Image credit: Insidesports
The southern derby failed to live up to its usual hype as the Chennai Super Kings, beat their rivals in what was a one-sided contest.
Back to back wins for @ChennaiIPL! π π
A convincing victory for #CSK as they beat #RCB by 6β£ wickets. π π #VIVOIPL #RCBvCSK
Scorecard π https://t.co/2ivCYOWCBI pic.twitter.com/qKo58oFAJb
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2021
The toss was won by M.S Dhoni, against his former deputy and teammate Kohli. Against the grain, Dhoni asked Virat and his men to bat first. It was a surprising decision, as according to the stats of last year, the teams batting first on fresh UAE pitches have aced in almost every match. Dhoni however brought into this game his calculations and against all odds, they paid off.
Royal Challengers started well, with Kohli and Padikkal scoring half-centuries. Together they posted a mammoth first wicket partnership of 111 to which Kohli contributed with 53 runs. The wicket of the skipper turned out to be the turning point of the innings in the fourteenth over. After Kohliβs departure, Padikkal tried to anchor the innings with de Villiers who was promoted up to the number 3 position. However, it was de Villiersβs departure followed by Β Padikkal at the score of 70, that allowed CSK to firmer their grip. And the whole of RCBβs team could only manage to score 47 runs in the remaining overs. Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur were the picks of the bowlers for CSK as they picked 3 and 2 wickets respectively. Courtesy to the fabulous and economic 19th over by Deepak Chahar, CSK restricted RCBβs innings to 156.
The second inning was rather tamed, as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis provided a steady start to the CSK innings. Together they added 71 runs for the first wicket, to which Gaikwad contributed 38 and du Plessis 31. But then RCB strike back in the 8th over as Chahal picked up the wicket of set Gaikwad, with Kohli taking a magnificent diving catch. In the very next over they also got rid of du Plessis, and for the first time in the second inning, it felt as if maybe RCB could make a comeback.
It was not to be though, as Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu steadied the ship and made sure that there were no slipups towards the end of the innings. Then the two veterans of the CSK side, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina just provided the finishing touches.
With this win, CSK has regained its top spot and is not far away from registering its spot for the playoffs.
After Match 35 of the #VIVOIPL, @ChennaiIPL are back on the top of the Points Table whereas #RCB are third! #RCBvCSK pic.twitter.com/QwMaB3EWDG
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2021
