Mustafizur Rahman’s four-for and Rachin Ravindra’s valiant 15-ball 37 powered the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a comfortable six-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru to launch the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday.
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS' INNINGS
Chasing a target of 174, the Kings completed the equation in the 19th over with eight balls to spare.
New Zealander Rachin Ravindra looked good for his fiery 15-ball 37, lacing with three boundaries and three sixes.
Shivam Dube remained unconquered and smashed 34-ball 28, studding with four boundaries and one six.
Ajinkya Rahane smashed two sixes in his 19-ball 27.
Ravindra Jadeja ensured a sweeping pass for the Kings against RCB by compiling an unbeaten 17-ball 25, clobbering one six.
Daryl Mitchell was looking good for his 19-ball 27, smashing two sixes before he was undone by Cameron Green.
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored run-a-ball 15 before perplexed by Yash Dayal.
For RCB, Cameron Green (2-27) took two wickets.
Yash Dayal (1-28) and Karn Sharma (1-24) took a scalp each.
Mohammad Siraj (0-38), Alzarri Joseph (0-38), Mayank Dagar (0-6), and Glenn Maxwell (0-7) remained wicketless.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU'S INNINGS
After opting to bat first, RCB had scored 173-6 in 20 overs, with Anuj Rawat spearheading his side with the bat. Rawat had whacked four boundaries and three towering sixes in his 25-ball 48 before he was run out by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dinesh Karthik utilised his experience and amassed an unbeaten 26-ball 38, studding with three boundaries and two sixes.
RCB skipper Francois du Plessis was good at the start and smashed 23-ball 35, complementing with eight boundaries.
Virat Kohli scored 20-ball 21, hitting one towering six before he was undone by Mustafizur Rahman.
Rajat Patidar (0 off 3) and Glenn Maxwell (0 off 1) made their way back to the pavilion without troubling the scorecard.
For the Kings, Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rehman (4-29) was absolutely brilliant with the ball, scooping four wickets by removing Kohli, Plessis, Patidar, and Green.
Deepak Chahar (1-37) picked up a wicket.
Tushar Deshpande (0-47), Maheesh Theekshana (0-36), and Ravindra Jadeja (0-21) remained wicketless.
PLAYER OF MATCH
Mustafizur Rahman bagged player of the match award by scooping up four wickets.
