KKR celebrate in the dugout after defeating CSK by 6 wickets. (Photo by SAMUEL RAJKUMAR / Sportzpics for IPL)IPL 2022 CSK Vs KKR Highlights: Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the IPL opener on Saturday.
Invited to bat, CSK rode on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s unbeaten fifty and contributions from skipper Ravindra Jadeja (26 not out) and Robin Uthappa (28) to manage a modest 131 for five. Dhoni, playing for the first time after 12 seasons without wearing the captain’s armband, slammed seven fours and a six in his 38-ball innings.
In reply, KKR overhauled the target, scoring 133 for four in 18.3 overs. For KKR, Umesh Yadav snapped two wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy (1/23) and Andre Russell (1/38) also kept things in check as CSK found the going tough at the Wankhede stadium. Dwayne Bravo was the most successful bowler for CSK, snapping 3 for 20 in his quota of four overs. Mitchell Santner (1/31) took one.
Brief Scores:
Chennai Super Kings: 131 for 5 in 20 overs (MS Dhoni 50 not out; Umesh Yadav 2/20).
Kolkata Knight Riders: 133 for 4 in 18.3 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 44; Dwayne Bravo 3/20).
Chennai Super Kings
131/5 (20.0)Kolkata Knight Riders
133/4 (18.3)Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets
The Indian board has decided to host 70 IPL games in Mumbai, which is known for its traffic snarls. (Twitter/IPL)
With 170 wickets, the dancing, singing, expressive allrounder Dwayne Bravo, who has played for at least 20 T20 franchises around the world, has become the highest wicket taker in IPL history. He has the zany persona for his art to be commercialised. Yet, without IPL, he might not have really blossomed.
Over the last few years, Bravo has often asked Lakshmi Narayanan, the performance analyst of CSK, one particular question: Why does Dhoni trust me so much in pressure situations in the game? Lakky, as Lakshmi is called in the team, tells him that he is loved and respected by Dhoni for his attitude and skills. Sachin Tendulkar gave him the confidence that his skill is respected far away from his own small island in the Caribbean when he called him to play for Mumbai Indians and Dhoni bottled the spirit of Bravo and sprayed it around even as he slowly slipped away from West Indian cricket.
The moment that turned his career came in 2006, two years before the first IPL, when his idol Brian Lara threw him the ball to bowl the last over with the job to prevent Yuvraj Singh from getting 10 runs. He bled two fours before slipping in a wicked little dipping slower one that completely befuddled Yuvraj. He ran away in delirium, arms spread like wings – the ball and the celebration has seen encores ever since.
That ball is well worth a deep dive as it captures everything about his art. It’s one thing for Lasith Malinga to bowl it; not that it’s easier but with that side-arm slinging action, it’s understandable. For Bravo to under-cut the ball with his more conventional action, he has to contort his wrists to get the fingers to slice the ball and then extend the arm out to ensure the ball floats really full. Without either, it’s not as effective. Malinga’s side-arm release allows him to slice and release the ball like a frisbee in a naturally flowing unimpeded action. Neither does he have Malinga’s pace. Yet, his version is wonderfully wicked.
Both Malinga and Bravo had no role models really. As in, T20 bowling was unchartered territory. The best pacers of their era didn’t necessarily have the best T20 style to emulate. Yorkers and slower ones as deliveries existed before, of course but they had to mould them into T20 shape on their own. There was no pre-existing model that they could dip into. They had to decide how many to bowl, where and when to bowl. More than most, Bravo has cracked the T20 bowling code.
One of the greatest gripes that Michael Holding has is the perception that people carry about the great West Indies bowlers of his generation. “Even our bowling. It was as if they thought, all we needed to do was run up and bowl fast or short. That’s what irks me the most. I tell them to check the scorebook: how many were lbw, bowled, caught in slips. It’s as if they don’t want to credit our thinking.” Even his jazzy run-up was attributed, by some, almost subconsciously to his race. It makes Holding bristle.
In a sweet irony, it has been left to a medium pacer from the Caribbean to make younger generation respect and acknowledge the brain and the thought that goes into bowling. That will be Bravo’s legacy.
