SQUADS:
Mumbai Indians (From): Quinton de Kock(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Mitchell McClenaghan, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Anmolpreet Singh, Aditya Tare, Siddhesh Lad, Evin Lewis, Yuvraj Singh, Pankaj Jaiswal, Anukul Roy, Ben Cutting, Mayank Markande, Barinder Sran, Rasikh Salam, Jayant Yadav, Beuran Hendricks
Chennai Super Kings (From): Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Santner, Murali Vijay, Dhruv Shorey, N Jagadeesan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Scott Kuggeleijn, Chaitanya Bishnoi, Karn Sharma, Mohit Sharma, KM Asif, Monu Kumar
CSK skipper MS Dhoni comes up for a chat: "Somebody has to lose, things really didn't go our way, especially batting. At home, we had to assess the conditions, we have played 6 to 7 games already, that's the home advantage.. We needed to know how the pitch behaves, would it be tacky? Those were the things we didn't do well. These are the best batsmen we have got, it looks like we are are batting well, but at times, they pull off shots that shouldn't be played. These are the players who we have banked on, they have the experience and they should know to assess the conditions better. I think we were a bit unlucky at times, some balls dropped right in the middle, we perhaps had to bowl slightly away from the batsmen. It isn't good to lose games at such times, but it is good that we finished in the top-two, that gives us another chance in Vizag."
Since the introduction of the playoff format, CSK have played five qualifier 1 matches and they've won 3 and lost 2 - both to MI.
monthly limit of free stories.
with an Express account.
2011: W
2013: W
2015: L (MI)
2018: W
2019: L (MI)
Mumbai Indians are through to the IPL 2019 final! Suryakumar plays it into the leg side region for a simple single. MI win by 6 wickets with nine balls to spare
FOUR! Suryakumar Yadav with a boundary off Deepak Chahar. Plenty of use of the wirst to play it behind for a boundary
FOUR! Suryakumar Yadav with a boundary off Deepak Chahar. Plenty of use of the wirst to play it behind for a boundary
FOUR! Suryakumar Yadav with a boundary off Deepak Chahar. Plenty of use of the wirst to play it behind for a boundary
Jeers from some sections of the crowd as Faf du Plessis misjudges a chance to get rid of Hardik Pandya. Looked more a case of being unable to cut down the distance from the boundary rope as he moved forward. Pandya with the slog and it lands in no man's land in the end. Double collected.
Golden duck for Krunal Pandya! Imran Tahir looked convinced that it was caught-bowled. Umpires weren't as convinced but the soft signal is out. Played back by Pandya and it gets the toe end of the bat. MI are 101/4
Imran Tahir gets rid of Ishan Kishan for 28 from 31 balls. Beaten by the pace. Kishan looked to come down the track but Tahir bowls a quicker one. It skids off the surface and rattles the off stump. Much needed wicket for CSK. MI are 101/3
Suryakumar Yadav brings up his fifty from 37 balls. Imran Tahir into the attack and SKY plays it towards third man for a boundary. Harbhajan is pushed and tested once again. Considers another dive but decides against it
Suryakumar Yadav with brilliant batting to steer a spinner from Ravindra Jadeja towards third man. Was on top of that delivery and read it perfectly. Their partnership now reaches 71 runs - the highest in the match. MI now need 40 from 42 balls
Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have steadied things for Mumbai Indians. They have a 50-run stand now for the third wicket.
EQUATION: MI need 63 from 60 balls
MI are 44/2 after the powerplay overs. CSK were 32/3 at the same stage in their inning. Chennai need a wicket and soon.
This one is much more like it. Nothing wrong with this shot. Sits down on one leg and sweps it for a six towards deep mid-wicket. Classy shot that.
