4 unforgettable batting heroics by Bravo for CSK

#3 CSK vs MI 2018, Mumbai

Bravo played his best T20 innings against the Mumbai Indians

This was the opening match of IPL 2018. CSK was making a comeback into the IPL after a gap of 2 years.

Chasing a target of 166 for a win, CSK were 84 for 6. Kedar Jadhav had retired hurt and was unlikely to come back. When everything was lost for CSK, Bravo infused life into the game. Bravo started off his innings with a six off new mystery bowler Markande who earlier took the wickets of Rayadu and Dhoni.

With a required run rate of 12 in the last 7 overs, Bravo took on the ever-accurate Mustafizur Rahman, hitting him for 2 fours in one over. Then he turned his attention to McClenaghan and Bumrah. Bumrah, coming back for his second spell, was greeted with a flat six over extra cover.

Mumbai Indians must have thought that Bravo was playing his usual cameos before throwing his wicket away. But that day Bravo stayed put and was determined to take CSK home. CSK needed 51 off the last 4 overs with 3 wickets in hand.

Hardik Pandya bowled the 17th over and gave away 4 runs and got rid of Mark Wood. CSK needed 47 in 18 balls when last man Imran Tahir joined Bravo, who was batting on 29. Now it all boiled down to Bravo. McClenaghan bowled the 18th over.

Bravo hit the second ball over the bowlers head for a six. The next ball was launched into mid-wicket for a six. Bravo pulled the 5th ball of the over to the mid-wicket boundary. He wisely took a single off the last ball and retained the strike.

CSK needed 27 off 12 balls. Bumrah bowled the penultimate over of the innings. Bravo lofted the first ball over long-off for a six and reached his 50 off 25 balls. The next ball was a full toss from Bumrah which sailed into the mid-wicket boundary.

Bravo was lucky with the fourth ball as the ball trickled back on to the stumps but the bails did not come off. Bumrah couldn’t believe his luck. In frustration, Bumrah bowled another full toss which traveled the distance. Now only 7 required off 7. But at this crucial juncture, Bravo threw his wicket away in the last ball of the over and spooned a catch to Rohit Sharma. Bravo left the field after scoring a brilliant 68 off 30 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes.

Kedar Jadhav was not supposed to come back to the batting crease after his injury. But Bravo’s innings forced him to come back to bat on one leg with 7 needed off the last over. Due to his restricted movements, the first 3 balls were dot balls. But Jadhav played a clever scoop over short fine leg using the pace of the bowler and the ball went all the way for a six. Jadhav belted the next ball for a boundary through the covers and CSK were back with a bang into the IPL with a stunning win.

CSK came back from nowhere and it was Bravo who made that victory possible.