"It [Journey with CSK] started from last season, I came as a replacement and played two games. Now I'm getting more games and am happy. The team gave me a lot of confidence.
"This is my best bowling figures in T20 I think, happy about that and contributing to the win. I'm a die-hard fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and have modeled my celebration after him."
"It was a very crucial game for a simple reason, if you see the points table there's a muddle in the middle. Last few games the results have not gone in our favour and so it is good to be on the winning side. I was doubtful with the decision at the toss, I wanted to bat first but the think tank thought about the rain, I was slightly outnumbered and so we went with the majority.
"If there is some kind of confusion then we sit and talk about it. I felt the wicket would slow down and that was the reason behind it, and even if rain came, the majority of the game would have been done. People who don't have a very clean action batters find it difficult to pick them. It is not the pace or variations, but the consistency.
"I would prefer him not to play red-ball cricket and play all the ICC tournaments, he would be a great asset for Sri Lanka. He was slightly lean last season and has added muscle this season."
"Everywhere I guess [on what went wrong], we didn't bat well enough, didn't put enough runs for the bowlers to defend. We had an off-day as a batting unit. We just did what we felt was comfortable [on him going down to 3], needed an Indian batter to bat in the middle overs against spin after unfortunately losing Tilak Varma, but we lost three wickets for just 16 runs.
"He's bowling really well [on Piyush Chawla)], the other bowlers need to rally around him, that's what the team needs, everyone has to come forward and chip in contributions.
"There's no such home advantage this season, everyone has won and lost at home, we need to do all the three departments of the game, we'll play at home in the next two games, we'll see how it goes."
An easy victory in the end for CSK. They have successfully chased down 140 with six wickets and 14 balls to spare.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (30 off 16) took the attack to MI early and eased the pressure on the remaining batters, reducing the asking rate to under six. The rest of the batters ensured that it did not go up at any point.
Devon Conway's (44 off 42) love affair with Chepauk continued with another vital knock. He averages over 100 at the venue this season. Among the MI bowlers, it was Piyush Chawla (2 for 25), who gave them a reason to smile, but found no support from the other end whatsoever.
For Mumbai, it was Nehal Wadhers (64 off 51) who held fort and was involved in vital 50-plus stands with Suryakumar Yadav (26 off 22) and later on with Tristan Stubbs 20 (21) to take his side to 139. The CSK pacers picked up nine wickets between them with Matheesha Pathirana the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 15.
CSK now have completed a double over MI this season - their first since 2014. They find themselves second in the table with 13 points from 11 games. MI are sixth with 10 points from as many games.
Dencoming back with a W.! ππ¦#WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvMI ππ¦
β Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 6, 2023
Devon Conway at the Chepauk Stadium this season:
47 (29) vs LSG
50 (38) vs RR
77* (57) vs SRH
92* (52) vs SRH
44 (42) vs CSK
310 runs at 103.33, SR 142.2, 50s 3
Batters to strike at 150+ against both pace and spin in this IPL - 50+ balls:
H Klaasen: P - 188.2, S - 175.5
S Dube: P - 150.7, S - 162.7
G Maxwell: P - 209.4, S - 162
V Shankar: P - 152.8, S - 166.7
Having just come to the crease, Shivam Dube has already stamped his authority. He takes on the debutant Raghav Goyal, smashing him for a a coupel of big ones on the leg-side. Just a matter of time now before CSK race home.
What a hit by Ambati Rayudu! Rohit Sharma gets Tristan Stubbs into the attack to maybe surprise the batters, but Rayudu is having none of it. He charges down the track and smashes Stubbs over the mid-wicket fence. But wait...Stubbs has the last laught as Rayudu cuts the next one straight to the man at short third-man.
Thw wicket thoguh does very less to change the context of the game. CSK remain on top with the asking rate now less than five an over.
Rayudu c Goyal b Stubbs 12 (11)
The Stubbs impact! π
β Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 6, 2023
What a spell this has been by Piyush Chawla! The veteran leg-spinner finishes with figures of 2 for 25 from his four overs. While CSK very much remain on top, Chawla's spell has given MI something to cheer about.
Just when the partnership was looking steady, Piyush Chawla once again makes the crucial breakthrough. Ajinkya Rahane took the review at the last secnond, but the on-field decision which was out did not need to be overturned.
CSK are very much on top with the asking rate under six at the moment. Chawla though will hope that he gets some support at the other end too.
Most wickets for Piyush Chawla in an IPL season:
17 in 2023 (MI)
17 in 2008 (PBKS/KXIP)
16 in 2011 (PBKS/KXIP)
16 in 2012 (PBKS/KXIP)
Rahane LBW b Chawla 21 (17)
Oh dear! That was there to be pulled, but just manages to find the top-edge and Ishan Kishan takes a simple catch behind the wickets. Piyush Chawla has struck off the very first ball much to the relief of Mumbai Indians.
