Despite Dinesh Karthik and Anuj Rawat’s late fightback, it is the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who have come on top in the IPL 2024 season opener. Chasing 174, it was Rachin Ravindra who gave the home side a smashing start. Then, Ajinkya Rahane backed it up with his quickfire 27-run knock, and ultimately, Shivam Dube, along with Ravindra Jadeja, handed Ruturaj Gaikwad his first win as captain.
CSK vs RCB: Match Highlights
Shivam Dube finishes things off
CSK claim an incredible win in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s first match as a captain by 6 wickets.
Dube & Jadeja are in complete control; CSK needs 18 off 18
CSK is on the cusp of victory. Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja need a run-a-ball 18 to win.
Green strikes again! Mitchell departs for well made 22
Cameron Green, you beauty! We have a match on our hands. CSK now needs 64 off 45 balls to win.
Green strikes! Rahane departs for well made 27
The man with the golden arm, Cameron Green, sends Ajinkya Rahane back. CSK now needs 75 off 58 balls to win.
Ravindra gone!
An excellent knock comes to a premature end. Ravindra was flying at 15-ball 37. But he departs trying to go for a six. CSK 71/2 after 7.
End of powerplay
Chennai Super Kings have lost the explosiveness they had at the start. Yet, Rachin Ravindra’s fireworks and Ajinkya Rahane’s six take CSK to 62/1.
WICKET!
Ruturaj Gaikwad departs after a good start. He pokes a Yash Dayal delivery to the slip and after fumbling once, Cameron Green manages to hold on to it. CSK 38/1 after 4.
Lucky Ravindra
Rachin Ravindra has been lucky so far. He has survived two close chances and then he git a top edge off Siraj but it went for a 6. CSK 29/0 after 3 overs.
Steady start for Ruturaj & CSK
Ruturaj Gaikwad has given his team a flying start. CSK 8/0 after 1 over, chasing 174.
RCB post 173 on the board
Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik have done an incredible job of taking their team from 78/5 to 173/6 in 8.2 overs. Rawat ended with a splendid 48, and Karthik smashed 38 to rescue their team.
Anuj Rawat is turning it on!
RCB’s wicketkeeper batters are turning it on
Dinesh Karthik and Anuj Rawat are turning it around for RCB. Rawat (41) and Karthik (26) after 18 overs.
Dinesh Karthik & Anuj Rawat rebuild
RCB are 90/5 after 14 overs, and DK and Anuj have stitched a 12-run stand.
Mustifizur magic!
Mustafizur picks two wickets in an over once again, sending Kohli and Green back, RCB 78/5 after 11.4 overs.
Ajinkya Rahane pulls off a screamer!
It’s a sad comeback for Virat Kohli. He departs for a scratchy 21, thanks to Rahane and Rachin Ravindra’s team catch on the leg side.
Virat Kohli: the ultimate record breaking
Kohli has become just the second batter to score 1000 runs against CSK after Shikhar Dhawan.
RCB collapse
Glenn Maxwell has departed for a golden duck. RCB are 42/3 in 5.3 overs after being 38/0 after 4 overs.
Virat Kohli & Cam Green steady ship
RCB are 63/3 after 9 overs, and Kohli and Green have stitched a 21-run stand.
Patidar gone!!!
Rajat Patidar and Faf du Plessis have been outfoxed by Mustafizur. RCB lost two wickets in 4 balls.
Mustafizur strikes!
Faf du Plessis has been sent back by Mustafizur Rahman for a fine 35-run knock.
Faf du Plessis is on fire! RCB are 38/0 after 4.
Flying start for Faf du Plessis
The RCB skipper has taken the initiative to give his side a smashing start. The opener has raced to 18 off 12 balls in a flash.
Virat Kohli & Faf du Plessis begin
And here we go. Deepak Chahar is back with his swing and he kicks start IPL 2024 with a wide. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis begin for RCB.
CSK 250
Chennai Super Kings will play their 250th match today.
Pitch report
The straight boundary is very long 80m but as per Kevin Pietersen, the pitch looks great. There are few cracks and that could help the spinners. There could be inconsistencies with the soil loose around the cracks. Win the the toss and bowl first is the verdict.
Toss Update
Faf du Plessis wins toss, opts to bat first against Chennai Super Kings.
Faf du Plessis speaks
We’ll bat first. Looks a good wicket, conditions here are a bat first wicket. First time back here, great to see the Chennai fans again but I’m here with RCB and hopefully we can turn over a very good CSK team. Prep has been good, we need to turn up now. A seasoned campaigner, brings that experience. Really good, our bowling resources fit well. Got more backup. Hopefully, injuires don’t bother us too much.
Ruturaj Gaikwad speaks
Feel privledged. But I want to try and be in my shoes, not fill anybody’s shoes. I got to know last week, but Mahi bhai hinted at it last year. Everyone is experienced here, sadly we are missing Conway and Pathirana. We’ve got Rachin and Mitchell coming in though. Four overseas – Mitchell, Rachin, Mustafizur and Theekshana.
RCB Playing XI
Dinesh Karthik may miss out on the keeping duties as Anuj Rawat is the designated wicketkeeper for RCB. Cameron Green makes RCB debut.
Faf du Plessis(c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Anuj Rawat, Karn Sharma, Alzarri Joseph, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj
CSK Playing XI
With no Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra is making his debut. There is also Sameer Rizvi who impressed in the UPT20 league and Col CK Nayudu Trophy.
Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni(w), Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman, Tushar Deshpande
RCB impact sub bench
Yash Dayal, Akash, Prabhudessai, Swapnil, Vyshak
CSK impact sub bench
Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Moeen Ali
National Anthem
Sonu Nigam sings the National Anthem as IPL 2024 kicks off.
It’s time!
The 17th edition of Indian Premier League begins in Chennai today and what a clash to start with. It’s CSK vs RCB in the opener.
Dhoni fit to play
MS Dhoni is all fit to play as he warms up before the match. There were doubts over his playing career after he stepped down from captaincy for a second time. He alo had a knee surgery that he struggled with last season. But he is now ready to go at it again.
New captain
Chennai Super Kings will finally move on from MS Dhoni. They did that in 2022 but it did not work out as Ravindra Jadeja failed to deliver. And after 8 matches, he was removed. This time, a young Ruturaj Gaikwad will take the reigns and he seems to be CSK’s long-term future.
Thala arrives at the den
MS Dhoni in a ‘new role’, arrives at Chepauk. he will play as a player under Ruturaj Gaikwad. No burden of captaincy and now he can play freely for whatever time he can on the pitch.
New jersey
While CSK will have a new captain, RCB will debut a name. After a long wait, fans will finally have Royal Challengers Bengaluru changing from Bangalore. It connects with the city’s new name. Virat Kohli will hope that the change in name changes their fortune as well and end 16 years of wait to lift the IPL title.
IPL opening ceremony begins
AR Rahman enthralls fans in Chepauk as IPL Opening Ceremony kicks off.
IPL opening ceremony begins
Akshay Kumar arrives at the Chepauk with the India flag in his hands.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad
Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik(w), Alzarri Joseph, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Reece Topley, Tom Curran, Swapnil Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Lockie Ferguson, Mayank Dagar, Will Jacks, Suyash Prabhudessai, Anuj Rawat, Manoj Bhandage, Yash Dayal, Saurav Chauhan, Rajan Kumar, Himanshu Sharma
Chennai Super Kings Squad
Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Moeen Ali, Mustafizur Rahman, Mitchell Santner, Tushar Deshpande, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prashant Solanki, Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh, RS Hangargekar, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Aravelly Avanish
