Highlights, IPL 2019: Harbhajan, Tahir star as Chennai outclass Bangalore at Chepauk in opener

IPL 2019, CSK vs RCB, Match 1: The win eventually came for Chennai, even if it took longer than expected. Might not be the best Indian T20 League opener in the competition's history, but the defending champs wouldn't be complaining. They got maximum points and start the new campaign with a victory. They first got the job done with the ball, with the spin trio of Harbhajan, Tahir and Jadeja steamrolling the Bangalore batting line-up, bowling them out for just 70. And then, the hosts cruised along across the finish line without any trouble. There was never any scoreboard pressure, all too easy for them. (When and Where to watch IPL Match 1, CSK vs RCB) (Live Match Scorecard)

Highlights, IPL 2019, vs RCB, Match 1: CSK win by 7 wickets against RCB

23.03 IST:  And there it is... CHENNAI WIN BY 7 WICKETS! Rather comfortably in the end. Jadeja gets on top of this one and helps it through the vacant square leg area for a single.

* Shivam Dubey on to bowl now.

22.59 IST: Mohammed Siraj to Ravindra Jadeja, Some confusion but all's well in the end. A fuller length ball on the leg stump, pushed back towards the bowler. Siraj fails to stop the ball completely and Jadeja looks for a single but Jadhav was ball watching there. Jaddu runs back in time.

* Strategic break - The Chennai batsmen are in no hurry and doing this comfortably. Just another 3 runs required for them to get on the points table. Has been a dismal night for Bangalore and continues to be so.

22.50 IST: Umesh Yadav to Ravindra Jadeja, Jadeja runs down the track and looks to hit it over cover. The ball goes off the outside edge and in the air, but no fielder there means the ball will run safely down to third man. A run is taken.

22.47 IST: Mohammed Siraj to Ravindra Jadeja, Inside edge! But safe. A length ball on top of off stump, Jadeja looks to defend it but gets an inside edge on the ball as it runs fine on the leg side. A run is taken.

* Ravindra Jadeja is the new man in.

22.45 IST: Mohammed Siraj to Ambati Rayudu, OUT! What has happened there? The stumps are in disarray! Rayudu was coming down the track and Siraj spots it early. He bowls it short and aims it at the body of the batsman. Rayudu is cramped for room and looks to pull it away still but the ball goes off the inside edge and onto the stumps. Too late in the game for Bangalore though. CSK 59/3 in 14.2 Overs

22.42 IST: Navdeep Saini to Ambati Rayudu, Another pull through the same region. Another couple results.

22.41 IST: Navdeep Saini to Ambati Rayudu, Short of a length, Rayudu pulls it away for a couple of runs through mid-wicket.

22.36 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Ambati Rayudu, Wrong 'un this time. Pitched on middle, Rayudu plays it late and blocks it.

* Yuzvendra Chahal is back for his final over.

22.32 IST: Navdeep Saini to Ambati Rayudu, FOUR! Lovely shot that. Short of a good length delivery on off, Rayudu plays a cover drive with precision. It goes through the gap between covers and extra cover.

* Navdeep Saini back on.

22.30 IST:  Umesh Yadav to Kedar Jadhav, FOUR! Crisp! A back of a length delivery on off, Jadhav pulls it upshily and a one bounce four at the vacant mid-wicket region. The bat made a crisp sound on that. Perfect timing by Kedar on this.

22.28 IST: Umesh Yadav to Ambati Rayudu, Extra bounce on this one. Back of a length delivery on off, Rayudu looks top block it but it goes off the outer half of the bat towards third man for a single.

22.25 IST: Moeen Ali to Kedar Jadhav, Full on leg, Jadhav taps it to mid-wicket and jogs for a single without looking at his partner. Rayudu at other end shouts a loud "NO" and sends Jadhav back.

* Kedar Jadhav walks out at number 4.

22.22 IST: Moeen Ali to Suresh Raina, OUT!  Moeen has the last laugh. Tossed up delivery on middle, Raina charges down the track and looks to clear the fielder at long on. He does not time it well and it goes straight to Shivam Dubey there. CSK 40/2 in 9.2 Overs

* Strategic Break - Chennai cruising along here. The target is a very small one and there is no scoring pressure. They lost Shane Watson early but Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina have steadied the ship.