After a sublime start, Gaikwad has to walk back to the pavilion. However, CSK will be happy with the start they have got in the powerplay. Can they now finish it on a high?
Most wickets in the IPL:
Dwayne Bravo - 183
Yuzvendra Chahal - 179
Piyush Chawla - 173
Amit Mishra - 172
Ravichandran Ashwin - 170
Gaikwad c Kishan b Chawla 30 (16)
0,6,4,0,4,6. That was some hitting from Gaikwad. Every time Arshad Khan bowled short, it was slapped for a six and a full delivery was driven straight or square of the wicket. The CSK opener is showing off his range of shots, much to the entertainment of everyone at Chepauk. CSK are making this look easy.
Make way for RutuWay! π₯³#CSKvMI #WhistlePodu #Yellove π¦π
β Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 6, 2023
Ruturaj Gaikwad has murdered anything short this season and Arshad Khan has played right into his hands here. He goes short and the CSK batter pulls it out of the park. He follows that up with a delicate hit square on the off side to collect four more. Gaikwad is showing his class here.
A no-ball and then the free-hit gets dispatched for a boundary - an ideal start for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is off the mark with a freebie. MI cannot afford such things given they do not have many runs on the board to play with.
Ragav Goyal makes his IPL debut as the impact sub for MI. Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who have batted so well together in IPL 2023, will hope to get CSK off to a solid start. The target is not a big one, but could seem so if they lose a couple of quick wickets.
Mumbai Indians have huffed and puffed their way to 139. MI got off to the worst possible start, losing their top three for just 14 in the first three overs of the innings. However, Nehal Wadhera's (61) maiden IPL fifty was pivotal in his side reaching a respectable total.
He put on 55 for 46 with Suryakumar Yadav (26) and then 54 off 42 with Tristan Stubbs (20) that gave MI a chance to reach a fighting score.
Stubbs and Wadhera turned things around in the 16th and 17th over bowled by Theekshana and Jadeja respectively from which they got 29. That gave MI some momentum, but Matheesha Pathirana (3 for 15) bowled a superb 18th over to peg MI back.
Despite those two good overs, MI managed just 46 from the last five overs. Will it be enough though?
Pathirana bowled exceedingly well throughout the match, not just keeping the runs down but also picking up wickets when it mattered. He now has 10 wickets at the death this season - the most for any bowler.
Can the MI bowlers make a match of this? Chase in just a bit.
Massive wicket for CSK at this stage as Tushar Deshpande gets the big fish - Tim David. It was in the slot but David is deceived by a slow delivery and is unable to time it as a result. It ends up being a simple catch for Ruturaj Gaikwad at long-off.
...and Gaikwad dops a sitter off the next ball. Not the first time has he dropped a simple on this season.
Can MI get to at least 140 from here?
David c Gaikwad b Deshpande 2 (4)
Got him! Matheesha Pathirana finally gets Nehal Wadhera for a well-made 64. Wadhera moves on the off side to a full delivery looking to get a boundary down to fine-leg, but misses it completely. With that a superb 54-run stand between Wadhera and Tristan Stubbs too comes to an end.
This stand has put MI on course to get to about 150. However, there could be more if Tim David and Stubbs get going.
Wadhera b Pathirana 64 (51)
Nehal Wadhera gets to his maiden IPL fifty off 46 deliveries. It has been hard work for the youngster but he has hung in there to dig MI out from a tricky situation. His side will hope that he finishes off well.
Meanwhile,Theekshana finishes with 0 for 28 from his four overs and makes way for Ambati Rayudu, who is the impact sub for CSK.
"Who's stepping up and leading our charge?"
β Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 6, 2023
Nehal:#OneFamily #CSKvMI #MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/Vk2ujTCooX
MI are keen to get a move on. Tritan Stubbs now joins the party and reverse sweeps Theekshana into the fence. It just about beats MS Dhoni. Is this the over that tilts the momentum in MI's favour?
A much-needed six for MI. Wadhera uses his feet beautifully and dispatches Theekshana over the deep mid-wicket fence. MI need many more of that.
It has not been smooth sailing for MI so far. Since Surya's departure, Wahdera and Tristan Stubbs have failed to even score at run-a-ball. MI are going at a shade over six at the moment and will have to hit the accelerator in the final six overs to put up a competitive total on the board. They still have the powerful Tim David to follow, which is great news for them.
Bowled him! Suryakumar looks to cut, but misses the ball completely and it crashes on to the stumps. This is a huge blow for MI as Surya looked set and was poised to take on the bowlers. CSK have struck just at the right time.
