Chennai Super Kings who were on a five-match losing streak against the defending champions Mumbai Indians won the IPL 2020 opener in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. It has to be said that CSK was more clinical in the contest than their counterparts which helped them to end on the right side of the result.
CSK thus gets a winning start, whereas Mumbai have lost their first game in the IPL since 2013.
Here are the 5 takeaways from the MI vs CSK IPL 2020 Opener:
1) Chasing Will be MS Dhoni’s Formulae
CSK skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to field first in the IPL 2020 opener. He also gave us a hint that chasing will e his mantra going ahead in the tournament as having a target before they help them to set their pace for the chase. Also, he can use the bowlers the way he likes to drive the momentum of the game his way.
2) MI’s First Game Jynx Since 2013
Mumbai Indians have failed to win the first game of an IPL season from the 2013 season and the IPL 2020 opener loss added another one to the tally. This was the eighth occasion when they lost their season opener. Also, they missed capitalising on key moments of the game both in the first innings and in the second.
Drop catches and errors in the field also did not help their cause as MI looked a jittered outfit than their opposition in the field.
Also Read: Dwayne Bravo To Miss One More Game Due To Injury – Stephen Fleming
3) Dew to Play a Part in IPL 2020
If the IPL 2020 opener is anything to go by, then dew will play a key role in the team’s fortunes throughout the IPL. MI spinners, Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya found it hard to grip the ball during Chennai’s chase. After the initial jolt, the pair of Faf Du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu milked the opposition spinner to bring up their respective fifties and hand CSK their first win of the season.
All the movement that was available in the initial overs was put to rest once the dew started showing. Ball came onto the bat easily and playing through the line of the ball became easier. Going ahead this game will be a warning bell to the spin dominant teams in the IPL. They should look to bat second to utilize the pitch conditions in the first innings.
Where Mumbai Indians Lost The Game
4) Rohit’s Perennial Problem against Leg-Spin
Another prominent factor that was visible in the IPL 2020 opener was Rohit Sharma’s problem against leg-spin. After he failed to read the googly from Piyush Chawla, he fell for a ball that was just above the eye-line and Rohit went for the big shot over mid-off.
Curran completed the catch and soon after he picked up the wicket of Quinton de Kock, which was a result of Rohit’s dismissal.
5) MI’s Inability to Seize Big Moments
Once Rayudu was dismissed in the 16th over of the CSK chase, MI failed to get hold of the game situation in the IPL 2020 opener. MS Dhoni sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran ahead of him, all of which was a part of his plans. While Jadeja failed cheaply, Curran scored a quickfire 18 off six balls as he brought down the equation to 18 off 12.
Jasprit Bumrah, who had an off day leaked 11 runs in the 19th over to finish his spell for 1 for 43. It will certainly be one of the 5 takeaways from MI vs CSK game.
CSK needing five to win in the final over Du Plessis, struck two back to back boundaries off Trent Boult to seal the deal for the Men in Yellow.
Also Read: MS Dhoni’s Comments After IPL 2020 Opener Raises Eyebrows