Dwayne Bravo has now gone past Lasith Malinga to create an IPL record for the highest wickets (170). As a bowler, he has one of the great dipping slower ones, a canny outside-off slider, excellent off-pace cutters but it’s his wicket-celebrations that keep populating the gifs every IPL season. He has introduced yet another new celebration — Bravo One special. For each of his three wickets, he would put up his index finger, like an umpire’s dismissal signal, and sway it one way to the other. He couldn’t prevent KKR from cantering to a win, but he did everything possible to try to defend the low total of 131 that CSK put up. At the end of the game, he was involved in a nice long, seemingly happy chat with KKR’s Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.
Sriram Veera
Last two overs but probably this match will be over in the penultimate over. CSK has dragged this match very deep and that's praiseworthy. They just need 3 runs now. And Shreyas has finished this off. KKR win by 6 wickets!!
KKR are almost home now as chants of KKR KKR ring around the Wankhede. But that's a wicket. Against the run of play. Billings innings comes to an end as Bravo gets his 3rd wicket. KKR 123/4 after 17.3 overs. And now Bravo has the most wickets in the history of IPL.
That's a massive six by Billings. Absolutely thrashed over wide long-on. Billings keeping busy. Kolkata Knight Riders closing in on a much-needed victory. KKR 122/3 after 17 overs.
That's a boundary now. He couldn't get the sweep right against the spinners, but he does sweep Bravo. Great, intelligent batting by Billings. 9 off this over. KKR 113/3 after 16 overs.
That's 100 up for KKR off that delightful reverse sweep by Billings. KKR ticking along nicely. 6 runs off this over. KKR are 104/3 after 15 overs.
Billings to face Santner now. Kolkata Knight Riders are comfortable, without any need to hurry. There are plenty of overs still left. There's a review for LBW and that's a wasted review. KKR 98/3 after 14 overs.
OUT!!! That's the third wicket which the Knight Riders lose. It's still not beyond them but CSK are giving it a go. KKR 87/3 after 11.4 overs.
Bravo gets another one for CSK. Rana departs after scoring 21 runs. Bravo bowls and excellent over. KKR 76/2 after 10 overs.
Rahane glances well and picks a boundary off Bravo. He just guides it well and the outfield does the rest. CSK are under pressure now. KKR 76/1 after 9.4 overs.
Rana slogs and gets a six off Mitchell Santner. He is looking in full control. CSK will look to get rid of Rana as soon as possible. KKR 66/1 after 8.1 overs.
Nitish Rana hits it over the covers and gets a boundary. Shivam Dube gives a room and Rana capitalizes. Rana will mow look to finish the game for KKR. He hits another one against Dube. Rana is looking dangerous now. KKR 54/1 after 7.3 overs.
Bravo gets a crucial wicket of Venkatesh Iyer. CSK are back in the game now as Bravo proves his worth. Venkatesh Iyer looks to drive the ball but ends up edging the ball and Dhoni does the rest. KKR 43/1 after 6.2 overs.
Rahane starts with a four, and times it to perfection. Mitchell Santner ends the over well. KKR 43/0 after 6 overs.
Venkatesh Iyer hits a beautiful cover drive and gets a boundary. Iyer is taking Deshpande for granted now. Again, Rahane ends the over with a class shot and gets a boundary. KKR 35/0 after 5 overs.
Adam Milne is clocking 140 consistently. He has some serious pace. After struggling for a while, Rahane smashes one to the boundary. What a solid straight drive by Rahane. He ends the over with a terrific pull shot for a six. KKR 25/0 after 4 overs.
Tushar Deshpande is attacking with the ball but Venkatesh Iyer hits him a wonderful boundary. KKR are in a hurry now. KKR 15/0 after 3 overs.
Adam Milne bowls an economical over. He puts pressure on Venkatesh Iyer with his lethal pace. CSK will be looking for more such overs. KKR 8/0 after 2 overs.
Deshpande bowls a good length outside off. Rahane looks in complete control with the bat. He is easily facing Deshpande. KKR 6/0 after 1 over.