22.17 Umesh Yadav to Raina, Umesh Yadav to Suresh Raina, Back of a length delivery, Raina flicks it to fine leg and takes a single. A cheer from crowd as this single brings 5000-run in Indian T-20 league for Raina. (Read Full Story)

Suresh Raina

* Umesh Yadav introduced into the attack.

22.10 IST: Moeen Ali to Suresh Raina, FOUR! Two in two. This time Raina stays in his crease. Tossed up on off, Raina gets on one knee and sweeps it between mid-wicket and long on for another boundary.

22.09 IST: Moeen Ali to Suresh Raina, FOUR! Raina takes the charge here. Flighted delivery on middle and off, Raina comes down the track and lofts it over mid on. The ball crosses the rope after a bounce.

22.07 IST: Navdeep Saini to Ambati Rayudu, FOUR! FREE HIT! Yes he can. Full length delivery on middle, Rayudu gets his front foot out of the line and whacks it over the bowler's head. He does not time it well but it is struck well enough to cross the rope after a couple of bounce.

22.06 IST: Navdeep Saini to Suresh Raina, No ball. You cannot afford to give any extra runs when you're defending 71 but Saini has overstepped his line there. He bowls this on middle , Raina pulls it to fine leg for a single. Rayudu will get the Free Hit ball. Can he make the most of it?

* Navdeep Saini is back into the attack.

21.57 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Ambati Rayudu, Shorter on the hips, Rayudu misses his flick. The ball goes off the thigh pad towards the leg side. The batsmen look for a single initially but then decide against it in the end. CSK 11/1 in 4.2 Overs

21.56 IST: Moeen Ali to Ambati Rayudu, Shorter outside off, Ambati guides it down to short third man. Another dot.

* Moeen Ali is into the attack.

21.51 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Suresh Raina, Huge appeal from the bowler and keeper but turned down by the umpire. Flighted outside off, Raina looks to defend it but gets hit on the pad. It looked to be stuck outside the line and the replays later confirm that the impact was outside off.

* Suresh Raina walks in at number 3.

21.50 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Shane Watson, OUT! Bowled! Chahal gets the breakthrough. Flighted delivery on middle and off. Watson looks to sweep it but misses and the ball goes onto crash the off stump. CSK 8/1 in 2.1 Overs

21.48 IST: Navdeep Saini to Ambati Rayudu, SIX! Rayudu is not gonna wait for long. Back of a length delivery, Ambati comes down the track and flat bats over long on for a maximum.

21.46 IST: Navdeep Saini to Shane Watson, 7th consecutive dot for Watson and this is a painful one. Bouncer from Saini. Watson looks to pull it but misses and the ball hits him on his helmet. The ball lobs back to Saini who catches it and goes up in appeal. Turned down by the umpire.  

21.44 IST: Navdeep Saini to Ambati Rayudu, First run of the chase. Good length delivery outside off, Rayudu cuts it to backward point. Siraj collects it by running in from third man. Single taken.

* Navdeep Saini to bowl from the other end.

21.42 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Shane Watson, Short and wide outside off, cut straight to the point fielder. A maiden over from Yuzvendra Chahal. Terrific start from the leggie.

21.41 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Shane Watson, Some extra bounce on this occasion for Chahal. Lands it on leg, it turns away with some bounce. Goes off the shoulder of Watson's bat and flies past first slip.

* We are back for the chase. Out walk the opening pair of Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu for Chennai. Bangalore need early wickets so Yuzvendra Chahal to starts the proceedings. Only 71 needed. Should be a walk in the park for Chennai but can Bangalore spring the biggest surprise of the tournament?

* Imran Tahir is caught on the sidelines for a little chat. He says that he is very happy about his performance but feels that Harbhajan and Jadeja set the tone and made it easier for him. He mentions that he did not get too much rest but does not mind because he is playing in one of the best leagues and is happy to play when he is asked. States that it is fun for him to play in front of this crowd and for his team. Signs off by saying that he believes that the batsmen will knock off these runs easily and win the game.

* This contest is more or less over, unless the Bangalore bowlers can come up with something that's totally out of this world. Would need something herculean, and even that might not be enough, as they only have a mere 70 runs to defend. Let's see how it goes. The second half will begin shortly.

