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The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) began on Friday with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) edging Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It was Ruturaj Gaikwad’s first match in charge as CSK captain after MS Dhoni stepped down from his role on the eve of the first match of IPL 2024. For Gaikwad, foreign stars Mustafizur Rahman and Rachin Ravindra took charge and guided CSK to a six-wicket win.
Mustafizur recorded his best run in IPL, taking 4//29 as CSK restricted RCB to 173/6 in 20 overs.
Continuing CSK’s dominance, Ravindra smashed three fours and three sixes in his knock of 37 runs off just 15 deliveries as the hosts raced to 71 runs in the chase within seven overs.
However, Karn Sharma gave RCB the breakthrough, removing Ravindra, who took a knee to bowl the slow sweep against the faster delivery. But he fended off Rajat Patidar in a deep, backward square.
An elated Virat Kohli was caught throwing a bite at Ravindra after the CSK star’s attack came to an end. A clip of the same has gone viral on social media.
– Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) March 22, 2024
Meanwhile, Kohli battled for his 21 off 20 balls in his first competitive game in over two months.
CSK, who have not lost to RCB at home since 2008, kept their enviable record intact.
Mustafizur, with his IPL-best figures of 4/29 in four overs, was largely responsible for restricting RCB to 173 for six on a good batting track, where a 95-run sixth-wicket stand stood off 50 balls between Anuj Rawat ( 48 of 25). balls) and Dinesh Karthik (38 not out off 26 balls) was the visitors’ only salvation.
Jadeja (25 not out off 17 balls) brought in plenty of experience just when things could have gotten tough in the run chase, rushing a rusty Dube (34 off 28 balls) into some quick doubles to complete the chase in 18.4 overs. Dube also boosted his confidence in Jadeja’s company towards the end, when he ended the chase in a jiffy.
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