You can't take the leader out of Thala Dhoni! Arrived, rescued, and stamped his authority.
24th IPL half-century for the 'Super King'.
His first IPL fifty since April 21, 2019 (84* vs RCB).
On to the last over now. And MS Dhoni has been the absolute star for the CSK innings. That's a four by Dhoni to backward square leg. He is absolutely cutting loose on the KKR bowlers. And that's another 4 to follow. Half helicopter shot and that has raced to the boundary!!! And that brings up his 50!!! What an innings he has played. And Jadeja has hit a 6 to end the innings. 47 runs off the last 3 overs. CSK 131/ 5 after 20 overs.
The 19th over now. Shivam Mavi to bowl this one and the CSK will have to go after him in this over. And Dhoni has hit this one for a four. 100 is up for CSK finally. One-handed loft over cover. What a bad ball and that's pulled away for a huge six!!! And that's a no ball. 15 off this over. CSK 113/5 after 19 overs
That's another 4 from Dhoni to Russell. Nicely cut away to backward point. Great shot. And another four to boot. Finally a good over coming CSK's way. That's a hattrick of fours from Dhoni. What a shot!!! CSK 98/5 after 18 overs
The crowd is chanting Dhoni, Dhoni as the former CSK captain hits a 4 off Yadav's ball. CSK would want more of this. CSK 81/5 after 16 overs.
Sheldon Jackson, the man who has recently been part of YouTube viral wars across India and Pakistan, quietly made his presence known on field with a lovely leg-side stumping to remove Robin Uthappa. Varun Chakravarthy’s delivery had just about skidded down leg and even before Uthappa could turn back, the LED lights were blinking.
Last May when a Twitter user posted his name in a list of players who have scored 750 runs in Ranji Trophy maximum times (Vinod Kambli, Abhinav Mukund, Ajay Sharma, and Jackson - all four times), Jackson quote-tweeted it with: “The only domestic player in this list who hasn't played for India. Covid go away so that i can do it for the 5th time, who knows may be then' (he finished off with an Indian flag image).
It remains to be seen if that ship has sailed but a bumper IPL season can at least make him a known name in Indian households.
-Sriram Veera
As soon as Ambati Rayudu was run out, after a mix up with his partner Ravindra Jadeja, the former player Subramaniam Badrinath piped up on Star Sports’ Tamil commentary.
“You won’t believe it, but I just had a chat with Suresh Raina at the back of the commentary box. About these two, and how a run out is a possibility. One is super quick (Jadeja) and the other slow (Rayudu). So this wasn’t a surprise.
Jadeja had pushed the ball towards mid-on and started to run as he usually does. Rayudu, who watched the ball for a short while, then responded by running down the track but by then Jadeja had changed his mind and shouted to get back. Too late. Rayudu couldn’t get into the frame when the bowler removed the bails.
Not sure if this was a result of Rayud's slowness but certainly Raina and Badrinath's prediction of a run out had eventuated.
- Sriram Veera
It's been a really quiet few overs for CSK and understandably so as they are under a lot of pressure, having lost 5 wickets. Dhoni and Jadeja are in the middle. Can they pull off a miracle from this? Dhoni on 2 off 10, crowd tries to get him going by chanting his name. Huge cheer as Dhoni immediately scythes Mavi for a couple of runs past point.
For Chennai Super Kings, change of captaincy has happened, but as the franchise chief executive Kasi Viswanathan told this paper, the change of guard would be gradual. MS Dhoni has handed over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja, but he would mother-hen the latter to grow into the job.
The lead-up to the IPL-15 opener offered a glimpse. As the two teams did their warm-ups, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming got into a deep on-field conversation with Dhoni. The newly-appointed skipper wasn't in the frame, happily doing the knocking in one of the practice nets. Jadeja will learn on the job under Dhoni's tutelage, the master passing on experience, and tricks, to his pupil. Through the dressing room glass shield at Wankhede, TV cameras smartly captured one of those moments; between his food morsels, the ex-captain talking to his successor and Jadeja listening intently. CSK have a clear transition plan, by the time Dhoni hangs up his playing boots, the chosen one would be his own man.
