By K Aditya
Dubai, Sep 19 (UNI) Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad capped off the second phase of IPL 2021 in a classic manner as the 24-year-old batsman played proper cricket shots to score a 88 not out, helping Chennai Super Kings post a fighting total of 156/6 in the first innings against Mumbai Indians as IPL 2021 resumed here on Sunday.
Gaikwad took 58 balls, scored nine boundaries and four sixes as the CSK top-order collapsed around him in the powerplay at 27/4 against a weakened MI, who went into the match without captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Hardik Pandya over reported injury issues.
CSK skipper MS Dhoni, on the other hand, instantly regretted his decision to bat first as MI pacers Adam Milne (2/21) and Trent Boult (2/35) ran through the CSK top order inside the powerplay with four wickets, a retired hurt, and 27 runs on the board.
Boult picked prized scalps of Faf du Plessis, who failed to score, Suresh Raina (4 runs off 6 balls) while Milne removed Moeen Ali (0 off 3), MS Dhoni (4 off 5) before his bouncer to Ambati Rayudu's right elbow curtailed his innings.
Dhoni, who was playing his first competitive match since April, lost his wicket after a poor shot-making as his pull shot to tackle Milne’s bouncer found the sole fielder in the deep square of the wicket.
The other CSK opener Gaikwad held on to one end and stitched an important sixth-wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja in an effort to bring CSK back in the match. Unlike his seniors, Gaikwad was cautious with his shot selection and did the bulk of scoring in the partnership while his left-handed partner took his time to adjust to the conditions.
The Maharashtra batsman brought up his fifty in 41 balls as he slammed Pollard for two boundaries in the 16th over to take CSK past the 100-mark soon after. The 78-run stand ended in the next over with Bumrah removing Jadeja for 33.
An 8-ball 23 cameo from Dwayne Bravo from there on added more pace to the CSK scoreboard. The 19th over, bowled by Boult, turned out to be the highlight with 24 runs off it, including three sixes. Bravo then fell to Bumrah in the final over but 15 runs still came off it with Gaikwad hitting a six over the fine leg to finish the CSK innings with Shardul Thakur not out at 1 on the other end.
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