Picture : Twitter / IPL
In the first match of the 14th season of the Tata IPL 2022 at the majestic Wankhede Stadium Mumbai , defending Champions Chennai Super Kings lost tot he team they beat last year to win the title – Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets .
Both the teams had new skippers taking charge – Shreyas Iyer replacing England’s 2019 ICC World Cup winning skipper Eoin Morgan and Ravindra Jadeja steeping into the big shoes of iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni as skipper of the Chennai Super Kings.
Put into bat by KKR, CSK got off to a horror start as they lost Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway early for 0 and 3 respectively. Robin Uthappa ( 28 ) tried to steady the innings but fell soon. Ambati Rayudu was unfortunately run-out in a mix- up with new skipper Ravindra Jadeja for 15. Skipper Ravindra Jadeja looed a bit nervous in his new role and scored an unbeaten 26 including a final ball six . But he took 28 balls to score these runs. Slow from his standard. The CSK reached a modest total , which one thought would not but thanks to the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who rolled back the years and scored an unbeaten 50 ( 7 fours , and a 6) off 38 balls. The crowds gave MSD a standing ovation when he strode down to the centre to bat . And he did not disappoint with his Knock. MSD innings helped CSK give their bowlers something to bowl at . CSK managing 131/5 in their 20 overs .
For KKR Umesh Yadav bowled with some pace and bagged wickets to jolt CSK early . Yavdav had figures of 2/20 ( 4 overs) , Shivam Mavi 0/35 ( 4 overs) , Varun Chakaravarthy 1/ 23 ( 4 overs) , Sunil Narine 0/15 ( 4 overs) was economical , Andre Russell 1/ 38 ( 4 overs)
Chasing a modest total , KKR began confidently with openers Venkatesh Iyer and new signing this year Ajinkya Rahane. The duo put on 43 for the first wicket. Iyer fell for 16. Rahane dropped from the national Test, ODI and T20 squads had something to prove after playing few matches last year with Delhi Capitals. Seizing the opportunity to open , Rahane cashed in with a fine innings of 44 and he was out to soft dismissal . A fifty would have done Rahene a world of good. Good beginning though nevertheless . NItish Rana scored a s a quick 21 . Skipper Shreyas Iyer remained not out on 20. Englishman Sam Billings hit a quick- fire 25 , Sheldon Jackson was inbeaten on 3 as KKR reached 133/ 4 in 18. 3 overs to win by six wickets . Though KKR lost four wickets they were never really in trouble given the below par CSK target.
For CSK , Dwayne Bravo showed his experience yet again and was among the wickets 3/20 ( 4 overs) was his spell. Mitchell Santner 1/31 ( 4 overs) Adam Milne 0/19 ( 2.3 overs) , Ravindra Jadeja 0/25 ( 4 overs) , Tushar Deshpande 0/ 23 ( 4 overs) , Shivam Dube 0/11 ( 1 over)
