Defending champs CSK open IPL 2024 with 6 wicket win over Faf's ...

Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman returned figures of 4-29 to set up a six-wicket win for defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the IPL opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.

Hosts Chennai kept Bengaluru down to 173-6, a total their batters overhauled in 18.4 overs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Shivam Dube, who hit 34, and fellow left-hander Ravindra Jadeja, who made 25, put on an unbeaten stand of 66 to steer the team home.

The 17th edition of the lucrative league began with a glitzy ceremony, with performances by Bollywood stars, including India's Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman.

Extravagant dances, popular music and fireworks gave way to the toss as Bengaluru skipper Faf du Plessis elected to bat.

Old warhorse MS Dhoni had shocked his fans on the eve of the opener when he handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, who said he got to know of the decision last week.

"I have always enjoyed it," Gaikwad said of his captaincy debut in the IPL."Haven't felt the additional pressure, right from the state side. Not even a single time I felt pressurised by anything. Obviously had 'Mahi' (Dhoni's nickname) bhai with me."

Gaikwad's leadership witnessed early challenges when his opposite number Du Plessis smashed regular boundaries but left-arm quick Mustafizur led Chennai's fightback with his IPL-best haul.

Mustafizur had Du Plessis caught out for 35 and Bengaluru slipped from 41-0 to 42-3 in the space of seven balls when Australia's Glenn Maxwell was out for a first-ball duck off Deepak Chahar.

Mustafizur was named man of the match.

Virat Kohli returned to competitive cricket after two months following a paternity break when he missed India's 4-1 Test victory over England and started cautiously.

He made 21 off 20 balls including a six off spinner Maheesh Theekshana before his departure in another inspired spell by Mustafizur, who again struck twice in an over.

Kohli was caught in the deep after a relay catch between Ajinkya Rahane and Rachin Ravindra and soon Cameron Green departed with Bengaluru losing half their side inside 12 overs.

"We were 15-20 runs short on a pitch that wasn't as bad as we played in the first ten overs," Du Plessis said.

"We were always a little bit behind trying to get ahead of the game. They were always ahead of the game."

Anuj Rawat, a wicketkeeper-batsman who hit 48, and Dinesh Karthik, 38 not out, steadied the ship and then took the attack to the opposition in their partnership of 95 in 50 balls.

In reply, Chennai's batsmen including IPL debutant Ravindra, who hit a 15-ball 37, got starts but lost regular wickets.

Green struck with two key wickets including Rahane (27) and Daryl Mitchell (22) with his fast-medium bowling but Jadeja kept the chase going.

Dube, who came in as impact substitute in place of Mustafizur, and Jadeja ensured the team sailed through.

Organisers have released only the first two weeks of the IPL schedule so far because it clashes with India's six-week-long general election. Last season the 10-team IPL lasted eight weeks.

Scores in brief:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 173-6 after 20 (Rawat 48, Karthik 38*, Rahman 4/29, Chahar 1/37)

Chennai Super Kings 176/4 in 18.4 overs (Ravindra 37, Dube 34*, Jadeja 25*).

CSK win by 6 wickets. 

- AFP

15 over update

CSK 128/4 

Need 46 off 30

Dube 7*

Jadeja 16*

10 over update

CSK 92/2

Need 81 off 60

Mitchell 17*

Rahane 21*

5 over update

CSK 49/1

Need 125 off 90.

Ravindra 31*

Rahane 1*

The CSK innings is about to get under way. 

We will bring you updates every five overs. 

INNINGS:

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a respectable 173-6 despite struggling at 78-5 in their IPL opener against the Chennai Super Kings on Friday.

After deciding to bat first, former Proteas captain and current RCB skipper Faf du Plessis got the visitors off to a firing start before he was caught in the deep for a well-played 35 off 25 balls (hitting eight fours).

Mustafizur Rahman took four wickets in his first two overs as he tore through RCB's top-order with Virat Kohli dismissed for 21.

Reeling at 78-5, a excellent 95-run stand between Anuj Rawat (48) and Dinesh Karthik (38*) helped RCB set a respectable total despite Rawat being run out by MS Dhoni in the final ball of their innings.

Rahman was the pick of Chennai's bowlers as he ended with figures of four for 29 in his four overs.

Scores in brief:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 173-6 after 20 (Rawat 48, Karthik 38*, Rahman 4/29, Chahar 1/37)

Chennai Super Kings need 174 runs to win

15-over update

Two more wickets for Rahman with Virat Kohli falling to a spectacular boundary catch!

Kohli pulls but doesn't quite get the distance with Rahane taking a diving catch but as he is sliding near the boundary rope, he lobs it to Ravindra. Kohli has to depart for 21 off 20.

Shortly thereafter, Cameron Green backs up, attempts to cut but misses the ball completely and the wickets are shattered. Green walks back for 18 off 22.

Anuj Rawat brings up the 100 for RCB with a boundary, they're projected to make 153 at the current run rate of 6.8.

RCB 102-5 after 15

Anuj Rawat 18*

Dinesh Karthik 8*

10-over update

Only one wicket has fallen in the last five overs, Deepak Chahar gets Glenn Maxwell out for a golden duck.

Maxwell doesn't last long as he edges it behind to the experienced Dhoni and the Chennai Super Kings have their home crowd roaring. Three quick wickets have fallen despite Faf du Plessis' quick start.

However, on the other end sits batter Virat Kohli, who surpasses 12 000 runs in Twenty20 cricket.

Kohli starts to find his feet despite a slow start and showed signs of his attacking nature with a maximum in the 10th over.

RCB 75-3 after 10

Kohli 21*

Cameron Green 16*

5-over update

Mustafizur Rahman strikes twice for Chennai Super Kings in the fifth over.

After hitting a boundary, Faf du Plessis mistimes and is caught at deep point for a well-played 35 off 25 balls (hitting eight fours).

Three balls later, Rajat Patidar gets a fine edge behind to MS Dhoni behind the stumps and departs for a duck.

The Chennai Super Kings are back in the game!

RCB 41-2 after 5

Virat Kohli 3*

Faf off to flyer!

Du Plessis hits seven boundaries so far as Royal Challengers Bengaluru race to 33-0 after three overs.

Play is underway!

One of the most dangerous opening pairs walk out in the middle! Faf du Plessis opens the batting for RCB alongside Virat Kohli.

Deepak Chahar has the new ball.

*We'll be providing five-over updates

Teams:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

F du Plessis*, V Kohli, RM Patidar, GJ Maxwell, C Green, KD Karthik†, Anuj Rawat, KV Sharma, AS Joseph, MJ Dagar, Mohammed Siraj. Impact Player: Yash Dayal

Chennai Super Kings 

RD Gaikwad*, R Ravindra, AM Rahane, DJ Mitchell, RA Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni†, DL Chahar, M Theekshana, TU Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman

*captain, †wicketkeeper

TOSS:

Faf du Plessis' Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the toss and chosen to BAT first in their IPL opener against reigning champions Chennai Super Kings.

Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter will have to accept that his trials for T20 World Cup selection will be done via a proxy in the Indian Premier League.

News24 Sport's Heinz Schenk previews the IPL and what it means for the Proteas!