CSK find the winning touch

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 Opening match blues for Mumbai Indians again 

    A 11 lovers of the Indian Premier League were happy to see MS Dhoni back on a cricket field after 437 days as he skip pered Chennai Super Kings in the first game of the T20 league against defending champions Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday.  There was also a fair degree of astonishmentat the bulk that Dhoni has put on.  Extra work in the gym during lockdown has obviously given him strength in his limbs, but he has always been known for the strength of his mind.  Using sound tactics and wonderful rotation of bowlers and right field placements on a big ground, the CSK skipper helped his team fight back as Mumbai Indians, after racing away to 45 for no loss in four overs after being put into bat, limped their way to  162 for 9. In reply, CSK relied on two players who are not spectacular, but are mighty effective and understand the grammar of pacing an innings in tough situa tions.  Ambati Rayudu 71 (48 balls, 6x4, 3x6) and Faf du Plessis may not have the big shots.  They do not have bulging muscles.  But ask them to hita gap, they will do it.  The pair did the job that Suresh Raina nor mally does for CSK and helped them recover from the twin blows of losing openers Shane Watson and Murali Vijay to MI's new signings Trent Boult and James Pattinson to add 115 for the third wicket.

Dhoni then promoted the young Sam Cur ran ahead of himself and the move worked like a charm as Curran smashed a quickfire 18 off six balls to help them win with four balls and five wickets remaining.  MI last won the first match of the IPL in 2012. Ironically, it was CSK who they beat them at the Chepauk.  Spin, so often Dhoni and CSK's trusted friend on the slow and low pitches at Chepauk, helped them in the Emirates too as the impres sive Piyush Chawla struck by getting rid of MI skipper Rohit Sharma caught by Curran at mid - off and then applied the  choke.  It was the 10th time in three editions that Rohit ha fallen to leg - spin.  Dhonithen changed the end of Curran, who made a smooth graduation from being a Kings player to a Super Kings one and dis missed the dangerous Quinton de Kock.  Once the openers were gone, Dhoni was in control as most MI players were guilty of thinking that they were playing on a smallish field at Wankhede and kept getting caught at the bound ary involving bighits.  Du Plessis, atlongon and long off, pouched some wonderful catches, two off them in one over off Ravindra Jadeja to dis miss Saurabh Tiwary and Hardik Pandya.

Scoreboard

Mumbai Indians: R Sharmac Curran b Chawla 12, Q de Kockc Watson b Curran 33, S Yadav c Curran b D Chahar 17, S Tiwary c du Plessis b Jadeja 42, H Pandyac du Plessisb Jadeja 14, K Pollard c Dhoni b Ngidi 18  , K Pandya c Dhonib Ngidi 3, J Pattinson c du Plessis b Ngidi 11, R Chahar not out 2, T Boult b D Chahar 0, J Bumrah not out 5;  Extras: (w4, 1b1) 5;  Total: (9 wkts) 162;  FoW: 1-46,2-48, 3-92, 4-121,5-124, 6-136, 7-151, 8-156, 9-156;  Bowling: D Chahar 4-0-32-2, Curran 4-0-28-1, Ngidi 4-0-38-3, Chawla 4-0-21-1, Jadeja 4-0-42-2.  Chennai Super Kings: M Vijay Ibw b Pattinson 1, S Watson Ibwb Boult 4, F du Plessis notout55, A Rayudu c & b Chahar 71, R Jadeja Ibw bk Pandya 10, S Curranc Pattinsonb Bumrah 18, MS Dhoni notout0;  Extras: (nb1, w3) 4: Total (5 wkts, 19.2 overs) 163;  Fow: 1–5,2–6, 3–121,4–134,5–153;  Bowling: Boult 3.2-0-20-1, Pattinson 4-0-27-1, Bumrah 4-0-43-1, K Pandya 4-0-37-1, R Chahar 4-0-36-1 .