IPL: Knight Riders checkmate Super Kings in IPL opener
IPL 2022 kicked off in Mumbai and in the opening encounter last year’s runners up Kolkata Knight Riders beat defending champions Chennai Super Kings by putting on a clinical performance.
Game 1
Kolkata Knight Riders 133 for 4 (Rahane 44, Bravo 3/20) beat Chennai Super Kings 131 for 5 (Dhoni 50*, Yadav 2/20, Narine 0/15)
Cricket is called a game of uncertainties and the IPL opener proved this to be true in so many different ways.
Who would have thought that one-day M S Dhoni will no longer captain CSK but play under the captaincy of Sir Ravindra Jadeja? Although the news became official a couple of days back it will take a long time getting used to.
Who would have thought that at the end of game one Dhoni would be the leading run scorer of the tournament and the proud owner of the orange cap?
Who would have thought that in a T20 game Jadeja would come in to bat with 12 overs to go, face only 28 of the 72 available deliveries and score only 27 runs with a solitary six of the last ball of the innings?
Who would have thought that in KKR’s run chase Ajinkya Rahane (with everything that he has been through since India’s tour of South Africa) would be the top scorer with 44 at a strike rate of 130?
Who would have thought that at the end of game one Dwayne Bravo at the age of 38 would be the leading wicket taker of the tournament and the proud owner of the purple cap?
Who would have thought that Umesh Yadav who last played a white ball game for India in way back in 2019 would be the man of the match in the opening game of IPL 2022?
This IPL is a bit different. Although it is being played in India all the games are being played in just 2 cities (Mumbai & Pune) but at four different venues. The 3 Mumbai venues (Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium and D Y Patil Stadium) are likely to have similar red soil pitches with good pace and bounce that both batters and bowlers enjoy playing on. The MCA stadium in Pune is a black soil pitch which is likely to have less pace and bounce and provide more turn for the spinners. Due is expected to affect all the night games which is why it wasn’t a surprise that the new KKR captain Shreyas Iyer decided to field first after winning the coin toss.
Umesh Yadav who currently only gets picked to play test cricket for India bowled test match lengths at good pace. His accuracy meant the CSK openers had to manufacture scoring options and both Ruturaj Gaikwad & Devon Conway fell trying to up the ante. There was a brief resurrection by veterans Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu but once they fell in quick succession and Shivam Dube too was dismissed cheaply CSK were in real trouble at 61 for 5 at the end of the 11th over.
In walked MSD, probably the best man to walk into a pressure situation ever. Dhoni left a few, blocked a few, ran hard between wickets and then towards the end of the innings opened his shoulders to take CSK to a respectable but well below par 131 in their 20 overs. Dhoni’s innings of 50 not out came off 38 balls and was studded with seven boundaries and a six. If this is Dhoni’s last IPL all his fans including me are praying for a final brightening of the flame before it dies.
Ajinkya Rahane who is one of the many cricketers with a point to prove in this IPL came out for KKR’s run chase like a man on a mission. Playing on his home ground he was in sublime touch and the aggressive start he provided at the top of the order meant that KKR were never under any pressure in reaching the target. New captain and KKR debutant Shreyas Iyer, who wasn’t considered to be a better captain than Rishabh Pant by his previous franchise Delhi Capitals hit the winning runs and picked up the points for the win.
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Rahul Patil is Indian Weekender's cricket contributor.
IPL 2022 kicked off in Mumbai and in the opening encounter last year’s runners up Kolkata Knight Riders beat defending champions Chennai Super Kings by putting on a clinical performance.
Game 1
Kolkata Knight Riders 133 for 4 (Rahane 44, Bravo 3/20) beat Chennai Super Kings 131 for 5 (Dhoni 50*,...
IPL 2022 kicked off in Mumbai and in the opening encounter last year’s runners up Kolkata Knight Riders beat defending champions Chennai Super Kings by putting on a clinical performance.
Game 1
Kolkata Knight Riders 133 for 4 (Rahane 44, Bravo 3/20) beat Chennai Super Kings 131 for 5 (Dhoni 50*, Yadav 2/20, Narine 0/15)
Cricket is called a game of uncertainties and the IPL opener proved this to be true in so many different ways.
Who would have thought that one-day M S Dhoni will no longer captain CSK but play under the captaincy of Sir Ravindra Jadeja? Although the news became official a couple of days back it will take a long time getting used to.
Who would have thought that at the end of game one Dhoni would be the leading run scorer of the tournament and the proud owner of the orange cap?
Who would have thought that in a T20 game Jadeja would come in to bat with 12 overs to go, face only 28 of the 72 available deliveries and score only 27 runs with a solitary six of the last ball of the innings?
Who would have thought that in KKR’s run chase Ajinkya Rahane (with everything that he has been through since India’s tour of South Africa) would be the top scorer with 44 at a strike rate of 130?
Who would have thought that at the end of game one Dwayne Bravo at the age of 38 would be the leading wicket taker of the tournament and the proud owner of the purple cap?
Who would have thought that Umesh Yadav who last played a white ball game for India in way back in 2019 would be the man of the match in the opening game of IPL 2022?
This IPL is a bit different. Although it is being played in India all the games are being played in just 2 cities (Mumbai & Pune) but at four different venues. The 3 Mumbai venues (Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium and D Y Patil Stadium) are likely to have similar red soil pitches with good pace and bounce that both batters and bowlers enjoy playing on. The MCA stadium in Pune is a black soil pitch which is likely to have less pace and bounce and provide more turn for the spinners. Due is expected to affect all the night games which is why it wasn’t a surprise that the new KKR captain Shreyas Iyer decided to field first after winning the coin toss.
Umesh Yadav who currently only gets picked to play test cricket for India bowled test match lengths at good pace. His accuracy meant the CSK openers had to manufacture scoring options and both Ruturaj Gaikwad & Devon Conway fell trying to up the ante. There was a brief resurrection by veterans Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu but once they fell in quick succession and Shivam Dube too was dismissed cheaply CSK were in real trouble at 61 for 5 at the end of the 11th over.
In walked MSD, probably the best man to walk into a pressure situation ever. Dhoni left a few, blocked a few, ran hard between wickets and then towards the end of the innings opened his shoulders to take CSK to a respectable but well below par 131 in their 20 overs. Dhoni’s innings of 50 not out came off 38 balls and was studded with seven boundaries and a six. If this is Dhoni’s last IPL all his fans including me are praying for a final brightening of the flame before it dies.
Ajinkya Rahane who is one of the many cricketers with a point to prove in this IPL came out for KKR’s run chase like a man on a mission. Playing on his home ground he was in sublime touch and the aggressive start he provided at the top of the order meant that KKR were never under any pressure in reaching the target. New captain and KKR debutant Shreyas Iyer, who wasn’t considered to be a better captain than Rishabh Pant by his previous franchise Delhi Capitals hit the winning runs and picked up the points for the win.
--
Rahul Patil is Indian Weekender's cricket contributor.
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