* The Chennai spin attack worked its magic on this slow and turning surface. Harbhajan Singh did the early damage as he got Kohli, Moeen Ali and AB de Villiers, eating into the middle order. Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja picked up after him and bundled out the rest. The three spinners shared 8 wickets between them, which is a commendable performance.

* If there ever was an impact statement made, the defending champions have done that just now. Wrapped up Bangalore for their joint-second lowest total in the Indian T20 League and the lowest against them in this competition. From the beginning itself, Chennai were always on top. Got rid of Virat Kohli early in the Powerplay and there was no looking back for them from that point on. Pathiv Patel top scored with 29, while the rest didn't even get into double figures.

21.20 IST: Dwayne Bravo to Parthiv Patel, OUT! That's the end of this innings. Bravo bowls a slower delivery which is short in length. Parthiv looks to pull it over square leg but finds Kedar Jadhav at short square leg to perfection. He makes no mistake and takes the catch. Dwayne gets into the wickets column as well.

21.18 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Umesh Yadav, OUT Bowled! The 9th wicket is down and the end looks to be very near for Bangalore. Flatter delivery pitching on middle, it spins away after pitching. Yadav looks to defend but gets beaten and the ball goes on to crash the middle and off stump. Second wicket for Jadeja of this match.

21.13 IST: Imran Tahir to Umesh Yadav, Flighted outside off, Umesh looks to go over covers but misses. The ball goes behind to Dhoni, who takes the bails off in flash. Luckily though Umesh had his leg behind the crease.

21.10 IST:  Ravindra Jadeja to Parthiv Patel, Safe! Yes height is the issue here. Off-spinner pitching on off, Parthiv looks to play it across the line but misses. The ball hits him on his front pad and Jadeja goes up in appeal. Dhoni surprises the umpire and refers it. Replays roll in and show that it was going over the stumps. Chennai lose their review.

* Review time! This one's against Parthiv. Looked pretty adjacent to the naked eye and Dhoni went up almost immediately. Height could be a factor... will it? Let's see what the replays have to say.

21.08 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Parthiv Patel, FOUR. Much needed boundary this for Bangalore. Shorter off spinner outside off. Parthiv waits for it and guides it fine of third man for a boundary. Parthiv needs to stay longer if Bangalore need to get to a competitive total here.

21.06 IST:  Imran Tahir to Yuzvendra Chahal, OUT! Imran Tahir to Yuzvendra Chahal, OUT! Caught! Another one bites the dust. And Tahir takes off.... A flighted delivery outside off, Chahal drags it from outside off by playing a sweep. The ball goes flat in the air, and an easy catch for Harbhajan Singh standing at mid-wicket. 

* Strategic break. Second of the innings and the situation is more or less the same as it was around the time of the first one. Seems only a matter of time now before Bangalore are bundled up. They need something special from Parthiv Patel. He's their last hope.

21.01 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Parthiv Patel, That has turned from Chennai to Bangalore. Short off spinner pitching on off. It goes away on the leg side and flicks Parthiv's thigh on his sway to the keeper.

20.56 IST: Imran Tahir to Navdeep Saini, OUT It is caught and not LBW! There was an inside edge suggests the Snickometer. Saini has to go. 7 dow, 52 on the board! A googly landing outside off and turning inward. RCB 53/7 in 11.1 Overs

* Review Time

* Navdeep Saini walks in next.

20.50 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Colin de Grandhomme, OUT! The edge is found this time! Number 6 down with just 50 on the board. A flighted ball outside off and Colin de Grandhomme comes ahead to defend. The ball turns away and just takes a faint edge. Dhoni is not going to drop those. Bangalore crumbling hard and fast here. Looks like it might be difficult for them to get to three figures.

20.48 IST: Imran Tahir to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! De Grandhomme won't wait for long especially if it is in his zone. It is on his pads and Colin effortlessly flicks it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

* CSK fans are on fire at Cheapauk.

 

* Colin de Grandhomme walks in at number 7.

20.45 IST: Imran Tahir to Shivam Dubey, OUT! It just takes Imran Tahir two balls to get his man. Shorter leg spinner from Tahir. It spins away slightly after pitching. Dubey looks to cut it but gets a thick outside edge. It goes to Shane Watson at first slip who takes a regulation catch. The crisis deepens for Bangalore.

