CSK vs MI Ball by Ball Commentary

SIX! RACHIN RAVINDRA FINISHES OFF IN STYLE! Chennai Super Kings win their season opener by 4 wickets! Santner drops it on a good length, pitching around off and turning into middle, Rachin Ravindra judges the length quickly, rocks back in the crease and pulls it aerially over deep mid-wicket for a cracking six.

Length on the leg stump, tucked to mid on by Dhoni.

Good length, just outside off, stays a bit low on the bounce. Dhoni gets on the back foot and works to mid-wicket.

OUT! RUN OUT! A needless mix-up in the middle and Jadeja departs. Back of a length, on the pads, Jadeja tucks across off the back foot to the square leg region and looks for a single. Is through for one, but Rachin Ravindra at the other end, turns back to deny the single. However, Jadeja puts the skates on and rushes to the other end, ball-watching. Soon realises as the fielder, Deepak Chahar, throws to the keeper and Rickelton whips the bails off. The umpires request Jadeja to stay as they want to check whether he crossed Rachin in the process to get to the other end. But, after a few checks it is deemed that Jadeja is out.

Full again, pushed on middle, Ravindra Jadeja reverse sweeps it to short third.

Looped fuller on middle, Ravindra Jadeja pushes it back to the bowler.

Tossed up, fuller and around off, Ravindra Jadeja reverse sweeps it to short third for a couple of quick runs.

SIX! Into the single digits now for CSK! This is a massive hit! Vignesh drops right into the wheelhouse, on the stumps, Rachin Ravindra sits down on his knee, picks it up nicely and slogs it behind deep mid-wicket for a six. CSK just a hit away now. Need 6 off 12.

Fuller and flatter on off, Ravindra Jadeja skips down to the pitch of the ball, and decides to block it into the off side. Collects a quick single.

Angling on the leg stump, on a length, worked across to deep mid-wicket for one.

SIX! FIFTY FOR RACHIN RAVINDRA! An inning of composure from the Kiwi southpaw! Had to work hard for it, but held his ground! The crowd applauds him. Vignesh drops full on the stumps, Rachin Ravindra charges down the track and picks it up and parks it into the stands behind deep mid-wicket for a six. Less than run-a-ball needed now for CSK!

On the leg stump, Ravindra Jadeja clips this full ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Sliding on middle and leg, full in length, Jadeja leans forward and blocks it.

Hard length, around off, Jadeja leans back and cuts it to deep backward point for a single. Jadeja is looking for the second and is halfway through, but Rachin sends him back and Jadeja is still stranded halfway on the pitch. However, a wayward throw to the keeper, but with a good backup in the leg side, compels Jadeja to retreat back.

Short again, on the shoulder height, Rachin Ravindra pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Had to hurry! Shortish, on off, Ravindra Jadeja swivels and pulls it straight to mid-wicket and hares for a single. The fielder misses to score a direct hit at the non-striker's end and Jadeja completes the single, dragging the bat in.

A slower bumper, at the face level, Jadeja waits for it to come and pulls it along the ground to deep square leg. Vignesh Puthur runs across to his right from deep backward square leg and cuts it off with the dive. Two taken.

FOUR! A boundary after a long, long time for CSK and this will certainly ease some of the pressure! Back of a length, just outside off, Ravindra Jadeja uses the width offered and cuts it late to deep backward point for a boundary. 26 runs needed off 22 balls now.

Short of a good length, around off, Rachin Ravindra weighs on the back foot, and heaves across uppishly, on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Six singles off this over then! On a length outside off, Rachin Ravindra cuts it through the covers for one more.

Tossed up, fuller around off, Ravindra Jadeja gets low and paddles it to short fine leg. Deepak Chahar moves to his right and stops the ball. They cross for a single.

On middle, and pushed fuller, Rachin Ravindra drills it down to long on for a single.

Pulls the length back a bit and keeps it outside off, Ravindra Jadeja sits down on his knee and fetches the ball to sweep it behind square in the leg side. One taken.

25 balls since last boundary! Fired fuller on off, Rachin Ravindra chips it over the bowler to his right for a single at long off.

Floated fuller and on off, Ravindra Jadeja pushes it through mid off for an easy single.

On off, Ravindra Jadeja reaches out in front and paddles this full ball to deep fine leg for a run.

Keeps the pace down, on off, Rachin tries to wrist it away. Gets an inside edge beside the pitch on the leg side for one.

