Everyone (included us) expected MS Dhoni to win the toss and put RCB into bat. Trust MSD to put a weird spin on things and bamboozle us all. Given the hot cauldron that the Wankhede had become and the afternoon match, MSD elected to bat first after winning the toss.
Gaikwad has found his footing in the last couple of games. The stylish right-hander started off in great fashion along with Faf du Plessis. Gaikwad striking a fluent 33 off 25 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. Du Plessis has become Mr. Dependable for CSK at the top of the innings. He continued with his fine form, scoring another 50 for CSK. The South African and Gaikwad laying the foundation for a mammoth CSK first innings total.
Against the run of play, RCB made inroads thanks to the Purple Cap Holder- Harshal Patel. He has been having a phenomenal VIVO IPL 2021. Patel picked up du Plessis, Raina, and Rayudu at quick intervals. After three overs, Patel had just given away 14 runs and picked up 3 wickets.
After CSK looked like heading towards an average total, in came Sir Jadeja and looked to turn things around. Luck was on his side today and he got dropped at naught off a Sundar delivery. Dan Christian looked very comfortable due to the weather dropping a lolly at mid-wicket. After getting a life, Jadeja looked at his dangerous best.
The southpaw waited till the last over the match, before ensuring that two fifties came during the 20th over. The first fifty his, and the second one, the total runs Harshal Patel would concede off his spell of 4 overs. The last over went for 37 runs. Jadeja smashing 5 sixes and one four, including a no-ball and a couple of runs.
Big effort in the field today to go past #RCB. This is one victory that @ChennaiIPL will cherish for a long time! https://t.co/9lEz0r9hZo #SRHvDC #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/7N3a1y4OmI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 25, 2021
Chennai finishing with a handsome 191 off his spell of 20 overs. The CSK bowlers having enough runs on the board to try and get RCB out. With the momentum firmly in favor of CSK, RCB had an uphill task in front of them in their chase.
RCB’s blue-eyed boy, Devdutt Padikkal started off in demolishing form. No one from Sam Curran to Deepak Chahar was spared. At the end of 3 overs, RCB steamrolled their way to 44 runs on the board. While the commentators were of the opinion that Dhoni should not go for Curran, captain cool persisted by trusting his bowlers. The result- Kohli slashing one hard and getting caught behind for 8.
From then on, RCB never got going. Jadeja came back once again and cast his spell with the ball. We told you how a CSK player had to play the game of the tournament if CSK had to win. Jadeja sent back Maxwell, de Villiers, and Sundar in quick succession. From 44-0, RCB plummeted to 95-8. The decision to play Tahir in place of Moeen Ali was a masterstroke from Dhoni.
Tahir got Harshal Patel and Navdeep Saini and all but won the match for CSK. Dhoni the captain marshaled his troops and reposed faith in his bowlers. There is a reason why MSD is still rated as one of the best thinking minds in the game. While his reflexes when it comes to hitting the big ones have faded, his mind is still at its sharpest best.
CSK was too good for RCB on the day. Chahal and Siraj tried to ensure that RCB did not get all out within the 20 overs mark. RCB ending with just 120 runs off their 20 overs. Giving CSK a huge victory of 71 Runs! Take a bow MSD, take a bow!
