fire back to form tonight?

 

6:10PM IST: Numbers Game

Virat Kohli needs 66 runs to become the first Indian to complete 10,000 T20 runs. Raina needs five runs to complete 5500 IPL runs. Yuzvendra Chahal has dismissed Suresh Raina four times in IPL ABD needs five sixes to complete 250 IPL sixes.

5:55PM IST: The IPL returns to Sharjah!

Welcome to Sharjah, folks!

 

5:30PM IST: CSK vs RCB Head to Head

Span: 2008-2021 Matches: 28 Won: CSK - 18, RCB - 9 HS (CSK) vs RCB: 208 LS (CSK) vs RCB: 129 HS (RCB) vs CSK: 205 LS (RCB) vs CSK: 70

 

Match Preview

After being shot out for 92 against Kolkata Knight Riders, a lot is riding on Royal Challengers Bangalore’s explosive batting lineup when it takes on Chennai Super Kings in Sharjah on Friday.

Last year, the venue saw some of the highest scores scored in the tournament with its short boundaries, and the RCB batsmen will hope to find their groove in what could be helpful batting conditions.

On Wednesday, Virat Kohli had an extended net session, and coach Mike Hesson sounded confident that the skipper had found his rhythm back.

With AB de Villiers not donning the gloves, it will be interesting to see if RCB tries Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammed Azharuddeen, who is known for his power-hitting, to give more depth to its lineup.

Eyeing playoff berth

Meanwhile, CSK will be high on confidence following its 20-run win over defending champion Mumbai Indians, especially after being reduced to 24/4 batting first on Sunday.

But last year, the three-time champion struggled in Sharjah, losing its three matches.

All-rounder Sam Curran will be available for Friday’s game after completing his quarantine and could give the team an option, should it choose to swap him for Moeen Ali.

Another piece of good news is that both Ambati Rayudu, who took a blow on his arm and Deepak Chahar, who suffered cramps against MI, are fit and available.

With a settled lineup, CSK will hope to get its seventh win of the season and take one step closer to the playoff.

Full Squads:

CSK Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir, Robin Uthappa, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karn Sharma, Moeen Ali, Jason Behrendorff, Krishnappa Gowtham, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Hari Nishanth, N Jagadeesan, KM Asif, Harishankar Reddy, Bhagath Varma

RCB Squad: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sachin Baby, Kyle Jamieson, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rajat Patidar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Daniel Christian, Dushmantha Chameera, Navdeep Saini, Pavan Deshpande, Mohammed Azharuddeen, George Garton, Suyash Prabhudessai, Tim David, Akash Deep

WHERE TO WATCH IPL MATCH LIVE STREAMING TV, ONLINE TELECAST - CSK vs RCB LIVE? IPL 2021 will be aired Live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. It will be streamed live on Hotstar.