Newly appointed Chennai Super Kings’ captain Ruturaj Gaikwad started with a strong victory as RCB succumbed to a six-wicket loss, with Rachin Ravindra, Dube, and Jadeja showcasing dominance.
In the first match of the IPL 2024 between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai kicked off their title defense with a strong victory, extending their impressive home record against Bengaluru to eight consecutive wins in the Indian T20 League. Ruturaj Gaikwad partnered with debutant Rachin Ravindra for the pursuit of 174 runs. While Gaikwad’s innings were brief, Ravindra showcased his boundary-hitting abilities early on.
However, Ravindra couldn’t sustain his momentum, placing pressure on Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell to steer the innings. Both Rahane and Mitchell faltered after promising starts. Shivam Dube’s impactful innings strengthened Chennai’s momentum, while Ravindra Jadeja’s steady contribution kept the scoreboard ticking. The duo’s unbeaten 66-run partnership ensured Chennai’s victory with eight balls to spare.
Despite a shaky start, RCB managed to post a competitive total of 173/6. While Mohammed Siraj struggled with his accuracy, Yash Dayal’s early breakthrough of Gaikwad showed promise. However, Rachin Ravindra’s aggressive batting kept Chennai in control. Bengaluru attempted a comeback with wickets from Cameron Green and Karn Sharma but failed to contain Dube and Jadeja’s partnership.
Earlier, Faf du Plessis’ decision to bat first paid off initially with a quick start but a mini-collapse followed after his departure. Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik’s resilient partnership salvaged Bengaluru’s innings, lifting them to 173 runs. Mustafizur Rahman’s crucial wickets during the middle overs helped Chennai regain momentum after Bengaluru’s brisk start.
Last Updated on March 22, 2024
Senior Sports Copywriter
