Rapid Umesh rattles CSK; KKR win opening match

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the opening game of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). The match was played in the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Umesh Yadav was adjudged to be the Man of the Match.

KKR spinners keep CSK quiet

In the second half of the 2021 season, the strength of KKR was identified to be their spinners. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine often bowled in tandem and tormented the batters. If anything is to be learned from the first half of yesterday’s game, it is that KKR's strength will largely remain the same this season.

After Umesh Yadav set the platform brilliantly with the two wickets of the openers in the powerplay, Chakravarthy and Narine strangled the batters, virtually giving them no chance of scoring. Between the two of them, 8 overs were bowled with only 38 runs conceded. Despite only 1 wicket being shared by them, that of Robin Uthappa, the pressure that mounted on Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja meant the latter was run out in the search of runs.

Dhoni salvages crucial runs for CSK

When Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked in during the 11th over, CSK were reeling at 61-5. Despite the legacy that he holds, only few would have expected a man who plays cricket for only two months a year to be the top scorer for their side.

Dhoni started slowly, understandably. So slow that, by the end of the 17th over, he had just scored 15 runs off 25 balls. However, all it took was for one ball from Andre Russell, a ball that offered enough width and bounce, for Dhoni to fiercely cut behind square and go back to his vintage self. With new skipper Ravindra Jadeja unable to find the middle of the bat, the onus was on the Super Kings’ former captain to post a competitive total.

Just as the occasion called, Dhoni smashed another 35 runs off the next 13 balls, reaching his 50 in 38 balls. CSK were 84-5 at the end of the 17th over; Dhoni’s vital contribution, accompanied by a last-ball six from Jadeja, meant the Super Kings managed 47 runs in the last 3 overs, taking the team total to 131. Not all hope was lost for the men in yellow just yet.

Bravo equals Malinga’s record

Dwayne Bravo is a Twenty-20 stalwart, garnering heaps of wickets in any tournament he plays in. So, when he equalled Lasith Malinga’s record of most wickets in the IPL, suffice to say, most knew it was a matter of time. Bravo, like Dhoni, showed that he was still very much worth his gold despite being the age of 38.

On a night when little went the Super Kings’ way, Bravo looked to make his own fortunes. He picked up 3 wickets, giving CSK the slightest of hopes with each scalp. Bravo also managed to be economical, going at 5 runs per over. Despite his efforts going in vain, the team management will be glad to know that the champion is as good as ever.

Captain Iyer sees the Knight Riders through

KKR had almost no hiccups throughout the game. Yet, there was also a period where they were unable to find the boundary for over 20 balls, with Bravo chipping away with wickets as well. Shreyas Iyer, on KKR captaincy debut, assured his new team that there would be no anxiety at any point. Iyer went at less than a-run-a-ball, only getting his first and only boundary with the final hit of the game. However, his calming presence ensured that CSK would find no cracks in the solid performance of the men in purple. Iyer’s tenure in his new team has gotten off to a flying start, and the Knight Riders will hope to build on from here and go a step further than 2021, when they ended up runners-up to CSK.