Live Report - IPL 2023 - Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai

Mumbai Indians got off to a great start, taking 61 for 1 in the powerplay, during which CSK lost Deepak Chahar to injury. However, that is where all the greatness for the night ended for MI. The ball was gripping, and both the left-arm spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner, tied down MI. Between them they took five wickets at a run a ball over eight overs. MI never could come back, and set CSK 158.

Ajinkya Rahane then registered the fastest fifty of this IPL, getting there in 19 balls, to set up a straightforward chase, which Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored. They got there with 11 balls to spare to make it two wins out of three, including one crucial away win.

MI, who baffled many an observer with their work at the auction table, look like staring down another long season with two losses in two already. Thanks for joining us. We will be back tomorrow.

They get there with 11 balls to spare in the end. It possibly had to do with not wanting to take risks against spin. The moment MI turned to their quicks, both Rayudu and Gaikwad found urgency in their approach. It is in keeping with the whole match: pace bowlers have gone for 174 runs off 121 balls for four wickets, spinners have conceded 124 off 108 for seven wickets.

The last five overs have brought CSK 32 for 1. Ambati Rayudu is 5 off 10. Neither of the batters is taking risks. They need 18 off 18 still after that smashing start.

Upon the fall of the wicket of Dube, Ambati Rayudu is introduced as the Impact Player, subbing out Deepak Chahar. They need just 33 off 34.

After slowing down for a while following Rahane's dismissal, Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad looked more urgent in the 14th over.

This is called playing one's role to perfection. Ajinkya Rahane blazed away through the powerplay, making use of the field restrictions. However, once the powerplay ended, Rahane didn't drop anchor. His role is to maximise the powerplay, and then keep going harder or get out trying to do so. He hits Piyush Chawla for a four but then holes out to long-off. Out for 61 off 27. CSK 82 for 2 in eight overs.

Interesting that he is fit and starts behind Piyush Chawla. Kumar Kartikeya, whom Mumbai Indians backed all of last year, gets the first taste of IPL this year as the Impact Player. He is bowling over the wicket to the two right-hand batters but predominantly fingerspin.

The fastest fifty of this IPL so far. The second-fastest fifty for CSK in the IPL ever. From the bat of Ajinkya Rahane. If you tell me you thought this thought in the wildest of your dreams, I won't believe you. Rahane 53 off 20 at the end of the powerplay. CSK 68 for 1.

That's Ajinkya Rahane against Arshad Khan in the fourth over. IPL and forgotten greatest hits. Never fails. Rahane is 36 off 14. CSK 44 for 1 in four overs.

This is CSK's death overs analysis from Shiva Jayaraman.

MS Dhoni wasn’t too happy with his bowlers giving away too many extras after the last game, but it seems like a conscious strategy from the Chennai Super Kings bowlers to bowl wide of the batters as a defensive ploy, especially in the last four overs. Super Kings have bowled 10 wides so far this season at death, which is the most by any team at this stage of the season (12 matches into the season). The previous highest was also by them which was in the last season, when they have bowled nine wides in 60 legal deliveries they had bowled at the same stage.

Overall, it’s seems to have developed as a conscious strategy at death in the IPL. Last year, there were 201 wides bowled at death - easily the most in a season, both in terms of total numbers and frequency. A wide was bowled every 14.4 balls on an average in 2022, and so far one every 15.6 deliveries this season. These two years are the top in terms of frequency of wides bowled at death in the IPL.

A typical dismissal for Devon Conway. Looking to run Jason Behrendorff down but managing only an inside edge onto the wicket. Just the start MI needed. CSK 0 for 1.

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