The opener of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw Chennai Super Kings (CSK) thumping defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), thanks to the blazing knock played by middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu and Faff du Plessis and some late flourish by England’s Sam Curran.
Mumbai Indians couldn’t contribute much to their overall scoreline as there batsmen kept tumbling to some disciplined bowling by CSK bowlers. They scored 162 in 20 overs.
Chennai Super Kings lost early wickets but Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis steadied the ship in the middle taking the team as close to the target as possible. However, Rayudu, who looked well set on the crease, lost his wicket following which Ravindra Jadeja arrived on the crease. Jadeja, too, couldnot contribute much and it looked like either Kedar Jadhav or Dhoni himself will take the responsibility.
We targeted 18th over: Curran
The target was still 30 odd runs away and 2 over remained in the innings. But, Dhoni surprised everyone by sending young Sam Curran to take the responsibility. And Sam reciprocated to his skipper’s demands and hit two maximum to take the team into a comfortable position.
At the post match presentation, he said, “I was very surprised that I went in. He (Dhoni) is a genius and thought something (about sending me before himself). We targeted that over (18th) and sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t,’ Curran said at the post-match presentation ceremony.”
On being asked about the current IPL edition in the age of Covid, the England all-rounder said, “Very different. I have been used to the bubble with the England team. But you are used to seeing big crowds in IPL, so it was different. I haven’t met a lot of the guys, came in a day before, and was straight on the bus today. That was a good thing.“
Curran was adjuged Man of the Match for his all-round performance. He took a wicket, leaking only 28 run in four overs.
CSK will face Rajasthan next on September 22.
Also Read: IPL 2020: Experience of 300 ODIs pays off, says CSK skipper MS Dhoni
