Stellar performances by Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube, coupled with Mustafizur Rahman’s striking four-wicket spell, propelled the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a victorious start in the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led era, defeating the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season on Friday.
Chasing a target of 174 runs, CSK’s opener and captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, set the momentum with early boundaries, complemented by Kiwi prodigy Rachin Ravindra’s aggressive batting. However, CSK faced an early setback with Gaikwad’s departure at 38 runs, followed by a quick succession of wickets, bringing the score to 110/4 in 12.3 overs.
Despite RCB’s efforts to tighten their fielding and curb CSK’s run rate, Shivam Dube’s explosive batting in the crucial final overs turned the tide in CSK’s favor. Dube, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, ensured CSK reached their target with eight balls to spare, ending at 176/4, with Dube unbeaten at 34 runs and Jadeja at 25.
Earlier, RCB’s innings was highlighted by Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik’s dynamic 95-run partnership, propelling their team to a competitive total of 173/6. Mustafizur Rahman, making his debut for CSK, was the standout bowler, dismantling RCB’s top order with a formidable four-wicket haul that included key wickets like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis.
RCB had a promising start with Kohli and Du Plessis initially steering the innings, but Mustafizur’s incisive bowling significantly derailed their momentum. Despite the initial loss of wickets, Karthik and Rawat’s late onslaught added crucial runs to RCB’s tally, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
The match, held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, not only set a high octane tone for the IPL 2024 season but also marked a significant beginning for Gaikwad’s leadership of the defending champions, CSK, who emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish.
