Demons slayed
RCB have laid to rest many a demon tonight. This was a dominant show from RCB on a pitch that helped them. We leave you with a teaser from the report.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their Chennai jinx in style, beating Chennai Super Kings there got the first time since the first IPL. By a whopping 50 runs, CSK’s biggest defeat at home. The contest was so dead that more than half of CSK’s chase was all about finding out if and when MS Dhoni would bat. He did so at No. 9, only for the second time in his career.
The build-up was all about how RCB would tackle 12 overs of spin, but the conditions rolled out inverted the spotlight: how would CSK handle eight overs of traditional seam and swing from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood? Not every well, as their combined figures of 7-0-41-4 demonstrate.
And that after RCB’s batters dominated the CSK attack on what was not a straightforward pitch. Like Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar, Khaleel Ahmed drew seam movement and extra bounce, but CSK didn’t have any more such bowlers. Rajat Patidar led the innings, full of intent, capitalising on a dropped catch when he was 17 and scoring 51 off 32. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were allowed to bowl only five overs, for 59 runs.
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Dhoni sends crowd off with a little something
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At least an eventful last over for CSK to take home. Krunal Pandya first bounces MS Dhoni, but then Dhoni slogs him for two really high sixes. The game ends with another bouncer, which Dhoni pulls away for four. CSK lose by an even 50.
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Hazlewood reaches five wickets
3 Josh Hazlewood ends the night as the third-highest wicket-taker this IPL, taking out Ravindra Jadeja in his last over. One over to go, RCB change the ball and let Krunal Pandya bowl to Dhoni
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Jadeja reaches a rare double
1 Ravindra Jadeja is now the only player to have scored 3000 runs and taken 100 wickets in the IPL. A small silver lining for CSK
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Finally Dhoni comes out to bat
With R Ashwin gone in the 16th over, the Chepauk crowd finally gets a glimpse of Dhoni the batter. He walks out with 28 balls left in the innings. CSK 99 for 7.
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Ashwin ahead of Dhoni
Well now the game is reduced to the farce of "Will Dhoni bat?" Shivam Dube plays on Dayal in the 13th over, and it has been decided it is too early for MS Dhoni to go out and bat. R Ashwin has been promoted, and the crowd is not thrilled at his sigh. In his Chennai.
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Ravindra goes too
CSK are going nowhere, the pressure keeps rising, and Rachin Ravindra crumbles under it for 41 off 31. CSK 75 for 5 in 12.1 overs, but still no MS Dhoni.
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Curran's nightmare IPL continues
Sam Curran has bowled four overs in two matches for 47 runs, and has scored 12 off 22 for two dismissals. That's almost a negative impact of 35 runs in two matches. Has found no timing here, and is obliged to try a big hit, getting out to Livingstone for 8 off 13. CSK 52 for 4 in 8.5 overs, and need a miracle to even compete from here. At least they are likely to watch Dhoni bat.
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Bhuvneshwar never in doubt
73 Number of wickets that Bhuvneshwar Kumar now has in powerplay in the IPL. The second-best is Sandeep Sharma's 60. When the new ball is doing something, wicket for him is never in doubt. This time it is Deepak Hooda. CSK 26 for 3 in five overs.
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RCB all over CSK
13 Number of false shots played by CSK in the first four overs. That's more than what they have been in control of. It's 18 for 2 in four overs. This pitch has had enough in it for traditional seam bowling, but CSK had only one seamer who specialises at using the new ball
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Hazlewood has two
Just like Khaleel Ahmed in the first innings, Josh Hazlewood has been drawing extra bounce and has been testing the middle of the pitch. With the last ball of his first over, he has a short ball get big on Ruturaj Gaikwad and the mis-hit hook ends up with deep square leg. CSK 8 for 2 in two overs. RCB can sense that rare win in Chennai now.
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Short, into the body, Tripathi out twice
In the first match, Rahul Tripathi edged Da Deepak Chahar short one down the leg side. Now Josh Hazlewood bowls at his left shoulder first ball, and he spoons a catch to forward square leg. That is a definite plan now. They will all bounce him and aim at his body, taking his arma away from him. CSK 8 for 1 in 1.2 overs.
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Tripathi opens again
For the second game in a row, CSK open with Rahul Tripathi ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Rachin Ravindra stays the other opener. And Bhuvneshwar Kumar is moving the new ball.
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David takes RCB to 196
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A completely different over to the 19th. Sam Curran starts off well but six balls at one batter are too many for Curran in current form. A low full toss, a slower ball, a shortish ball, all deposited by Tim David, who had to take it all upon himself. As a result, RCB end up with 196.
