In a riveting clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Pacer Mustafizur Rahman showcased his prowess, clinching a four-wicket haul in his debut match for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Mustafizur's exceptional bowling display, marked by varied pace and astute use of conditions, dismantled the RCB middle-order, restricting them to 173/6 despite a commendable partnership between Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik.
CSK's pursuit of the target encountered a shaky start, but resilient contributions from Ajinkya Rahane, Daryll Mitchell, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja steered them to victory with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare. Ruturaj Gaikwad, leading CSK for the first time, alongside Rachin Ravindra, initiated the chase but fell short of a substantial partnership. Despite Gaikwad's departure, Ravindra exhibited aggressive stroke play, laying the foundation before his dismissal.
RCB's innings witnessed a brisk start led by skipper Faf du Plessis, followed by a collapse triggered by Mustafizur's devastating spell, claiming crucial wickets including that of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar. However, a resilient stand between Rawat and Karthik revitalized RCB's innings, propelling them to a competitive total.
Rawat's explosive batting in the latter overs, complemented by Karthik's steady innings, bolstered RCB's score, yet it fell short of posing a significant challenge to CSK. Despite their valiant effort, RCB's bowling lacked the cutting edge required to dismantle CSK's batting lineup, ultimately conceding victory to the resilient Chennai side.
With this emphatic win, CSK maintained their dominance over RCB at the Chepauk Stadium, affirming their strong start in the IPL 2024 campaign.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 173/6 in 20 overs (Anuj Rawat 48, Dinesh Karthik 38 not out, Faf du Plessis 35; Mustafizur Rahman 4-29)
Chennai Super Kings 176/4 in 18.4 overs (Rachin Ravindra 37, Shivam Dube 34 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 27; Cameron Green 2-27)
