MI vs CSK: Rahane shines as Chennai Super Kings beats Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets

Mumbai Indians had the house benefit, however it was Ajinkya Rahane’s return to his hometown, within the Chennai Super Kings yellow, that turned out to be decisive throughout probably the most sought-after Indian Premier League conflict of the season.

HIGHLIGHTS: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings IPL 2023

Making his debut for the facet, Rahane’s 27-ball 61 meant the Super Kings strolled to the 158-run goal on the Wankhede Stadium towards its arch-rival. Rahane’s innings, which noticed him register a 19-ball fifty, the quickest of the season, additionally ensured that Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner’s efficient work with the ball within the first essay didn’t go to waste.

Once Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali have been dominated out of the sport, the Super Kings fielded Rahane on the prime of the order. And the veteran batter needed to take guard within the opening over of the chase, after Devon Conway performed Jason Behrendorff on to the stumps off the fourth ball.

When Rahane pulled Behrendorff for a six within the third over, his intentions have been clear. But it was within the subsequent over when he went after rookie left-arm pacer Mohammed Arshad Khan that Rahane properly and actually underlined his new avatar.

In an over that noticed him plundering 23 runs off Arshad, Rahane just about closed the door on MI. None of 5 consecutive boundaries – a six adopted by 4 fours – was a slog, with the final punch previous the bowler taking the cake.

After Rahane was caught within the deep off leggie Piyush Chawla, Ruturaj Gaikwad got here to the get together because the Super Kings crossed the goal with 11 balls to spare.

The win was arrange by the left-arm spin duo of Jadeja and Santner whose mixed figures of 8-0-48-5 ensured that Mumbai Indians couldn’t run away with the sport after a brisk begin by Ishan Kishan.

With Moeen unavailable and Deepak Chahar limping off the sector after the opening over, the onus was on the skilled spin duo to ship. And they did it to perfection, with Jadeja taking part in the star act.