IPL 2023, MI vs CSK: Jadeja-Santner's combined 5-48 dismantles MI; CSK win by 7 wickets

IPL 2023, Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Top Performances: Ravindra Jadeja-Mitchell Santner's combined 5-48, Ajinkya Rahane's 61, Tim David's 31 are top performances. CSK beat Mumbai by 7 wickets and move to 4th place in points table.

CSK beat MI and move to 4th place (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Brief Scores: CSK 159/3 (Rahane 61, Gaikwad 40, Kartikeya 1/24) beat MI 158/8 (Kishan 32, Jadeja 3/20, Santner 2/28) by 7 wickets

Player of the Match: Ravindra Jadeja (3-20)

The greatest rivalry of IPL cricket returned to the Wankhede Stadium as hosts Mumbai Indians took on the four-times champions Chennai Super Kings in the second game of a double header evening on Saturday.

In what was billed as the El-Clasico of IPL, the visiting Chennai Super Kings won the game by 7 wickets with more than an over to go. This was CSK’s fourth win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede in 11 attempts.

Mumbai Indians restricted to 157/8

CSK skipper MS Dhoni won the coin toss and elected to field first on what looked like a typical Wankhede track that is very good to bat on. They made 4 changes to the side with England all-rounders Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes missing out due to injuries and they were replaced by Dwaine Pretorius and Sisanda Magala. While Magala made his IPL debut, Ajinkya Rahane got his first CSK cap. MI too brought in Tristan Stubbs while pacer Jofra Archer missed out due to an injury.

After being inserted into batting, the 5-time champions had a thunderous start to their innings. Rohit Sharma was in full flow scoring 21 off just 13. It took an amazing delivery from Tushar Deshpande to remove the MI skipper, but Ishan Kishan looked to be back in form which is good news for the team. MI reached 61 in the powerplays, but their downfall started immediately after that.

Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner put breaks on the hosts by not only stemming flow of runs but also picking wickets at regular intervals. The pair reduced the MI who were at one stage 64/1 to 76/5 in a matter for 15 balls and the wicket of in-form Tilak Verma dented them further to 102/6 in 13 overs. It took some lusty hits from Tim David who made 31 from 22 after a scratchy start and a decent cameo from Hrithik Shokeen to take MI to a respective total of 157/8.

Read More: Mumbai Indians headed for another disastrous IPL?

Jadeja took 3-20 against Mumbai Indians (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Chasing a middling total of 158 to win their second match of the tournament, CSK were off to the worst possible start losing Devon Conway for a duck in the first over. But CSK debutant Ajinkya Rahane who came in at No.3, showed his true class and dominated the inexperienced MI bowlers. The Indian batter was at his destructive best and his enterprising knock helped CSK make the powerplay count.

The men in yellow made 68 in that phase and duo of Ruturaj-Rahane added 82 for the second wicket with the CSK debutant making 61 off those from just 21 balls. Ajinkya reached his half-century in 19 balls and laid a solid foundation for CSK to storm over the finishing line.

Then it was a stroll in the park for the visitors with Ruturaj, Shivam Dube and Ambati Rayudu all making useful contribution in CSK’s 7 wicket win.

Talking Point: MI batting needs to come good

Mumbai Indians have a really weak bowling attack, and it is visible from the outset. So it is their batting that needs to step up and that has not happened till now. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan got starts but failed to make it big and this has been their problem even in the last season.

Suryakumar Yadav looked out of sorts while Cameron Green still has not settled into IPL cricket. But MI would be happy with the form of Tilak Varma and Tim David but need to cash in on a good start.

Let’s scan the top three performances from the game between MI and CSK in IPL 2023.

Jadeja and Santner spell a web on the MI batting order with a spell of 5/48

Mumbai Indians openers had their best start yet in quite a while now, and the powerplays yielded 61 for them with the loss of Rohit Sharma. MI looked set to carry on with their merry ways after the start they had but the introduction of Jadeja-Santner did wonders for CSK.

First Ravindra Jadeja got rid of dangerous looking Ishan Kishan for 32, then Mitchell Santner accounted for a struggling Suryakumar Yadav for 1. The combo once again worked wonders in tandem removing Cameron Green, Arshad Khan and Tilak Verma reducing MI to 102/6. This spell of the spin twins allowed CSK to keep MI to only 157/8 on a good batting track.

Read More: IPL 2023: With No Bumrah and Jhye Richardson, how will Mumbai’s bowling combination work?

Rahane smashes fastest fifty for CSK in IPL 2023 off just 19 balls (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Ajinkya Rahane makes a masterful comeback to the IPL

Ajinkya Rahane showed why he was once rated so highly by the cricketing pundits courtesy mesmerising stroke play here at the Wankhede. Playing in his first game for CSK, Rahane smashed CSK’s third-fastest IPL half-century in only 19 balls and this is also the fastest by any batter in this IPL.

Coming at the fall of Devon Conway in the first over, Rahane began to play his delightful stokes almost immediately and struck 4 fours and a six off Arshad Khan’s second over. He eventually finished at 61 from only 27 deliveries to set up a comfortable win for CSK.

Read More: IPL 2023, CSK v LSG: CSK secure victory with all-round effort in Chennai

Tim David scored 22-ball 31 for Mumbai Indians (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Tim David comes good at the end

When the Australian power hitter came to the crease, MI were struggling with loss of quick wickets and Tim David had to take time initially which is not his natural game. After a scratchy start, David finally began to tee off once he was dropped in the deep by Ruturaj Gaikwad off Deshpande. In the same over, he smashed 2 sixes and a four but eventually perished for a 22-ball 31 to the same bowler just when he was about to get into his usual grove. But these are good signs for the MI.

Points Table Scenario & What’s Next

With this win, CSK move to the fourth place in the table and they will next take on RR at home on April 12, while MI now at the eighth slot with no wins will take on Delhi Capitals on April 11.

Read More: IPL 2022, MI’s Riddle: Is Tim David a true successor of Kieron Pollard?

IPL 2023 Points Tale

IPL 2023 Points Table

Read More: IPL 2023: CSK Squad Analysis: Despite inexperienced bowling attack, Yellow Brigade still formidable

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