Ishan Kishan dances down the track but has an ugly go at a looped up delivery by Harbhajan Singh. Looks for a big hit but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball or read the ball well, went for the heave, gets a thick outside edge which beats Watson at first slip and runs away for a boundary
Consecutive boundaries for Suryakumar Yadav off Deepak Chahar. First one he gets the line all wrong and Suryakumar plays it towards fine leg for a boundary. Next ball, it is DROPPED! Half pull and Vijay, at mid-on, doesn't get around enough to hold on. Gets through his palms and runs away for a boundary. 11 runs from the over
Poor shot from Quinton de Kock! Creates room to Harbhajan Singh and looks to go inside-out. But he doesn't get the distance to it and Faf du Plessis runs around to complete the catch at long off. He's gone for 8 from 12 and MI are 21/2
QDK with an awkward looking sweep off Chahar and a four down to fine-leg. Good adjustment though! The loss of Rohit Sharma's wicket does not seem to have any big impact right now as Mumbai continues to motor along. MI- 20/1, 3 ovs
Rohit reviews the decision and it's umpire's call on height! Matter of a few cms but Chahar has given the perfect start for CSK. Excellent thinking seam bowling by Chahar as he manages to get the perfect outswing and trap Sharma right in front. Not the start MI would have wished for. Rohit is gone for 4. MI- 4/1
Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock are at the crease. Rohit is on strike. Chahar will open the attack.FOUUURRR! Rohit Sharma gets it past the inner ring on the off side. Delightful stroke. MI are up and running!
Imran Tahir. Ravindra Jadeja. Harbhajan Singh. Will MSD turn to Raina for an additional four?
Brilliant final over from Jasprit Bumrah. He goes for just 9 runs despite that no ball and chance for MS Dhoni on the first ball. All deliveries bang on the money. Dhoni frustrated as he picked a single on the penultimate ball. Chennai Super Kings end with 131/4 from 20 overs. Ambati Rayudu unbeaten on 42 from 37 balls and MS Dhoni on 37 from 29 balls. Their partnership of 66 runs from 48 balls may have given CSK the chance they needed.
Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the final over. Low full toss and Dhoni goes into the swing. Loses grip of the bat and it goes flying. Simple catch for Ishan Kishan. MSD has been asked to wait as they check the no ball. YES! Bumrah has overstepped and MS Dhoni stays back.
Next ball, ANOTHER SIX! Chennai crowd has found its voice once again and just the finish CSK needed. Malinga with poor length once again and MS Dhoni smashes it straighter this time. Towards the long on region and someone in the crowd gets the chance to catch. WHAT A HIT!
FILTHY HIT! STAND AND DELIVER! MS Dhoni with a monstrous hit. Sent into the third tier? Malinga misses the yorker and MSD makes a mockery of the overpitched delivery.
Ambati Rayudu expected the slower one from Jasprit Bumrah and the slower one it is. Rayudu got into position early for it and pulls it over square leg for a boundary. It brings up the 100 for CSK in the 18th over
Rahul Chahar with a great spell: Goes for 3 runs in the final over. Ends with 4-0-14-2
Ambati Rayudu joins in the attack. He darts down the track now and smashes it towards deep mid-wicket for a big six. Way to alleviate the tension from the previous ball where a bit of confusion could have been curtains for MS Dhoni.
First six of the night and who else but MS Dhoni to get it. Deciding to go on the attack from the word go. Moves up to Jayant Yadav and BANG! Over the long on fielder comfortably and Chennai crowd has something to cheer about after long.
Brilliant delivery! That is a gorgeous delivery from Rahul Chahar and Murali VIjay is stumped. Huge roar with MS Dhoni walking down to the middle but Vijay looked decent in attempt at navigating on this wicket. Moved forward to get to the pitch of the ball but it spins away. Great keeping by De Kock to whip off the bails in a flash. Vijay is gone for 26 from 26 balls and CSK are 65/4
Manoj Tiwary thinks CSK need to get 145 to defend.
MI's Mahela Jayawardene is on the boundary speaking about the game thus far: " We are looking to keep them down to 130. To do that, we needed wickets and the guys have responded well so far. Given the slowness of the wicket, we would have loved to bat first as well. We've got an extra pacer in Hardik to fall back to if things go wayward. But Jayant has bowled well so far. He's picked the left-hander. No time for long meetings. We just stick to our routines. We've done this over the years. 160 is a winning score on this wicket. We don't want that to happen tonight. Rohit has more actions to attack with all 5-6 bowlers having international experience. We encourage him to do that."
Rohit Sharma rotating his bowlers and not allowing CSK batsmen to settle in.
Brothers Hardik and Krunal Pandya bowl one after another and CSK get 7 runs from this passage. They're on to 46/3 with Murali Vijay on 19 and Ambati Rayudu on 5.
