|| Desk Report ||

13th edition of Indian Premier League has started in a blitzy way where MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registered a 5-wicket win over the defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Put into bat first, Mumbai Indians openers Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock started quite well, where they added 46 runs in 28 balls. However, that didn’t stay long as Piyush Chawla dismissed Rohit soon after – who mistimed and gave an easy catch to Sam Curran at mid-off whereas the next over witnessed the dismissal of de Kock. 

However, Suryakumar Yadav and Saurabh Tiwari steadied the ship with a 44-run partnership. Mumbai were 121 for 4 when Chennai bowlers took on the Mumbai batsmen where Ravindra Jadeja taking two scalps in the 15th over. Later, Lungi Ngidi bowled the 'death' overs and dismissed their key players - Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard and Mumbai put up 162 on board.

While chasing 163, CSK got off to a poor start where they lost both their openers Shane Watson (4) and Murali Vijay (1) within the first two overs where Trent Boult dismissed Watson and James Pattinson got rid of Vijay.

However, Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis joined hands and made sure CSK could win the game with ease. Both Rayudu and du Plessis smashed the bowlers all over the park. With a 48-ball 71 (6 fours and 3 sixes) Rayudu snatched the game away from the opponents. Du Plessis also helped him well with an unbeaten 58 off 44 with 6 fours.