IPL: CSK defeats MI

5-time champion Chennai Super Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets in their first match of IPL-18. Chinaman spinner Noor Ahmed took 4 and Khalil Ahmed took 3 wickets. Captain Rituraj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra scored fifties.

Chennai chose bowling on Sunday at the Chepauk Stadium. Mumbai scored 155 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Chennai achieved the target in 19.1 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Vignesh Puthur, making his debut for MI, took 3 wickets.

Player of the Match

After winning the toss and bowling first, CSK's left arm spinner Noor Ahmed made his debut. He gave just 18 runs in 4 overs and took 4 wickets. He sent Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Robin Minj and Naman Dheer to the pavilion.

Heroes of victory

Khalil Ahmed: Khalil bowled the first over from CSK. He got Rohit Sharma caught. Then he also sent Ryan Rickelton and Trent Boult to the pavilion. His excellent bowling in the powerplay did not allow Mumbai to score big.

Rituraj Gaikwad: Captain Gaikwad came out to bat at number-3, he batted fast and scored a fifty in just 22 balls.

Rachin Ravindra: Rachin batted carefully after coming out to open. He stayed till the end, scored a fifty and got the team to victory. He also hit the winning six in the 20th over.

Vignesh Puthur, who came as an impact player from Mumbai, made his IPL debut. He sent Gaikwad to the pavilion in his very first over. Vignesh then brought Mumbai back into the match by taking the wickets of Shivam Dubey and Deepak Hooda. He took 3 wickets for 32 runs, but could not make the team win.

Chasing the target of 156 runs, CSK lost a wicket in the first over. Captain Gaikwad took the score to 78 runs by hitting a fifty. Opener Rachin stayed till the end, he played an unbeaten innings of 65 runs in 45 balls and led the team to victory. Chahar and Jacques took 1-1 wickets from MI. A batsman was also run out.