The 33rd match between the most successful teams in IPL history, Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Super Kings, has been witnessed as a “Champions vs Champions” exciting clash at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai. CSK defeated MI by three wickets to claim their second IPL 2022 victory, leaving Mumbai to be the first team in the IPL history to lose 7 consecutive defeats.
Despite winning the toss and electing to bowl, Chennai Super Kings made a fantastic move with their bowling strategy, leaving MI to surrender 3 wickets in the powerplay. Mukesh Choudhary removed MI openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan for a golden duck. Also, Choudhary’s third wicket, Dewald Brevis 4 off 7 balls caught by MS Dhoni behind wickets, kept things tough for MI.
Milestone Mukesh! 1st Super King to take 2️⃣ Wickets in the 1st Over! #WhistlePodu #Yellove #MIvCSK 💛🦁 pic.twitter.com/JxXBUvEjYT
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 21, 2022
Meanwhile, CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja dropped a couple of catches, while DJ Bravo also dropped a catch when positioned at slips. Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav, who came fourth, provided much-needed confidence in partnering with Tilak Varma. Mitchell Santner, stepped in to attack to break the establishing partnership after dismissing Suryakumar for 32 off 21 balls.
Even so, Tilak Varma continued to strike aggressively, seeking for a massive knock alongside Hrithik Shokeen. The pair put up a 38-run wicket partnership to enhance the innings, which was also the highest partnership of the innings. Unfortunately, DJ Bravo trapped Hrithik Shokeen at 25 off 25 balls. Along with Tilak, Kieron Pollard moved in to strengthen the innings. Before being removed by Maheesh Theekshana, ‘BigMan’ Pollard struck 9 ball-14 runs, including a four and a maximum.
Tilak Varma achieved his half-century (51* off 43 balls) and was teamed with Jaydev Unadkat, who aimed to solidify the innings and played the finisher’s role. With a few boundaries scored 19 off 9 balls, Unadkat remained undefeated to assist MI to post a 155-run mark after losing 7 wickets.
‘PLAYER OF THE MATCH’ awarded to Mukesh Choudhary
Furthermore, Mukesh Choudhary with a three-wicket haul, DJ Bravo with a couple of wickets, Santner and M Theekshana with one wicket each demonstrated consistency from CSK’s bowling department.
While chasing the decent total set by the Mumbai Indians, the Chennai Super Kings, unlike their opponents, lost a couple of wickets during the power play. Daniel Sams removed CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad for a golden duck, while Mitchell Santner was dismissed after hitting 11 off 9 balls.
Furthermore, Robin Uthappa helped to stabilize the innings, but he couldn’t keep the momentum going for much longer, being removed by Unadkat after scoring 30 off 25 balls. Shivam Dube, who also failed to establish a crucial partnership, was dismissed by Daniel Sams at 13 off 14 balls. Ambati Rayudu was the lone batsman who found a way to make the MI bowlers sweat. However, MI brought Daniel Sams into the attack to sack Rayudu at 40 off 35 balls.
CSK skipper Jadeja struggled against MI bowler Riley Meredith, coming up short for 3 runs off 8 balls. While MS Dhoni and Dwaine Pretorius mastered the death overs by scoring much-deserved boundaries, the scenario shifted in favour of CSK. Meanwhile, Pretorius has been removed by Unadkat after hitting 22 off 14 balls who made much-needed damage to MI.
MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo faced the 20th over of the innings, while Dhoni handled the final over with a match-winning knock, punishing every ball that came to his radius. He hammered the ball all over the park to score 17 runs off the over, including two fours and a maximum to secure a comfortable 2nd victory in the IPL 2022 for the defending champions ‘CSK’.
MSD finishes it off in style!!! #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/ZhtyE2UKfW
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 21, 2022
Nobody finishes cricket matches like him and yet again MS Dhoni 28* (13) shows why he is the best finisher. A four off the final ball to take @ChennaiIPL home.
What a finish! #TATAIPL #MIvCSK pic.twitter.com/oAFOOi5uyJ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 21, 2022