- Shamik Chakrabarty
Standing ovation for MS Dhoni as soon as he started walking down the dressing room stairs following Shivam Dube's dismissal. Crowd chanting Dhoni, Dhoni
Another CSK mix up and another chance of a run out. Chennai are very very lucky that they did not throw away another wicket due to the same mistake. What is happening here? Another straight hit from the KKR fielder and umpire reviews for a run out but the CSK batter is fine. But but but!!! Next ball KKR gets a wicket. What a casual shot by Dube. Bowled by Russell and taken by Narine. CSK reeling at 61/5 after 10.5 overs.
What is happening to the Chennai Super Kings? That's a run-out!!!! Rayadu started to run but was sent back by Jadeja. Too late though. Chennai lose their fourth wicket!!! CSK 52/4 after 8.4 overs. Elementary level mistake by the CSK batsmen.
It's Rayadu who gets in on the six hitting act now. That brings up his 150th six. Chakaravarthy takes his revenge in the very next ball as he takes Uthappa off Jackson's stumping. What fast hands!!! Oh a review is taken by the umpire. I think for a wide ball. Clear stump out. CSK lose 3rd wicket. CSK 49/3 after 7.5 overs.
Last over of the powerplay now. Varun Chakaravarthy has been brought into the attack. That's a bottom edge from Rayadu. Deserved a wicket with that ball but that has gone for a four. Unlucky. CSK 35/2 after 6 overs.
KKR's 6-3 off side heavy field involves a massive gap on the leg side, from short fine leg all the way to mid on, leaving absolutely no margin of error for Umesh Yadav. Now they've plugged that gap with a midwicket
Two new IPL captains Shreyas Iyer (leading KKR for the first time) and Ravindra Jadeja (replacing someone named MSD) did seem to feel the pressure at the toss. Iyer seemed more composed —he has after all a season of captaincy for Delhi Capitals — but he also forgot the three new caps given this season. “Myself, Billings, and … I forget the name!”. Shortly he remembered and yelled out, “Rahane”. Well, it was Rahane who he replaced in the Test team recently.
Jadeja seemed more under the pump. He averted the gaze of the host Danny Morrison, who as ever was hyping up everything in his now-familiar accent and tone, preferring to look mainly at the side towards the pitch as he answered.
There was another comeback man of sorts. Ravi Shastri, commentator turned coach, turned to commentary again from this IPL. Were there nerves? You must be kidding! As ever, he boomed.
Not surprising as he once told about his first-ever day in the commentary box many decades ago. When did you feel at home Ravi? "The first day itself. I felt like I belonged here... Yeah there were butterflies. And you were doing it with the big boys, yaar. There was (Tony) Greig there. There was Chappell, Stackpole there. Guys who had done television. Barry (Richards) was there. Thommo (Jeff Thomson) there. Henry (Blofeld) was there in Sri Lanka. The triangular series. You knew. Immediately when you went there, you knew you can hold your own."
That's a wicket off the first ball of the fifth over. Yadav snares Conway for a 3. The captain takes the catch as Chennai lose their 2nd wicket. CSK 28/2 after 4.1 overs.
Another six by Uthappa and this has crossed the fine leg boundary. What a start he has had to this match. Mavi is also getting the same treatment as Yadav. And the last ball also travels to fine leg for a four. Uthappa is taking it to these KKR bowlers. CSK 28/1 after 4 overs.
What a six by Uthappa. This is why CSK were desperate for him in the auction. Absolutely whipped over the ropes as Yadav does not know where to look. Picked it up off his pads and deposits that over the square leg fence. Strong start for the veteran. 8 off this over. CSK 16/1 after 3 overs.
That's the first boundary of this year's IPL as well as CSK's. Uthappa whips the ball away fine to long leg. Not a bad ball by Mavi but punished. 5 off this over. CSK 8/1 after 2 overs.
