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So we have come to the end of our coverage for the opening game of the 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Chennai Super Kings continued their dominance over RCB at Chepauk as they managed to win their 8th game against Bengaluru in the stadium. RCB recovered from a shaky start to post 173 but it wasn't enough given the pitch was a belter. Maybe Faf could think about the decision at toss in retrospect but it's just the start of the season and they shouldn't worry too much. Ruturaj Gaikwad has started his captaincy tenure with a resounding victory and that will certainly ease a few nerves. We will be back tomorrow for a doubleheader PBKS squaring off against Delhi Capitals in the afternoon game while Kolkata Knight Riders will lock horns against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the night game. A long day awaits us with some exciting games on hand. Do join us then but for now, this is me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) bidding adieu on behalf of my fellow commentators Shashwat Kumar and Sooryanarayan Sesha.
Mustafizur Rahman is the Player of the Match for his outstanding spell of 4/29.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings captain): Total control I would say right from the start. We would have loved 10-15 runs less but they batted brilliantly in the final overs. I feel it was a turning point to get Faf and Maxi out which was the turning point in the game which helped us to control the game in the next 5-6 overs, I have never felt any pressure while captaining. I have enjoyed it and not a single time I felt pressurized to be honest. Definitely I think everyone in our squad are natural strokeplayers. Jinx batted positively. The batters know their role perfectly which really helps a lot. Definitely lots of positives but we have a few areas to work on. This chase would have slightly more easier had there been a set batter.
It's time for the post-match presentation ceremony with Ravi Shastri.
Rachin Ravindra: I think it was a pretty complete performance by us. We had very calm heads (Rutu and Rahane) which allowed me to play my natural game. I wouldn't call myself a star just yet. We have four of five good days of training. It's more about bringing about the calming influence and there is so much to learn from this group. The wickets have been a bit different in training. Just trusting the work we have done and then playing your natural game. Just brings a familiarity with known faces around.
Faf du Plessis, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain: (On their batting collapse) When you play here, you feel like you have to get ahead of the game in the first six overs. Chennai is a very good team in the middle overs. They squeeze you with spin. We lost a few more wickets in the first seven and then the guys had to stabilise the innings. Felt we were 15-20 runs short. (On going to the short-ball ploy) They were batting at the pace where they were always in front of the game. We were trying to find opportunities to get wickets. With Dube, we saw he was not comfortable with the short stuff. In the end, we just did not have enough runs. If you look at the stats, it is very much in favour of batting first (at this ground). It (the pitch) looked on the drier side. For the spinners, the ball started to grip a bit. Someone like Dube is a really good spin-hitter and that is why we went back to pace. All said, batting first was the right decision. Really good for Dinesh (Karthik), setting up this season. For someone who has not played a lot of cricket, really important to start the competition with confidence. Anuj (Rawat) showed real promise towards the end of last season. Showed great composure and then showed us his power towards the back end.
Chennai Super Kings won by 6 wickets (with 8 deliveries to spare)
It turned out to be a relatively straightforward run chase for the Chennai Super Kings despite being troubled in the middle overs. Ravindra Jadeja played a nice hand and calmed things down when a barrage of short deliveries had put CSK on the backfoot. With two short deliveries allowed in the season, the RCb bowlers went for short ball barrage which paid dividends on a few occasions but towards the end, the tactics just backfired. It was Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja who ensured that CSK reached the target of 174 without losing any more wickets.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed to get some early wickets if they had to make a match of this. Newly appointed captain Ruturaj Gaikwad came out to open the innings in the company of Rachin Ravindra who was making his IPL debut. Both looked in good touch but it was Rachin in particular who looked like making a statement in his very first game. He kept plundering the RCB opening attack to all corners of the park while Gaikwad was finding it a bit difficult to negate the swing from Yash Dayal. He was eventually dismissed while playing away from the body and nicked off at first slip.
Ravindra ensured that the powerplay was a productive one for CSK before perishing at the hands of Karn Sharma after scoring a quickfire 37 off 15 deliveries. Ajinkya Rahane carried on from where he left in the last season and smoked a couple of sixes during his stand with Daryl Mitchell. The latter announced his arrival in style smashing Karn Sharma for a couple of sixes down the ground. However, it was a barrage of short deliveries which seemed to have changed the mindset of the CSK batters.
Dube struggled to get going initially while Mitchell found the long-on fielder as he wanted to club a short delivery. With four wickets back in the hut, RCB should have sensed an opening but Ravindra Jadeja ensured that CSK chased down the target without losing any further wickets. Dube also gained in confidence and defied the short deliveries to score an unbeaten 34 off 28 deliveries. Ravindra Jadeja also batted superbly, remaining unbeaten on 25 off 17 deliveries. Cameron Green was the pick of the RCB bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/27.
That should be the match here. Faf du Plessis has taken the review but it's more out of desperation. No way the ball is hitting the stumps. Shivam Dube took his time initially but towards the latter half showed why he is one of the most dangerous strikers of the ball. As I am typing, live visuals confirm that it was pitching well outside leg and that has run away to the fence eventually winning the game by 6 wickets. Still a long way to go in the season but Ruturaj Gaikwad can smile.
18.4 Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, THAT WILL BE THAT! CSK WIN ON OPENING NIGHT AND THEIR TITLE DEFENCE IS UP AND RUNNING! RCB HAVE REVIEWED, THOUGH! Goes for the leg-stump yorker but errs in line a little. Dube, on first glance, seemed to have gotten bat on it but replays suggest it has not hit the bat at all. Flicked his leg but the ball pitched well outside leg. It will be four byes, and not runs, but CSK could not care one bit! Gaikwad has his first win as captain, and the show is on the road for the five-time champions!
That's what Shivam Dube is capable of. Absolutely dismisses that from his presence. Making a statement with that shot