IPL 2021: Ruturaj Gaikwad powers CSK to 156 after early batting collapse

The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) resumed on Sunday with a titanic clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Fans had predicted it to be a tight encounter but the first innings has certainly suggested a different story. The Super Kings found themselves in a disastrous position as they had lost four wickets for just 24 runs. It was ultimately the brilliance of opener Rituraj Gaikwad who was well supported by Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo, which helped CSK end the first innings with 156 runs on the board. With a track that seems more favourable to the bowlers, the score might just be enough for them to derail MI from their title defence.

Gaikwad was the best batter in the Chennai ranks on the day by a mile. He scored an incredible 88 runs off 58 deliveries, and he remained in the middle until the end. Apart from him, only two other batters could get into double figures. Jadeja scored 26 runs but it was a slow innings as it took him 33 deliveries. Bravo was the firepower CSK needed at the end. He played a cameo of 23 runs off just eight deliveries towards the end of the innings.

MI PACERS ON FIRE

From the MI perspective, Kieron Pollard must be an immensely happy man. The pacers for the defending champions absolutely stole the show on the day. They took six wickets in total, evenly divided among them. Jasprit Bumrah, Adam Milne, and Trent Boult rocked the very foundation of CSK’s batting order and if not for Gaikwad, MS Dhoni’s men would have struggled to get past 120.

Bumrah picked two wickets for 33 runs, Boult bagged two for 35, and Milne, who was possibly the best of the lot, picked two for just 21 runs in his four overs. He was the one who dried up the CSK runs while taking wickets. It was an incredible performance by the Kiwi.

Mumbai will now have the task of scoring 157 runs in 120 deliveries. If CSK hit the ground running with early wickets, MI will find themselves in a bit of a soup. The key will be to not lose early wickets and keep a steady pace before accelerating to the finish line. It does make for an interesting second innings.