Fuller and slower, on off, Jadeja looks to ease it through the off side. It gets miscued off the inner half down the deck. Jacks dives to his left but the ball evades him. They cross.

On the pads again, on a length, Jadeja checks his shot to mid-wicket.

A stifled appeal for LBW but turned down! Was it going down leg? Suryakumar Yadav has a chat with the bowler and the keeper and takes the review. Slanting into the pads from around the wicket, on a nagging length, Jadeja looks to play it away on the leg side with a closed bat face but misses. The ball sneaks past the inside edge to hit him on the front pad. Nothing on UltraEdge and the Ball Tracking shows that the ball is missing the leg stump. MI lose a review.

OUT! CASTLED! Will Jacks strikes now and Chennai Super Kings have now lost half their side! Floated up from around the wicket, full and at the stumps, Sam Curran gets down on a knee and has a heave across the line. He fails to connect and pays the price. The ball scoots under the bat and uproots the off stump. MI continue to chip away at the wickets. Sam Curran goes for 4 (9). CSK are now 116/5, needing 40 runs in 35 balls.

Fired onto the pads, on the fuller side, Sam gets his bat out in front and works it to deep square leg for one.

On a nagging length, on off, Sam punches it to extra cover where Will Jacks cuts it off with a dive to his left. 16 balls since the last boundary!

Strays on the pads, on a nagging length, nudged through square leg for another single.

Slower in the air but on the pads, Sam flicks this full ball to deep backward square leg for a run.

This skids through a bit, short and on off, Curran goes back and pushes it to mid off.

Starts with a full one from around the wicket, on the pads, Rachin knocks it to long on and gets to the other end.

Attacking the pads, fuller, Rachin whips it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Fired in, short and on off, Ravindra picks out backward point with his cut.

Well placed! Sliding onto the pads, on a length, Ravindra gets forward and turns it to the left of long on for a couple of runs.

Drags the length back now, on off, Curran presses back and pats it to long on for a single.

On the pads, fuller in length, Curran wrists it straight to mid-wicket.

Gives flight, full and at the pads, Sam clips it straight to mid-wicket.

Looped up, very full, at the toes, Rachin ends up yorking himself and squeezes it out towards short fine leg.

Pushed through, short in length, Sam pushes it to long on and gets off the mark with a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Two debutants combine and Vignesh Puthur has his third wicket of the night! Nicely tossed up by Vignesh, on middle and leg, on a nagging length, Hooda is lured into the big shot and goes for a slog sweep. Neither he gets the elevation nor the distance. Hits it flat towards deep backward square leg where Raju does seem to misjudge it initially but recovers well and puts a dive in front to snaffle it. Chennai Super Kings are now 107/4, needing 49 more runs.

Serves a googly, fuller in length, around off, Hooda reaches out in front and gets low for the paddle. Fails to connect but the ball strikes him outside the line of the off stump.

Drags the length back at 81.3 kph, on middle, Ravindra pulls it through square leg for a single.

SIX! Excellent use of the feet! Floated up by Puthur, on middle, Rachin puts the dancing shoes on and gets to the pitch of the ball. Pumps it back over the bowler's head for a six.

Flat and short, on middle, Santner punches it with a straight bat to long on for a run. 100 up for CSK.

At 94.1 kph, shorter in length, on middle, Ravindra plays it back to Santner.

Nicely tossed up, on middle and leg, on a nagging length, Hooda waits on it and taps it in front of cover for a single.

This is pushed through now, at the stumps, RR goes back to a full delivery but manages to push it down to long on for a single.

Gets the ball to grip as this is slower through the air, on the shorter side, on middle, Rachin hops and keeps it out.

Santner returns to the attack! Spears it into the pads from around the wicket, Hooda sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Flighted one, around leg, at 80.1 kph, Rachin leans forward and works it to mid-wicket. Halfway through in the chase. CSK are 96/3.

Loops it up, on the leg stump line, Hooda gets low on his knee, and takes it on the full to sweep it towards deeo backward square leg for a single.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Such a brilliant start for the young Vignesh Puthur! First Gaikwad and now removes the dangerous Shivam Dube. Very slow through the air, on a fuller length at the stumps, Shivam Dube gets lured into the flight and goes for a big hit down the ground, but mistimes it. Gets too much height than distance and the ball dips towards the fielder at long on. Tilak Varma settles under it and takes a fine catch at his chest level. CSK are 95/3, needing another 61 runs to win.

