It was the 35th match of IPL 21 between Royal Challengers Bangalore & Chennai Super Kings- the two super teams from the Indian Premier League, where both the legends of Indian captains in cricket clashed against each other.
MS Dhoni’s CSK was fighting to gain that top spot at the leagues’ point table while the Challenger’s were looking for their first win until the resume.
Let us have a look at data as well as some of the most exotic moments that caught our eyes while covering up every important aspect related to the outcome of the super match between some of the super players in cricket history.
MS Dhoni won the toss for CSK but deciding to bowl first expecting dew as a factor that could come into play was a crucial decision taken by the ex-Indian skipper.
A steady start with the bat by the Challengers
King Kohli and the super-youngster Devdutt Padikal gave a responsible start for the RCB. Kohli starting the over with three boundaries hit around the ground against the pacer Deepak Chahar from CSK.
They were seen to be hitting the ball almost perfectly every time and middling like nothing hitting 6s and 4s all around Sharjah which is typically a smaller ground compared to the other two grounds in UAE.
The pitch seemed to be good for batting as balls were coming into the bat quite nicely, and both the classy openers from RCB were seen to be playing through the line along with the display of some great cricketing shots.
Both scoring 46 runs at the end of five overs was a decent start for RCB after their previous collapse.
Deepak Chahar was expensive with the bowling for CSK for his first two overs of spells.
Jadeja came to the rescue for the bowling side after that and bowled a terrific economic over against the batsmen-in-form- Kohli, and Paddikal.
Both Kohli and Padikal along with some good understanding were heading forward along with some good running between the wickets and also to mention that it was 2nd time in 28 matches in IPL between CSK and RCB, where RCB batted without a fall of the wicket at the end of the powerplay- sounds great for RCB fans right?
It was just 9.3 over of the 1st innings and both the openers were scoring equally with 43 runs from 29 balls. During the beginning of the 12th over, Paddikal made to his fifty of just 37 balls and raised his bat- the young batter displayed some great efforts in batting and did his part for the team.
Alongside Kohli scoring his fifty of 37 balls came off his bat during the 13th over.
While all other bowlers from CSK were proving to be expensive, it was Sir Jadeja who bowled well and going fuller and bowling wide challenging the batsmen. He bowled four of his overs giving away just 30 runs on a surface as we’ve in Sharjah is very much appreciable for the experienced left-hander.
DJ Bravo getting the RCB’s King
It was 13.2 overs when Bravo was bowling at the set Kohli playing his post fifty innings when he tried to clear the boundary with a powerful forward-looking shot but unfortunately, couldn’t clear the boundary and was caught by sir Jadeja at long-on.
Bravo was bowling exceptionally well during his first two spells with an economy of just 6 and taking away the king in his pocket. He struck for Chennai at the time they needed the most, taking three wickets bowling all his four overs conceding just 24 with an economy of exact six-which is awesome for the star Caribbean player.
Shardul Thakur was the real show stopper for CSK’s bowling when he took the most crucial wickets of Paddikal who was looking extremely dangerous at his 70 runs and then followed by the dangerous AB de Villers.
Somehow RCB managed to put a score of 156/6 in 20 overs on the board with a run rate of 7.80 – which is considered comparatively low for ground like Sharjah.
A great start with the bat yet again for CSK
It was just a few days back when Ruturaj Gaikwad played one of his best innings in IPL and the way he started the match this time also along with the super Faf du Plessis, it is way appreciable!
It is seen how the CSK’S batters played maturely and each of them contributing to the team’s capital makes the CSK a better team today.
The opening partnership of 71 by the CSKs openers the in form Gaikwad and Faf set the podium towards victory for the men in yellow.
It was Yuzvendra Chahal who strikes for RCB during his first over of spell during the 9th over of the second innings. A stunning catch by the skipper Kohli dismissed the man in form Ruturaj Gaikwad at 38 from 26 balls.
After Gaikwad, it was Moeen Ali who was batting explosively and moving forward along with Faf du Plessis, until Maxwell with a great delivery got him out at 31. Also, Ali hit two huge sixes in his responsible innings of 23 from 18 balls. Harshal Patel the leading wicket-taker from RCB got him with a stunning slow off-cutter.
Harshal also took the dangerous-looking CSKs Ambati Rayudu at 32 and claimed his second wicket for the night.
The Mahi-Raina duo doing the business for CSK
It is T20 cricket at its best when anything can happen and once again yet we get to see the golden pair together at crucial times for CSK when they required 24 runs from 25 balls to win the match for their team.
On the bowling side, it was Hasaranga from RCB who was trying to dominate with his quality spin bowling, but Dhoni and Raina’s instant response in return along with powerful hits that cleared the stands stole the whole show as they proceed towards their victory to become the table toppers.
They reached their target without losing any further wickets and with six wickets remaining along with 11 balls. It was a streak of losses that was broken by the Kings’ at Sharjah after their three losses in the last season.
It was a comfortable win for the Chennai Super Kings and the credit goes to the whole team for their collective efforts. That is what makes them a better side for this particular match and also considering stats for the whole IPL 21 season. MSD and his yellow army are surely gonna enjoy and appreciate this valuable win against the RCB.