Suryakumar Yadav vs Ravindra Jadeja in IPL:
Innings - 11
Runs - 45
Dismissals - 3
Average - 15
Strike rate - 76.3
Suryakumar b Jadeja 26 (22)
Weather Update: Sky is clear π€οΈ#WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvMI ππ¦
β Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 6, 2023
It has been hard work for Suryakumar and Wadhera but they have put on a fighting 50-run stand for the fourth wicket. MI will be hoping to get about 150-160 from here to give themselves an excellent chance of securing the two points.
The partnership between Nehal Wadhera and Suryakumar Yadav has been a crucial one, especially after MI were reduced to 14 for 3. Both of them have looked confident against spin so far and that will be key for MI to set up a formidable target.
A terrific powerplay for CSK and one to forget for MI. CSK pacers have been n the money, when it comes to their lengths - bowling either short of back-of-length on most occasions, which is ideal for a slow pitch like this. The batters as a result have been forced to generate the power and have failed so far.
A lot will now depend on Wadhera and more importantly on Suryakumar Yadav. MI also have Tristan Stubbs to follow. Can they have a productive middle-overs with spinners coming in? It will be an uphill task for sure.
What's happening at Chepauk? Rohit Sharma looks to go for a scoop, but the edge, hits the helmet and goes to straight to the man at short third-man. The MI skipper is out for a three-ball duck. The MI skipper's poor run in the tournament continues.
MI are in shambles at the moment as Suryakumar Yadav walks in at five. They need a big one from him today.
Most ducks for a batter in the IPL:
Rohit Sharma - 16
Dinesh Karthik - 15
Mandeep Singh - 15
Sunil Narine - 15
Most ducks as a captain in IPL:
Rohit Sharma - 11
Gautam Gambhir - 10
Adam Gilchrist - 7
Shane Warne - 7
Rohit c Jadeja b Chahar 0 (3)
In the blin of an eye, MI have lost both their openers. Like Cam Green, Ishan Kishan too looks to pull it over mid-wicket, but miscues it completely. The catch is safelly pouched by Maheesh Theekshan at mid-on. Early jolts have set MI back in this game, who need their skipper to step up more than ever this season.
Nehal Wadhera walks in at four for MI to keep theleft-right combination going.
Kishan c Theekshana b Chahar 7 (9)
GONE! Tushar Deshpande strikes early for CSK. Cam Green looks to swing the bowler out of the park, but misses it completely and the ball crashes into top of off. Terrific start for CSK, especially after they won the toss and chose to bowl.
Rohit Sharma is in at three.
Green b Deshpande 6 (4)
Top of OFF - Ft. Tushar... π₯β‘οΈ#WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvMI ππ¦
β Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 6, 2023
Nicely flicked by Kishan as he picks up the first boundary of the day. Deepak Chahar just strays in line a bit and Kishan pounces. There is some movement for the pacer early on, as expected, but CSK will hope that it translates into a couple of quick scalps.
Hold the phone! Rohit Sharma is not opening the batitng today for MI. He has sent Cameron Green ahead of him with Ishan Kishan. Interesting move this.
In the IPL, the last time Rohit Sharma batted as a non-opener was in 2018 against DC in Delhi.
Cam π€π€ Ishan
β Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 6, 2023
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni has won the toss and has chosen to bowl first. CSK go in with the same "squad" for this game, confirms Dhoni.
CSK XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana
Impact Subs: Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Akash Singh
Tilak Varma is out ill and Tristan Stubbs comes into the XI, as a result. There also could be an IPL debut for Raghav Goyal, who is among the substitutes today.
MI XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Jofra Archer, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Arshad Khan
Impact Subs: Kartikeya Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Dewald Brevis, Raghav Goyal, Vishnu Vinod
#CSKvMI Toss update - ΰ€ΰ€ͺΰ€²ΰ₯ batting! π#OneFamily #MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/P5Wf4cNVT3
β Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 6, 2023
The last time Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians faced each other, things were vastly different. Those were still early days in the tournament, which have always been Mumbaiβs Achilles heel. Chennai won quite comfortably, winning their second game in a row. Mumbai lost their second successive game, pushing themselves into a hole early in the tournament.
The mood in both camps have changed. Itβs the second half of the tournament. Mumbai are of course doing better. They have won two in a row. Both were fabulous wins where they razed down 200+ totals in a breeze.
Chennai, on the other hand, have slipped. They havenβt won a game in their last three fixtures. On the opposite end of the spectrum to Mumbai, Chennai have conceded 200+ totals in consecutive games and lost both. Their previous game was a washout. But a grimace on Dhoniβs face, when Deepak Chahar conceded a boundary in the 19th over, told you that the opposition is ahead of the par score.
So, what's is in the store for today? I, Pramod Anath, will take you through everything that happens in the game and then some more. Stay tuned to our live coverage.
Read Shubh Aggarwal's tactical preview here
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