Stumping appeal, but not entertained by the leg umpire! Vignesh Puthur dishes out a googly, on a fuller length, just outside off, Shivam Dube goes for a hoick across the line but misses and the keeper Ryan Rickelton is quick to collect the ball and whips off the bails.

Tossed up, full on the stumps, Rachin goes for the sweep but mistimes it to the square leg region for a single.

On the pads, on a length, worked fine to deep fine leg for a couple of runs.

SIX! There's that brute force from Dube! On a yard behind the fuller length, angling on the leg stump line, Shivam Dube transfers the weight on the back foot and pulls it behind deep mid-wicket for a six. A quiet over, spoiled by this biggie! 13 off it.

Back of a length, on top of the stumps, Rachin Ravindra steers it to square leg. Collects another solo.

Quicker at 94.7 kph now, on middle and leg, Dube knocks it through mid on for one more.

Slower through the air, on middle, Rachin Ravindra sweeps this full ball to deep backward square leg for a single.

Length ball, on middle and leg, Shivam Dube pats it to the left of the bowler and collects a single at long on.

Full around off, pushed back to the bowler. Jacks with a good diving stop.

Sprayed down the leg stump line, on a fullish length, Dube lunges ahead to play into the leg side, but misses. The ball beats the keeper Ryan Rickelton to his right and runs to the deep fine leg region. The batters cross for a couple of runs. Three wides!

Good length, around the leg stump line, Shivam Dube rocks back and clips it through the square leg region for a single.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! What a moment for the young Vignesh Puthur as he gets Ruturaj Gaikwad as his maiden IPL wicket! Suryakumar Yadav appreciates the young gun with a hug as CSK lose their second wicket! Floated quite fuller in length, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad takes his front foot out and tries to go downtown, but does not quite get the bat properly under the ball. Goes airborne, gets the height but not the distance. The ball swirls and dips towards long off where Will Jacks settles nicely under it and takes a good reverse cup catch. CSK skipper departs on 53 (26) and CSK are 78/2.

Across off again, slightly fuller, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts it to backward point.

Slower through the air, across off on a good length, Ruturaj Gaikwad hangs back and cuts it through backward point for a quick brace.

Slides on the pads, full in length, Rachin Ravindra leans forward and eases it into the leg side with a flick. A single taken.

Debutant Vignesh Puthur is into the attack now. Bowls on a length, on the leg stump line, Ruturaj Gaikwad nudges it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FIFTY FOR RUTURAJ GAIKWAD! His 19th in the IPL, along with a couple of hundreds! Also, this is his fastest fifty in the IPL so far, coming in 22 balls. Jacks flights it up, fuller and on middle and leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad lunges forward and clips it to the square leg region for a single.

Back of a length, on the pads, Rachin tucks off the back foot and collects a single at deep mid-wicket.

Full again around off, driven through the covers for one.

SIX! Wonderfully played! Right out of the textbook! Fired in fuller and outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad finds the ball in his arc, leans on with a huge stride and lofts it over deep cover for a cracking six.

Fuller on stumps, worked into the leg side by Rachin for a single.

Starts off from around the stumps and floats fuller on off, Rachin Ravindra creates room, stays leg side of the ball and carves it away to deep cover for a couple of quick runs. The throw comes to the bowler from the deep and Jacks dislodges the bails, but Gaikwad is well in.

FOUR! Finds the gap again! Tad short in length, on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad gets low on his knee and pulls it all along the ground through the deep mid-wicket region for a cracking boundary. The skipper moves into his 40s. CSK end their Powerplay at 62/1, and need 94 more runs off 84 balls remaining.

FOUR! Played with ease! Dropped fuller in length, around off and middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad gives himself a bit of room, opens up the off side for him and lofts inside out over cover for a boundary.

Darted on the pads, full in length, Ruturaj Gaikwad misses to sweep and the ball deflects off his pads to short fine leg.

SIX! What a cracking shot! The 50 is up for CSK! Santner drags back his length, on middle and leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad is quick on the feet to go deep in the crease and pulls it behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

Slows it up, full and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad sits down to sweep it away but misses and wears on the body. A mild appeal for LBW, which dies down sooner.

Mitchell Santner is into the attack. From around the wickets, he bowls across middle and leg, full in length, Ruturaj Gaikwad leans on it and clips it into the leg side, behind square.