* Strategic break. Strategic break. The hosts well and truly on top. They've dismissed two of Bangalore's best batsmen, in Kohli and de Villiers, and have four wickets in total, out of which Harbhajan has three. A big job lies ahead of the Bangalore middle order. They bought players in this auction to shore up that area, time for them to show what they can do.

20.41 IST: Suresh Raina to Parthiv Patel, Full toss on middle, Parthiv works it away through the vacant mid-wicket region for a couple of runs.

* Shivam Dube will walk in to bat next. Meanwhile, Suresh Raina is on to bowl.

20.37 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Shimron Hetmyer, OUT! A nightmare debut for Shimron Hetmyer in the Indian T20 League. Worst possible way for him to get out. He just taps this down in front of covers and sets off, when there is no run to be had. Raina gets to the ball in a jiffy and just throws it to Dhoni, who has all the time in the world to take the bails off. The man from the Caribbean has to make the long walk back. RCB 38/4 in 8 Overs vs CSK

 

20.34 IST: Harbhajan Singh to AB de Villiers, OUT! Doesn't survive this time! Imran Tahir will be relieved more than anyone. This is a terrific catch from Ravindra Jadeja. Short ball spinning in on the stumps, de Villiers rocks on the back foot and pulls it. Doesn't get the desired elevation on it and the ball is travelling towards deep mid-wicket. Jadeja runs in to his right and takes an excellent diving catch. Fantastic captaincy from MS Dhoni to continue with Harbhajan.

20.30 IST: Deepak Chahar to Parthiv Patel, Length ball on the hips of the left-hander, Parthiv swivels and looks to pull it away for a boundary but does not get a fair connection. The ball goes in the air towards deep backward square leg who decides to stay back and stop the ball instead of going for the catch. A single is taken. RCB 35/2 in 6.2 Overs

20.27 IST: Harbhajan Singh to AB de Villiers, Harbhajan is getting good assistance off the pitch here. Flighted top spinner on off, AB looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge which runs down to third man region. The fielder from short third man runs and gathers it. Two runs taken.

* AB de Villiers is the new man in.

20.23 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Moeen Ali, OUT! Harbhajan strikes once more! Another one with some loop on the off stump line and spinning away. Moeen goes on the back foot and looks to drive back down the ground. The ball stops in the pitch and Mo is early through the shot. It goes in the air towards the bowler who steps back and takes the easy lobbed ball. The stadium is rocking right now.

20.17 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Moeen Ali, SIX! Fine way to end the over, but Chennai will be more pleased having got skipper Kohli. Harbhajan tosses it up on the stumps, Moeen Ali gets low and brings out the big slog sweep. Makes sweet connection and clears mid-wicket with absolute ease.

* Moeen Ali walks in at no.3.

20.16 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Virat Kohli, OUT! That's a massive, massive wicket. Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper and one of the best in the business, has been dismissed early in this game. Chennai realize the value of this one. It's short and turning in from around off, Kohli goes back and plays across the line. Heaves it over mid-wicket but straight down the throat of Ravindra Jadeja, who makes no mistake coming in from the deep. RCB 16/1 in 3.3 Overs vs CSK

20.13 IST: Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, NO BALL! And it's going to be a Free Hit.  The dew already coming into play it seems. The ball slips out of Chahar's hand and goes above Kohli's head. Let's see what will happen now...

20.12 IST: Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Dangerous taking Jadeja on. Kohli taps this down wide of backward point and takes off for the run. Jadeja, however, is lightning quick to the ball as he moves to his left and fires a throw at the striker's end. He misses, and Virat would have been in anyway.

20.10 IST: Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Good length delivery on middle and leg, it's flicked through square leg. The fielder in the deep mops it up and the batsmen take two. RCB 14/0 in 2.1 Overs vs CSK

20.08 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Parthiv Patel, Short and outside off, Parthiv rocks back and cuts this behind point on the off side. Shardul Thakur there dives to his right and looks to stop the ball but misfields. The ball slows down and Thakur himself runs behind the ball keeping the runs down to two.

20.05 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Virat Kohli, On the stumps. flicked away for a single to deep mid-wicket.

* Spinner introduced early on. Harbhajan Singh to bowl from the other end.

