Making a return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in its 11th edition after serving a two-year suspension, two-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made an impact in their first match against Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians by picking two early wickets in the first power play.
At the end of six overs, Mumbai Indians were at 39/2, thanks to a few powerful strokes by Suryakumar Yadav.This opening match of IPL 2018 promises to be a thriller as arch rivals Mumbai Indians and M D Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings takes on defending champions Mumbai Indians at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium
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Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, set to open the decade-old T20 League in a grand style after a formal opening ceremony, are among the most successful IPL teams.
CSK vs MI: Head to head In recent times, Mumbai Indians have dominated Chennai Super Kings, winning their three preceding matches against CSK in a row.
Here is a look at MI vs CSK rivalry so far in IPL T20 matches:
While CSK is led by former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is back at the helm after the franchise's two-year ban in 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons along with Rajasthan Royals over a march-fixing scandal, Mumbai Indians is captained by India opener Rohit Sharma.
The two sides share a fair bit of history, both having made it to three IPL finals so far.
CSK picked their first title at the lucrative T20 tournament by thrashing Mumbai Indians in 2010 before the latter side went on to win the subsequent two IPL finals which were also played by the same two teams.
Last year, Mumbai Indians surpassed CSK as the most successful team in the IPL history by clinching the title.
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Here are a few important things to know about the opening IPL 2018 match between CSK and MI, the rivalry between the two sides, and IPL 2018 in general:First two wickets within 5 overs: Coming to bat first Mumbai Indians lost both openers, Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis, inside five overs. For Chennai Super Kings Deepak Chahar opened the bowling and trapped Lewis in front of wicket in the third over. Rohit Sharma got out while trying to pull Shane Watson’s in the 5th over. Ambati Rayadu took a skier to dismiss Rohit..
There was, however, some bad news for M S Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings ahead of the opening game, as South African Faf du Plessis opted out of the openning match against Mumbai Indians which promises to be a thriller, owing to a finger injury.
Rule change in IPL 2018: Meanwhile, the Decision Review System has also been introduced in the 2018 edition.
For the first time in the history of the IPL, a five-day transfer window has also been allowed in the middle of the lucrative T20I league, where uncapped players who have appeared in two or lesser matches can be roped in by other teams to boost their reserves.
Chennai Super Kings prepared to take on Mumbai Indians: Stephen Flemming
Relishing the opportunity to take on defending champions Mumbai Indians in their opener after returning to the Indian Premier League after a two-year gap, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming on Friday said there are nerves in the camp but "no more than normal".
"I think we are well prepared. It's just a lot of nerves around, but no more than normal. Players want to get into it and we've had the best part of 12 days leading into the competition. The general feeling is we're just ready to go," Fleming said on the eve of their match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
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Flemming on the average age of Chennai Super Kings: "I'm not sure when a young player came out and was the top run-scorer. You get some exceptions, like Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) and Washington Sundar. But there's only a handful, whereas experienced players play major parts in the whole tournament, so thats why I value experience," Fleming said.
"There's also about the quality of player, like (Dwayne) Bravo is still competing well, (Shane) Watson's competing well, Harbhajan (Singh) has great skill sets and Dhoni is a fine leader. So the players weve picked, I dont think they are spent by any means. It is a year-by year proposition and this year I think they look very good", said CSK head coach.
Anil Kumble on spinners in IPL 2018: Anil Kumble believes Mumbai Indians will miss the experience of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who has joined Chennai Super Kings and said the onus would be now on allrounder Krunal Pandya to lead the spin department for the defending champions in IPL 2018.
"Mumbai Indians will certainly miss the experience of Harbhajan Singh as spinner. Krunal Pandya is a really good all-rounder, but he will have to lead the spinners now," said Team mentor Kumble.
"They have Rahul (Chahar) as a leg spinner, but again an unknown youngster. the experience of someone like Bhajji (Harbhajan) during those four overs and also what he brings with the bat as well ... but having said that they have the other bases covered", said Anil Kumble.
Mumbai Indians pace bowling attack: Kumble also believes that Bangladesh pacer Muztifizur Rahim and India's Jasprit Bumrah will play a crucial role in the death overs for Mumbai Indians.
The Mumbai Indians have got Mustifizur Rahim, so that he can play that role of bowling in the death overs. They have (Jasprit) Bumrah, who has grown leaps and bounds, he is the go-to bowler for the team, said Kumble when asked whether Mumbai will also miss the services of Lasith Malinga, who is now their bowling mentor.
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Mustafizur Rahman, Pat Cummins, Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Chahar, Evin Lewis, Saurabh Tiwary, Ben Cutting, Pradeep Sangwan, Jean-Paul Duminy, Tajinder Singh, Sharad Lumba, Siddhesh Lad, Aditya Tare, Mayank Markande, Akila Dananjaya, Anukul Roy, Mohsin Khan, MD Nidheesh, Mitchell McClenaghan.
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (C), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Faf du Plessis, Harbhajan Singh, Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Kanishk Seth, Lungi Ngidi, Dhruv Shorey, Murali Vijay, Sam Billings, Mark Wood, Kshitiz Sharma, Monu Kumar, Chaitanya Bishnoi, Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma, Shardul Thakur, N Jagadeesan.
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