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Pathirana bowls an excellent 19th
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Well that Patidar wicket at the start of the 19th over has ended up costing RCB at least five deliveries. Pathirana is too good Krunal Pandya. Two yorkers, one bouncer, then a slower ball, and he is out. Bhuvneshwar Kumar hits the fifth straight to mid-off, and Tim David turns down a single last ball. Just one off the over. A wide. RCB 177 for 7 in 19 overs.
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They finally catch Patidar
This could prove to be a big wicket with 11 balls to go. Patidar was the set batter and would have looked to maximise the remaining allotment, but Pathirana takes away his hands by following him with an attempted yorker. Sam Curran takes this at cover. RCB 176 for 6. Krunal Pandya comes in. Two new batters at the wicket.
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Khaleel 4-0-28-1
Khaleel Ahmed ends another impressive night with CSK, this time coming back to take the wicket of Jitesh Sharma in the 18th over. A sower ball, a pull and a catch at deep midwicket. Once again, he drew seam movement with the new ball, mowled an excellent over in the middle overs, and then closed out with nine runs and a wicket in the 18th. RRCB 176 for 5 in 18.
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Patidar gets to fifty
Rajat Patidar gets to his fifty in just 30 balls. Dropped on 17, two mis-hits resulting in half chances not taken, and now we have him dominating the bowling. To be fair, he had hit Noor Ahmad for a lovely six even before that. He has also hit a Pathirana slower ball for another six. It's 171 for 4 in 17.1 overs now.
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Noor pwns Livingstone
4 Number of times Noor has got Livingstone out in 21 balls across five innings
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Purple cap to Noor
Liam Livingstone breaks the shackles by taking high risk and moving away from the stumps early, hitting Noor Ahmad for a six to barely get to a run a ball. Noor has erred by going too full, letting him hit agaist the turn.
When Livingstone tries to repeat the shot next ball, Noor bowls on a good length, turns the ball back in, and hits the leg stump. That's his seventh wicket this IPL, going past Shardul Thakur's six.
RCB don't let Noor have the final say, though. As he overpitches the wrong'un last ball of his spell, Jitesh Sharma plays a glorious indie-out drive with the turn to clear extra cover with ease. That makes Noor's night 4-0-36-3. You suspect CSK expect better returns. RCB 153 for 4 in 16. Pathirana has two left, Khaleel one. Who will bowl the other over? Ashwin or Curran or Jadeja?
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Khaleel comes back
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That's Khaleel Ahmed's third over, who makes a comeback in the middle overs to keep the batters quiet with jeopardy from the middle of the pitch. It is amazing how the pitch has had something in it for both the quicks and the spinners, and still RCB are 138 for 3 in 15 overs, a little over nine an over. There has been impressive intent, and Patidar has ridden his luck a little bit for his 36 off 23.
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CSK drop Patidar twice, but catch Kohli
Two right-hand batters, best time to go back to Ravindra Jadeja, who makes a good start to the 12th over. Rajat patidar, the spin-hitter who has hit Noor Ahmad for a six already, tries to do the same to Jadeja and ends up lofting him to long-off. Deepak Hooda has enough time to settle under this sitter, but his hard hands don't close in time and Patidar gets a life.
Four balls later, Noor has Patidar hitting in the air towards deep cover, Rahul Tripathi charges in, dives in front, but can't hold on to the half chance.
As things often tend to do in T20, the best of the three shots ends up in hand. Virat Kohli nails the slog-sweep off Noor, but doesn't get the desired elevation and is caught at deep midwicket by Rachin Ravindra.
Patidar dropped on 17 and 19, Kohli taken on 31 off 30. It is 117 for 3 in 12.2 overs.
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Kohli wakes up
A hit on the helmet from a deceptively rising bounce from Matheesha Pathirana, and Virat Kohli is up and about. The immediately next ball is another bounce, this time not as well directed, and he hooks it for a six. There is a look thrown at the bowler. He is not too thrilled. And then he drop-kicks a slower ball over midwicket over four.
Facing Pathirana for the first time in T20 cricket, Kohli is 13 off 7 off the slinger. RCB 109 for 2 in 11 overs.
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Timeout at 83 for 2
RCB can still look at a good run-rate right now at 83 for 2 in nine overs, but Virat Kohli has been tied down on 14 off 20.
Pathirana's slingy deliveries are a little extra of a challenge in the middle and late overs as Patidarr is a good player of spin. So CSK have this option in the back pocket. His first over has gone for just six.
