IPL 2019, CSK vs RCB: 3 takeaways from the match

Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 7 wickets in the inaugural match of IPL 2019 in Chennai. It was a one-sided match, in which CSK dominated from the beginning and RCB were never in control. CSK, the 3-time champions in IPL, made a resounding start to their campaign, and always looked in command. The match also pitted former Indian captain, MS Dhoni against Virat Kohli, the current one.

RCB won the toss and batted first. However, they were bowled out for only 70 in 17.1 overs. None of their batsmen except Parthiv Patel could reach double digits. Patel played a patient knock and made 29. For CSK, the spinners did the damage, as Imran Tahir and Harbhajan Singh took 3 wickets each. Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with 2 wickets.

In reply, CSK never looked in trouble while chasing, as Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina made 28 and 18 respectively. They reached their target with 2.2 overs and 7 wickets to spare. Yujvendra Chahal, Moeen Ali and Siraj took a wicket apiece for RCB. Harbhajan was adjudged the man of the match for his excellent performance.

Let us have a look at 3 takeaways from the match:

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#1. RCB batsmen suffered against spin-attack of CSK

Harbhajan Singh

The RCB batsmen struggled to cope with the lack of pace in the wicket, and some of them threw their wickets away. CSK have the best spin-attack among all the teams in the tournament, as they have Harbhajan, Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja within their ranks. Both Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers perished while trying to play ambitious shots off the bowling of Harbhajan.

Harbhajan gave the ball more air, and was rewarded with 3 wickets. Kohli stayed on his back-foot and tried to play a shot over the mid-wicket boundary off a flighted Harbhajan delivery, but could not clear the ground. That delivery was too full for him to play the shot off his back-foot. de Villiers also fell in similar fashion, and was caught by Jadeja in the long-on boundary.

Most of the other batsmen struggled to score runs off the bowling of Jadeja and Tahir. Tahir too 3 wickets while conceding only 9 runs in his stipulated 4 overs. He generated vicious turn on a slower wicket, which was hardly conducive for T20 cricket.

Jadeja also got good turn, and succeeded in containing the RCB batsmen. RCB never really recovered from the early dismissals of Kohli and de Villiers, and were bundled out for a paltry total of 70.

#2. CSK made a solid start and never looked out of control

Suresh Raina

In a tricky chase, CSK top order decided to approach the chase in a controlled manner. Although Watson fell for a duck while trying to sweep Chahal, Rayudu remained steady. He was joined by the experienced Suresh Raina, who made 19 valuable runs with 3 boundaries, and also completed his 5000 runs in IPL in the process. He also remains the highest run-scorer in the history of the tournament.

Both Rayudu and Raina played some lofted straight drives off the pace bowlers, and kept the scoreboard moving. Raina also hit a delectable square cut off the bowling of Moeen Ali, while Rayudu hit an exquisite cover drive off Navdeep Saini. Rayudu went on to make 28 runs, and ensured a comfortable win for the home side.

Jadeja and Kedar Jadhav did not take any unnecessary risk, and guided their team to an emphatic win. Kohli rotated his bowlers, but could not cause much trouble to the CSK batsmen.

#3. Chahal and the Young pacers of RCB impressed with their efforts

Yujvendra Chahal

RCB had the experienced India international Umesh Yadav in their line-up, but it was the young fast bowling pair of Saini and Mohammed Siraj, which impressed with its efforts. Saini is tall and strapping, and also has a rhythmic run-up and quick arm action. He also generated some lively bounce off the surface and troubled the experience CSK batsman at times.

Siraj also got Rayudu’s wicket in his very first over, and it was the pace and bounce of the delivery that did Rayudu in. The right arm pacer is very nippy off the surface and promises to have a great career ahead.

However, Chahal, who opened the bowling for RCB, was the pick of their bowlers. He bowled Watson with a conventional leg-break, as the latter hurried onto an ambitious sweep shot and missed the ball completely.

Chahal is likely to remain the main bowler for RCB on such slow and dry pitches in the upcoming matches of the tournament too.