20.03 IST: Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Not good fielding! Free runs for Parthiv and Bangalore. A fuller length ball outside off and Patel leans into the drive. Times it well towards mid off. Shardul Thakur there looks to attack the ball while fielding but allows it to go through. The timing is so good that the ball reaches the rope. First boundary of the tournament.  RCB 5/0 in 0.5 over vs CSK

20.00 IST: FIRST BALL! Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, A length ball on the pads to start off with and Kohli nonchalantly flicks it away to fine leg for a single. The first run of the 12th edition on the first ball itself.

* STAT ZONE - In H2H between these two sides, Chennai have a lead of 14-7 in the 21 played games so far.

19.57 IST: The umpires and the players make their way out to the middle and take their positions. We are all set for the first ball of the 12th edition of the Indian Twenty20 league. Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli walks out along with Parthiv Patel to bat. Deepak Chahar has the brand new white ball. He will bowl to the Indian skipper and has a single slip in place. All set! Let's play says the umpire and here we go...

19.50 IST: PITCH REPORT- Simon Doull with the pitch report alongside Sunil Gavaskar. They reckon that the pitch might not encourage strokeplay. They feel it is a dry surface and might assist the spinners. That said, the experts believe that the ball should come on to the bat later on. The better idea would be to chase under lights with some amount of dew to come later. Since this is the first game of the season, they are not sure about what exactly to expect but they do inform us that if the dew does not turn up, it might be difficult to play the shots during the chase. The average score here batting first in the last 10 games is 167 but Simon signs off by saying that the team batting first would want more than that here tonight.

19.38 IST: Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper says he's quite okay with batting first as it's the first game of the season. Mentions that last time, runs in excess of 200 were scored at this venue. States that if they bat well first, they should be in a good position. Virat informs he will be opening with Parthiv Patel, and depending on the situation, either Moeen Ali or AB de Villiers will come in at no.3. Ends by saying that the four foreigners to feature in this tournament opener for his team will be AB de Villiers, Moeen Ali, Colin de Grandhomme and Shimron Hetmyer (making his Indian T20 League debut).

19.37 IST: MS Dhoni, the Chennai skipper mentions that he is not sure about the wicket despite playing a few practice games and would like to allow the opposition to set the target in the first game and then try and chase it later. Informs us that they are playing only 3 foreigners who are Shane Watson, Imran Tahir and Dwayne Bravo. 

19.36 IST: In the opening clash all the eyes will be on one man i.e Virat Kohli.

19.31 IST: CSK Playing XI for the clash against RCB

19.29 IST: RCB Playing XI for the opening match against CSK.

19.24 IST: Here is the format of Indian Premier League 2019.

19.23 IST: Chennai Super Kings win the toss and elect to bowl first.

19.21 IST: Yellow army are ready for Whistle Podu

19.17 IST: Defending Champions Chennai Super Kings are all set for their first title defence against Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore.

19.10 IST: Chennai Super Kings overseas big guns Sam Billings and Faf du Plessis are ready for the big showdown.

18.50 IST: Three milestones up for grabs for Run Machine Virat Kohli against Chennai Super Kings in the opening match

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is back and the 12th edition of the cash-rich league couldn't have hoped for a better start as defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to take on the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the opening game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. RCB skipper Virat Kohli, who is nothing short of a demi-god himself for his fans, looks all set to heap more records once he takes the field tonight in Chennai. (Read Full Story)

18.48 IST: IPL 2019 opening ceremony funds of Rs 20 crore donated to CRPF & Armed Forces

As announced earlier by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), the funds reserved for the IPL 2019 opening ceremony has been donated to the CRPF & Armed Forces, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said. The decision to skip the star-studded opening ceremony was taken by the Vinod Rai-led CoA in the wake of the Pulwama Terror Attack, keeping in mind the sentiments of the people. (Read Full Story)

18.10 IST: MS Dhoni and Co, arrived at the Chepauk stadium for the opening clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

18.06 IST: Chepauk Stadium is ready for the opening clash.

Match Preview, CSK vs RCB: They made 'Dad's Army' sound cool last year and defending champions Chennai Super Kings' battle-hardened veterans are ready to prove that age is just a number when they take on Virat Kohli's perennial underachievers Royal Challengers Bangalore in Saturday's opening IPL encounter. For Virat Kohli, it couldn't be a bigger statement if his young side could start off with a bang at Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 'spiritual home', a task which will be easier said than done. (Full Match Preview)