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Ashwin gets Padikkal
Ashwin makes a comeback after having been smacked around in the first over. He has not given Padikkal any pace to work with, and finally he tries to force the issue by making room to try to go over cover. Gets no elevation and is caught low at extra cover. This after his previous inside-out drive went only for two. Just no pace to use. RCB 76 for 2 in 7.5.
Now there are two right-hand batters at the wicket, and CSK introduce Pathirana for the first time.
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Padikkal attacks Jadeja
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That's Jadeja's first over, the innings' seventh. Devdutt Padikkal has surprised all and CSK by taking down Jadeja, and he has done so playing two shots that are generally difficult against Jadeja: the sweep and the step-out. Two of the three spinners have been taken for 31 in two overs.
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Noor-Dhoni dream team strikes again
Noor Ahmad turns 75% of his deliveries from right to left, and MS Dhoni keeps for that and not the big legbreak turning from left to right. He pulled off one magical stumping last game, and now he has added Phil Salt to it. Again the back foot lifts only for a brief moment, enough for Dhoni to support Noor in his quest for wickets. Funny that the first memory of this association remains a big lebreak that Dhoni missed by a mile and conceded four byes. RCB 45 for 1 in five overs.
These Dhoni stumpings have been discussed and marvelled at for ages. Just a reminder that he collects the ball merely six inches behind the stumps and doesn't have any give. It is just so so important to time it well and not meet the ball slightly ahead and in line with the stumps because that becomes a no-ball.
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Ordinary start for Ashwin
Gaikwad pulls out the first surprise of the night by giving the second over to R Ashwin, but he is not on top of his game at all. All carrom balls, but two too short and one down the leg. Salt gets all the gifts, and he takes six, four and four of them. RCB 25 for 0 in two overs.
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Khaleel tests Salt
A high-quality first over with just one loose ball has gone for nine runs. Khaleel Ahmed has got the new ball to move off the surface, has been in Salt's face too, but has still gone for nine. Four of them off an edge as Salt swung hard after missing the first three balls. Then he got width on the fifth ball, and smashed it over point.
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CSK choose to chase, Pathirana back
Amid loud cheers ringing C-S-K, C-S-K, home captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to chase. Gaikwad said the pitch was going to be a little better than the first game when 155 was chased down in the last over.
Both sides welcomed back their main fast bowlers. For CSK, Matheesha Pathirana replaced Nathan Ellis, who made an impressive CSK debut. Sam Curran was retained, which underlines CSK's love for allrounders. He will need to be better than he was in the first game. Shivam Dube was expected to be their Impact Player in the chase.
RCB brought in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who missed the last game with a niggle. He replaced Rasikh Salam in the XI. They retained Devdutt Padikkal, who is not the best out there against spin. Legspinner Suyash Sharma was their likely Impact Player for the defence.
That made RCB captain Rajat Patidar the key batter. Him against spin is the contest that could direct the whole match. Noor Ahmad started off beautifully for CSK with figures of 4-0-18-4 against MI. RCB are a team of pace-hitters. If Patidar can attack Noor, he can set the cat among the pigeons, which could even result in Jadeja not bowling out. If Patidar gets out early, CSK could choke RCB.
RCB hadn't won a single game in Chennai against CSK ever since the first-ever IPL in 2008. Even overall, their record stood at 11-22 against CSK.
Chennai Super Kings 1 Rachin Ravindra, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt.), 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Deepak Hooda, 5 Sam Curran, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Matheesha Pathirana, 10 Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmad
Substitutes: Shivam Dube, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton, Shaik Rasheed
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt.), 4 Devdutt Padikkal, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal
Substitutes: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh
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Pitch and conditions
About 10 minutes to go to the toss. One square boundary is 7m bigger than the other. The pitch, according to Matthew Hayden and Danny Morrison, is not going to provide a run feast. A little bit of grip, a little bit of slowness. You can fight with 170, feel good with 185. That's what Hayden said.
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Southern 'rivalry'?
It has all the attributes a hype machine might dream of - two of the biggest Indian cricketers, two cities that enjoy banter and rivalry both - but CSK beat RCB two times for every time that RCB beat them.
We kick off tonight's proceedings with our preview.
It might still not matter to the ratings, but as cricket rivalry it needs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to catch up. They are 11-22 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) overall, and 1-8 in Chennai. The last time RCB beat CSK in Chennai was in 2008, the IPL's first year. The last time these two sides faced each other, RCB were so ecstatic at winning and making it to the playoffs that they didn't shake hands with the opposition. Cue more storylines.
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