Chennai Super Kings in powerplay tonight:
Runs: 32
Wickets: 3
- Watson has been dismissed 11 times of 15 matches in powerplay overs
- CSK have lost 29 wickets in powerplay overs this season
Things go from bad to worse for CSK. Shane Watson falls now and Krunal Pandya gets his first. Hit flat and it looked to be clearing the mid-on fielder but Jayant Yadav with brilliant judgement. He runs behind a touch and completes the catch without much fuss. Jayant made that look effortless. Watson gone for 10 from 13 and CSK are 32/3!
Pace once again with Murali Vijay joining Shane Watson in the middle. Watto goes into the attack to Bumrah. A leg glance sees CSK collect a much-needed boundary. Another four on the last ball to a bouncer. Watson standing up tall and pulling it into the gap
Another spinner is introduced and another wicket falls! This is a spinner's haven and is proving to be one. Jayant Yadav introduced into the attack and he began with a no ball, to give away a free hit, and then went for a boundary. NOW he gets rid of Raina. Suresh Raina tried to play it against the turn towards the leg side but gets a top edge and it is taken comfortably by Jayant himself. Raina walks after scoring 5 from 7 balls. CSK are 12/2
Spin once again. Rahul Chahar gets the ball now. Faf had survived in the previous over but not this time. First ball, wicket! Gets the ball to pitch outside off, Faf once again slashes it and this time it is straight into Anmolpreet Singh's hands. That was poor from Faf especially after the shot in the previous over. He's gone for 6 from 11 balls. CSK are 6/1
Spin early on in the form of Krunal Pandya and almost gets the wicket. Quicker one by Krunal, Faf slashes at it and it goes aerial. Bumrah with a leap but not enough to catch at it short third man. Ball runs away to the boundary
Lasith Malinga with a good start. Got the ball to pitch on middle and off and seam away each time. Faf left one alone and just about got the bat on the remaining. A single on the last ball to deny a maiden over and retain the strike.
Lasith Malinga has the ball. Faf du Plessis on strike with Shane Watson at the other end. Watson has been a worry in the powerplay this season. Will that spell end?
MS Dhoni: I'm more of a process guy, like to break it down to simple things and focus on whoever we have to play. We don't think too much about the opposition, we rather would like to focus on our preparation. (Whether CSK have extra respect for MI) It would be a mistake if I say that we focus only on Mumbai Indians. This is the IPL and the competition is huge. If you have to do well in the IPL, we have to respect every opposition. Mumbai are a balanced side. One change for us too - Vijay in for Kedar.
Rohit Sharma: Yea, we would have batted first as well. Considering the nature of the surfaces of late, that's what we would have liked. We now have to prepare well for this. We do have a good record here but that doesn't matter much. Got to focus on our strengths and play good cricket tonight to come out on top. One change - Jayant Yadav in for McClenaghan.
Mumbai Indians XI: Quinton de Kock(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga
Chennai Super Kings XI: Shane Watson, Murali Vijay, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir
Team changes:
MI: McClenaghan out, Jayant Yadav comes in
CSK: Kedar Jadhav out, Murali Vijay in
IPL Playoff No. 1! Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni in the middle alongside Sanjay Manjrekar. MSD calls heads and it is heads! Chennai Super Kings opt to bat
Sanjay Manjrekar with the pitch report: "Doesn't look too different from the Chepauk surfaces that we've seen so far. However, there is a bit of sheen on it which could mean that the pitch is smoother than usual. With the amount of time available to groundsmen since the last home game, they might have managed to produce a better playing surface. But again, I don't think it's a track where 200 can be scored."
Ziva Dhoni will be in attendance for the playoff game.
When it comes to big games in Chennai and these two teams, MI have not lost to CSK since 2010! And that time, it was the final. Will CSK break that duck tonight? This season, too, MI had the measure of Chennai for what was CSK's first and only loss at home.
Brad Hogg with an interesting way to figure who would win? Move over everyone else!
The Chennai Super Kings spinners had an off day in their recent outing in Mohali. But move to Chepauk and they're a tough opposition. They've picked 30 wickets in 79.2 overs at an average of 15.60, while conceding only at 5.90 runs-an-over.
Rohit Sharma had called this contest as an 'El Clasico' of the IPL. He is not wrong, is he?
Hello and Good Evening! Welcome to our live coverage of MI vs CSK in the first qualifier. To be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium but it doesn't constitute as a 'home' game for all you stat enthusiasts out there.