Not a good start by Yadav. The first ball was good but it was given a no ball. Free hit yields 0 runs. Next ball is a wide. And he strikes. Oh my god!!!! What a catch by Rana. Ruturaj departs for 0. What a ball by Yadav. CSK 2/1.
The batters have walked out. The fielders have taken their positions. Umesh to start the proceedings. Ruturaj to take strike for CSK. Conway at the non-striker's end. Umesh Yadav to open the attack for KKR.
It would be naive to think that Dhoni would withdraw himself and be just a wicket-keeper. He will surely have a say. But history shows that Dhoni isn't an interfering senior. When Virat Kohli replaced him as the captain, Dhoni knew when to intervene. It was only when things were getting out of hand, there would be a shout from behind the stumps, "Cheeku, slip rakh sakta hai" or some sort. It would sound like a suggestion but it would eventually be the team's game plan. Keep your ears open for the voice on the stump microphone, "Jaddu, slip rakh sakta hai" might be a signal that the crisis man has taken over. But before that Jaddu would get the time and space to do his act, show his leadership mettle.
(READ MORE)
The one lesson that Jadeja, or any other leader, can learn from Dhoni would be his commitment to captaincy. India's iconic skipper never let his form impact the shepherding of his brood. It helped that he was the wicket-keeper. Jadeja, the all-rounder, is always in the thick of things. A day on the field is like a roller-coaster ride. He can't afford to sulk or go in a shell because of a bad spell or a missed catch. Can the rockstar in him inculcate the aloofness of a monk?
READ MORE:
Those with the national team's interest on their minds will keep a close eye on how Jadeja the captain handles Jadeja the all-rounder. All through his career there is always a debate about where he should bat and when he should bowl. Of late, captains have been grilled at press conferences to play Jadeja up the order. Keep an eye on CSK's batting order, it could give a clue about the India line-up at the World T20 later this year.
This would be the season of reckoning for Jadeja the leader. With India still undecided on its contingency captain, IPL 15 can be a race of sorts for the new leaders - KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and now Jadeja. The sight of a captain with an IPL trophy can change public perception and influence selection decisions.
(READ MORE)
Most matches before captaining in IPL
200 R JADEJA
153 M Pandey
137 K Pollard
111 R Ashwin
107 S Samson
103 Bhuvneshwar
In 1996, months after the 50-over world cup, Lalit Modi proposed a inter-city 50-over tournament with overseas players and ‘catchment areas’ to feed local players for different city teams. But BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya shot down the idea and in the words of professor Ratnakar Shetty, in his book ‘On Board my years in BCCI’, Modi “bore a grudge against Dalmiya ever since”.
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Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nitish Rana, Sam Billings(w), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Sheldon Jackson, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja(c), Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni(w), Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tushar Deshpande
Big shoes to fill in. Happy and excited for the new role. We are going with four foreign players. Conway, Bravo, Milne and Santner are our foreign players.
We will bowl first. I am super excited. It is a great honour to don this jersey. The players who have been playing for this unit have been doing well. The track seems to be a belter and the dew will come in later and make it better. We are going in with three overseas players - Billings, Narine and Russell. Three of us got caps today. Myself, Billings and Rahane.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer wins the toss and opts to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings.
Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have played each other 27 times with the Chennai-based outfit winning 18 times while the Kolkata franchise has won only 8 times. 1 match had no result.
In 2013, MS Dhoni piped up on his twitter: “God realised RAJNI sir is getting old so he created sir ravindra jadeja”. Nine years later, as a logical extension to that wisecrack, since he himself is getting old, he has handed the baton to Ravindra Jadeja. (READ MORE)
The most successful team after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, they have struggled after the exit of captain Gautam Gambhir. Not that they have lacked the ingredients to succeed thereafter, but somehow they have struggled to find the perfect recipe. All they need perhaps is a gutsy leader like Gambhir to forge a title-winning group and restore their glory days.
(READ MORE)
This is what the 10 teams will be vying for in the next couple of months. Chennai are the defending champions. Can they retain the silverware or will there be a new champion crowned?
KKR: Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sam Billings (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Mohammad Nabi, Rasikh Dar, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwayne Bravo, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Adam Milne