Two giants of Indian cricket were up against each other. At one end, there was MS Dhoni, the most successful captain in IPL history leading Chennai Super Kings at home. And at the other end, Virat Kohli, the leader of Royal Challengers Bangalore led his side’s visit to Chepauk. A tight contest would have been the ideal way to begin the IPL 2019. But CSK was all over the opposition.
Dhoni, after winning the toss, elected to bowl as he was unsure what the surface would offer. But it took him just one over to judge it. On a slow surface, he introduced Harbhajan Singh early into the attack. The off-spinner repaid the faith by accounting for the wickets of Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Moeen Ali.
The early losses dented the progress of RCB innings. To make matters worse for the visitors, Imran Tahir claimed 3 wickets while Ravindra Jadeja too bagged a couple. The misery of RCB ended in the 18th over as they were bowled out for just 70. Parthiv Patel, who had opened the innings, was the last man to be dismissed for 29, the top score of the innings.
RCB too went in with the strategy of bringing in spin early. Yuzvendra Chahal opened the bowling attack and in his second over, castled Shane Watson for a duck from 10 balls. Moeen Ali too bowled in the powerplay and chocked the scoring. CSK’s score labored to 16/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Ambati Rayudu and Raina absorbed the pressure for a while and punished the bad balls. Suresh Raina departed after scoring 19 from 21 courtesy Moeen. But RCB was confined with just 2 spinners in the side. Once they were negotiated, there weren’t too many troubles for the batsmen. Ultimately, the hosts chased the target down rather comfortably with 2.2 overs to spare.
CSK vs RCB Match Summary
Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 70/10 in 17.1 overs
Parthiv Patel 29 (35), Moeen Ali 9 (8)
Imran Tahir 9/3 (4), Harbhajan Singh 20/3 (4)
Chennai Super Kings: 71/3 in 17.4 overs
Ambati Rayudu 28 (42), Suresh Raina 19 (21)
Yuzvendra Chahal 6/1 (4), Moeen Ali 19/1 (4)
Chennai Super Kings won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Harbhajan Singh
Here’s how Twitter reacted to CSK’s emphatic win
Not the kind of pitch one would expect for the league opener. Hope this is the only such game. Yes, it was a difficult surface but certainly not a 70 all-out one.#CSKvRCB #CSKvsRCB #IPL2019
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) March 23, 2019
Having said that, I do hope this pitch is just a one-off. Can't play every game on a track like this https://t.co/nzOzDiCNvo
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 23, 2019
This is incredible. Tough pitch, but not a 70 all out one. Oh #RCB.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 23, 2019
It’s a good thing I decided to support @chennaiipl 😉 #ipl2019 #chennai https://t.co/s0TsZFNRT1
— Glenn McGrath (@glennmcgrath11) March 23, 2019
Most single figure scores in an inngs in IPL (for all teams):
11 RCB v KKR, Kolkata, 2017
10 RCB v KKR, Bengaluru, 2008
10 RCB v RPS, Pune, 2017
10 RCB v CSK, Chennai, 2019 *#CSKvRCB— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) March 23, 2019
Aakash Chopra Tweets are Pure Gold
ROFL and How. I’m sure Dhoni took the DRS for LBW….but turned out to an inside edge. And caught. Unbelievable. Dhoni Review System rocks. #CSKvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 23, 2019
5000 runs for @ImRaina. He has been an #IPL legend.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 23, 2019
RCBians when they crossed that dreaded 49 mark…#CSKvRCB pic.twitter.com/X9ssogI9XX
— Akki (@CrickPotato) March 23, 2019
4-1-9-3 may sound like the OTP to the free Wi-Fi at Chepauk. But that's the incredible figures by #ParasakthiExpress! WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvRCB 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/KOvKUypbf4
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 23, 2019
RCB team be like#CSKvRCB pic.twitter.com/JHNCT8KXyZ
— Main hu Rockstar (@hu_rockstar) March 23, 2019
Bowler friendly pitches are nice….but it’s a little too lopsided in spinners’ favour. And #RCB have only two spinning options. #CSKvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 23, 2019
Some More Tweets on Win of CSK over RCB
https://twitter.com/jay_upadhyay14/status/1109474817613262849
https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/1109474325122482177
Royal Challengers Bangalore's lowest totals in the IPL:
49/10 vs KKR, 2017
70/10 vs RR, 2014
70/10 vs CSK, TodayRCB become the first side to be dismissed under 75 on three different instances in the IPL. #IPL2019 #CSKvRCB
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 23, 2019
Smart Captains will always prevail over Smart Stats. Dhoni understands the T20 pulse better than most. #IPL #CSKvRCB
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 23, 2019
RCB fans watching #CSKvRCB match. #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/MkORN7m8rj
— Aashish (@aashishraashish) March 23, 2019
Some more Tweets
RCB batting order today 😂😂 #CSKvRCB #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/KYNO7yGmMF
— BALA (@erbmjha) March 23, 2019
new season and all that but CSK are doing CSK things and RCB are doing RCB things #IPL2019
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 23, 2019
#IPL2019
My story every season – C'mon RCB, C'mon RCB, … a week or two later … er… C'mon CSK.— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) March 23, 2019
Lowest totals in IPL's first match of the season:
70 – RCB v CSK, 2019
82 – RCB v KKR, 2008#CSKvRCB #IPL2019— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 23, 2019
Suresh Raina Today:
When on 14 – 5000 runs in Twenty20s for Chennai Super Kings (1st player)
When on 15 – 5000 runs in Indian Premier League (1st player)#IPL2019 #CSKvRCB— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 23, 2019
RCB, oh RCB. Never change.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 23, 2019
