IPL 2023: Vintage CSK turn high-profile match against MI into a no-contest

Vintage Chennai

After a convincing defeat in their opening game, Mumbai Indians came off the blocks all guns blazing with Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan taking the attack to seamers Deepak Chahar – who walked off after an injury in the first over itself – IPL debutant Sisanda Magala, and Tushar Deshpande.

At 38/0 inside four overs, the hosts seemed on course for a big total when Deshpande made the telling impact. The Mumbai Indians skipper had upper-cut him over wide third man for a six, but Deshpande, who plays his state cricket for Mumbai, responded with a peach of a delivery.

Sensational catch 🔥🔥@imjadeja grabs a RIPPER off his own bowling!

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/rSxD0lf5zJ#TATAIPL | #MIvCSK pic.twitter.com/HjnXep6tXF

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 8, 2023

Bowled from slightly wide on the crease, it seemed to be angled into Rohit on the perfect length, before straightening off the wicket to go past the bat and hit the top of the off-stump at pace. It was the boost Chennai needed after a tough start when they lost their designated Powerplay bowler very early in the piece, and gave Dhoni the chance to implement his favourite playbook – controlling the game with his spinners.

Left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner got five wickets between them in eight overs, conceding 48 runs, but looked capable of scalping more, such was their control and threat. Ishan Kishan threatened to cut loose with some delectable shots through the offside and some typical big hits before Jadeja had him caught in the deep. Cameron Green and Suryakumar Yadav never got going, while Tilak Varma, the hero of MI’s last game, was trapped in front by Jadeja, the home team was always going to fall short of a big enough total. Tim David was the last chance to reach a significant score, but 157 is all that they managed – woefully inadequate in the conditions.

Rahane turns back the clock

There are not many players who know Wankhede Stadium better than Ajinkya Rahane, more so as he regularly plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket these days as his days in international cricket are behind him. Ironically, he was in the opposition ranks on this day.

Coming out at the fall of the first wicket without a run on the board, the veteran opened his account with a glide through the offside. He got into his stride with a pulled six and then took to rookie left-arm seamer Arshad Khan. A ball drifting onto the pads was picked up for a maximum, before four more boundaries in the same over. Two cut shots, a glide to third man, and a picture-perfect off-drive would have not been out of place in a longer format. When Cameron Green came on, a back-of-a-length delivery was dispatched over the square leg fence.

Rahane clearly seemed to have a point to prove, even if it was to the cost of the franchise representing his home city. Spin in the form of leggie Piyush Chawla was driven gloriously through the covers and a shorter one was pulled through the legside.

FIFTY 🆙 for @ajinkyarahane88 💛

He’s looking in ultimate touch here in Mumbai 👌👌@ChennaiIPL finish the powerplay with 68/1 after 6 overs!

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/rSxD0lf5zJ#TATAIPL | #MIvCSK pic.twitter.com/fgI9yaLrWz

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 8, 2023

The fastest fifty in this IPL season came in just 19 balls. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, one of the stars of this edition, was on 5 at that stage. The Powerplay yielded 68 runs, breaking the back of the chase very early.

A delectable lofted on-drive off Chawla was another memorable shot before the only misjudgement of a terrific innings. Going back to short delivery, Rahane was foxed by a bit of turn and lack of pace to hit it straight down long-on’s throat. But he had proved that there is some spark left in the old body.
Lack of quality options

No Jasprit Bumrah, no Jofra Archer on the night. Even Jhye Richardson is out injured. Mumbai Indians bowling will be a big headache for Rohit and new coach Mark Boucher, after the same had been the case against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Even after Rahane’s impactful innings, they had a chance to get back into the game when Shivam Dube, another local player, came out.

Everyone knows that the left-hander can be thwarted by bowling short at his body. But the fastest bowler at MI’s disposal was Green, who was negotiated with ease.
Chawla, now 33, has clearly seen better days. With Gaikwad determined to see the team home without much drama, there was not much Rohit could do to curtail Chennai’s progress, other than trying to delay the inevitable.

Going ahead, the pace of Rilee Mededith could be a valuable option if Archer is not available or at his best. A lot of brainstorming may be needed if the most decorated team in IPL history has to stay relevant after finishing bottom of the pile in 2022.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 157/8 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 32, Tim David 31; Jadeja 3/20, Santner 2/28, Deshpande 2/31) lost to Chennai Super Kings 159/3 in 18.1 overs (Rahane 61, Gaikwad 40) by seven wickets