Chennai Super Kings registered yet another win by 7 wickets over their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians. Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to bowl. Put into bat, Mumbai Indians started well with Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan added 38 runs before they start losing wickets at regular intervals. While Ishan top-scored with 32, it was Tim David’s 22-ball 31 that helped them put up 157 in their allotted overs. Ravindra Jadeja claimed 3 for 20.
While chasing, Chennai Super Kings lost Devon Conway for a duck. However, Ajinkya Rahane scored the fastest fifty (61 off 27) and Ruturaj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 40. Later Shivam Dube and Ambati Rayudu also contributed and helped the team reach the finish line in 18.1 overs.
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Here is what the captains and the player of the match said after the game:
MS Dhoni, CSK captain said as quoted by Cricbuzz: Feels good. Not to forget we lost Deepak in the first over. He’s our new ball bowler and Magala playing his first match. The good thing is spinners bowled well. It was a bit two-paced after 7 overs, started turning. The spinners and the fast bowlers came back well. Magala was good and so was Pretorius. We believe in him, and when you’re new you are under pressure but playing in the IPL for a few years brings different pressure [on Deshpande]. He had a great domestic season, he is improving. He has a lot of potential but he can improve by not bowling those no-balls, and by being more consistent. Me and Jinks spoke at the start of the season and I told him to play to his strengths, use your ability to manipulate the fields. I told him to go and enjoy, don’t take stress and we’ll back you. He batted well and he was not happy with the way he got out, that says it all. I think every game is important, you look at the problems in front of you and take it one step at a time, not look at the league table for now.
Rohit Sharma, MI captain said as quoted by Cricbuzz: We lost our way in the middle, did not capitalise on the start we got. It was a good pitch, 30-40 runs short and could not capitalise in the middle overs. Got to credit their spinners, they bowled well and kept us under pressure. You need to try out different things, you need to attack and be brave. We have got a couple of young guys and got to give some time to them. They have real talent and we have to back them and show trust in their ability which we are doing. The senior guys need to step up starting with me. We know the nature of IPL, when the tournament starts we need to get some momentum and when you don’t it is tough. Just two games and all is not lost still. If you win, you can win a few on the trot and when you lose it is hard to come out of that momentum. Hopefully things start to change. Things we speak in the changeroom has not worked in the middle. We know we had a very disappointing last season, but we always start afresh, even when we won the 5 trophies, we never thought we won it last year. Every opposition is quality here and we need to be at our best to beat them. These two games has happened, we can’t change. Of course we can learn and be more brave in changing things on the field.
Ravindra Jadeja, the Player of the Match said as quoted by Cricbuzz: When we were bowling, the odd ball was turning. So me and Mitch wanted to bowl in good areas because they have so many powerhitters. Everytime we come here, the wicket plays different – sometimes it is flat, sometimes it is sticky. (On partnership with Santner) We surely discuss, whoever starts advises the other person on what lengths to bowl. We keep talking and advising each other.
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Ajinkya Rahane said as quoted by Cricbuzz: Really enjoyed it, I got to know before the toss. Moeen was unwell. And Flem told me I was playing. Had a good domestic season. I just try to maintain my shape. Focus on timing. It is all about you have to feel that you are playing a match. IPL is a long tournament and you never know when you get an opportunity. I always enjoy playing at Wankhede. I have never played a Test here. I would want to play a Test here. Important thing about Mahi bhai and Fleming is they give freedom to everyone. Mahi bhai told me to prepare well.
