IPL 2018, MI vs CSK: 5 talking points

The Wankhede stadium played host to the IPL 2018 opener as Mumbai Indians played their arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings. MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first on a ground that has assisted chasing teams in the past.

Harbhajan Singh made his CSK debut while Evin Lewis opened the batting for Mumbai Indians. Though Mumbai lost their openers early, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Krunal Pandya took them to a respectable 165. Chennai Super Kings lost half their side for 75 but Bravo's brilliance saw them through.

Without much ado, let's take a look at the key talking points from the IPL opener.

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#5 Mark Wood falls one short of 50; Deepak Chahar brilliant with the new ball

Deepak Chahar impressed on his CSK debut

The English medium pacer had a game to forget at the Wankhede. Dhoni decided to open the bowling with Shane Watson and Deepak Chahar. Mark Wood came on to bowl after the powerplay overs but leaked 49 runs in his 4 overs. Mumbai Indians batsmen used his pace and he was hit all over the ground.

On the other hand, Deepak Chahar, highest wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18, had a brilliant outing with the ball. He swung the new ball and trapped Evin Lewis plumb in front. He gave away only 14 runs in his 3 powerplay overs. A player to watch out for this season.

#4 Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Krunal Pandya impressive with the bat, Lewis fails on his debut

Krunal Pandya struck some hefty blows late in the innings

Put in to bat by MS Dhoni, Mumbai Indians lost their openers early. Evin Lewis lasted only two balls in the middle. It was game to forget for the West Indies opener.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians middle-order stood up to the task. Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Krunal Pandya were brilliant on the night. The trio notched up scores of 40+ each and held the Mumbai Indians' innings together.

Yadav continued from where he left off in the Indian domestic season while Ishan Kishan showed why Mumbai Indians paid huge money for him. Mumbai Indians middle-order looks like a force to reckon with.

#3 CSK lost wickets regularly and never gained momentum in their chase

CSK top order collapsed at the Wankhede

Chennai Super Kings' top order failed against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede. None of the top 6 batsmen in the Chennai Super Kings lineup scored more than 25 runs. They kept losing wickets on a consistent basis and never got into the chase. They were 84 for 6 at the end of the 13th over.

Ambati Rayudu showed promise with some sublime cover drives but fell to the leg-spinner Mayank Markande. Shane Watson was deceived by Hardik Pandya's knuckleball while Raina and MS Dhoni went cheaply. Kedar Jadhav left the field with an injured hamstring.

#2 Debutant Mayank Markande is here to stay

Markande bowled with a big heart

Not a lot of Indian cricket fans would’ve heard the name Mayank Markande before. The 20-year-old has played only 4 T20s and 6 List A games so far in his short career. He picked up 5 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 10 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He attended the trials for Mumbai Indians and impressed everyone there.

The young leg-spinner from Punjab was the star of the show for Mumbai Indians on his IPL debut. He gave away only 23 runs in his 4 overs and picked up the important wickets of Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, and Deepak Chahar. He was brilliant with his variations and bamboozled CSK's batsmen.

#1 Mumbai Indians blown away by Bravo's blitzkrieg

Mumbai Indians had a perfect night

Dwayne Bravo has played one of the best IPL innings of all-time. Dwayne Bravo came in to bat when Chennai Super Kings were tottering at 75 for 5 at the end of 12 overs. He took his time early in the innings but unleashed after the dismissal of Harbhajan Singh.

He struck a brilliant 68 off 30 balls, which included 7 sixes. He demolished Mitchell McClenaghan for 20 runs in the 18th over and dismissed India's best bowler Jasprit Bumrah for another 20 runs in the 19th. He took CSK to the brink of an improbable win but fell on the last ball of the 19th over.