Delivers it at 134.5 kph, on a back of a length, Gaikwad guides it to deep backward point for another single. 13 runs off Raju's first over.

Continues to hit the deck hard, on middle, Ravindra gets on top of the bounce and whips it wide of mid-wicket. They cross.

A tighter line, in the channel on off, on a short of a good length, RG steers it down to deep third for one.

FOUR! Two in two for the CSK skipper! Raju errs in line and length as this is short and wide on off, Gaikwad frees his arms and slaps it to the right of deep backward point for four more.

FOUR! Top shot! Raju hurls it on a hard length, on off, Ruturaj gets on his toes and cuts it all along the ground. Beats deep backward point to his right for a boundary.

At 131.7 kph, on a back of a length, on off, Rachin drags the pull to deep backward square leg for a single.

Wide! The debutant sprays a full delivery, down leg, Rachin fails to help it away.

Oh, that kept a little low! This skids through, on a back of a length, just outside off, Gaikwad stays back to keep it out but the ball sneaks under the ball and goes on a couple of bounces to the keeper.

In the corridor of off, on a length, Gaikwad presses forward and taps it to mid off.

SIX! Thumped! Chahar serves a bumper but this is not high enough to trouble the batter, over off, Gaikwad stands tall and pummels it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

On a back of a length, around leg, Rachin wrists it to the right of short fine leg for a single.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Too full and too straight, on the pads, Rachin does not miss out as he helps this one over short fine leg for a boundary.

Bashes the hard length, at 135.4 kph, on off, Rachin rises with the bounce and jabs it to mid-wicket.

Hurls it on a hard length, on middle, Rachin nudges it past mid-wicket for a single. 12 runs off the over.

Off-pace delivery, going across, on a length, Gaikwad waits on it and punches it to deep point for a single.

Fuller in length, attacking the front pad, Ruturaj gets his bat out in front and pats it to mid on.

Fine stop! Back to over the wicket now, on a back of a length, at the hips, Ruturaj tucks it towards deep backward square leg. Tilak Varma charges to his right and dives to save a couple of runs for his side. Two runs taken.

FOUR! And again! Boult changes his angle but the result stays the same. From around the wicket, on a length, on off, Gaikwad walks a couple of steps down the track and threads it to the right of cover for four more.

FOUR! All class! At 133.2 kph, angling across, full in length, Ruturaj gets a good stride in and eases the drive through covers for a boundary.

Moving away in the air, on a good length, on middle, Rachin plays it right under his eyes and knocks it to cover.

Shaping away, on a short of a good length, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts it to deep point and opens his account with a single.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Mumbai Indians have the early wicket they were after! Deepak Chahar bends his back and serves a well-directed bumper at the left shoulder of the batter. Rahul Tripathi swings to hook it away but the ball gets big on him and he gets rushed in the shot. The ball lobs off the gloves behind where the keeper Ryan Rickelton leaps to his left and takes it over his head. Deepak Chahar is charged up and why not? First played a fantastic cameo with the bat, and now picks up a crucial wicket off his very first over. Rahul Tripathi departs on 2 (3).

On a back of a length, too straight, on the pads, Ravindra looks to help it away. Gets an inside edge onto the pads. A single is taken as the ball rolls towards square leg.

FOUR! First boundary of the chase! Chahar errs in both line and length. This is short and wide on off, Ravindra flays at it but gets a thickish outside edge that flies down to deep third. The fielder in the deep is quite square and stands no chance.

Slides on the pads does Deepak, on a length, glanced down to deep fine leg for a single.

Lovely delivery! First one from Boult that jags back in off the deck and keeps a bit low as well, on a short of a length, Rachin hangs back to deal with it but gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball goes on the bounce to the keeper Ryan Rickelton.

On a hard length, on off, Ravindra fails to get on top of the bounce and stabs it out beside the pitch on the off side.

Wide! Pushed down leg, on the fuller side, Rachin misses the tickle.

Nice and full, attacking the stumps, Rahul presents a straight bat and knocks it past the bowler for a single to get off the mark. Satyanarayana Raju runs to his right at mid off and cuts it off with a tumble.

Offers width but Boult gets away with it. At 136.4 kph, on the shorter side, Rachin throws his hands at it but ends up chopping it down in front of point for one.

Pitches it up does Boult and gets a good away shape, outside off, Rachin lets it be.

Rachin Ravindra and Chennai Super Kings are underway! Sliding onto the pads from over the wicket, on a nagging length, Rachin flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.