Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Highlights & Results

Right then, the 17th edition of the Indian T20 League has taken off with the reigning champions, Chennai, getting their campaign off to a winning start, marking a successful debut for Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain. Saturday, the 23rd of March, will be the first of many double-header days where Punjab will host Delhi in the first game of the day at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). It will be followed by Kolkata taking on Hyderabad, and that game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). As you know, our build-up for both games will begin much sooner. See you then. Cheers!

Mustafizur Rahman is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliance with the ball, taking 4 for 29 from his four overs.

The skipper of Chennai, Ruturaj Gaikwad says that they were in total control of this game. Mentions that two or three overs here and there but the spinners pulled back things. Adds that they gave away 10-15 runs too many but credit to the Bengaluru batters for the way they batted. He opines that quick wickets were the turning point and getting Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell in quick succession was very good.  Adds that he has always enjoyed captaining and has not felt any added pressure. Shares that he has MS Dhoni in his side and everyone in their squad is an experienced player. States that Ajinkya Rahane is also batting really well and everyone knows how to play and who to take on. Ends by saying that there were a lot of positives but reckons that they have still two to three things to work on.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

The captain of Bengaluru, Faf du Plessis says that they were looking to get ahead of the game at the start but unfortunately lost a few quick wickets that brought them on the backfoot. He adds that the bowling was a little bit behind and the batters have been a step ahead from the start. He mentions that they managed to pull things back with a few wickets but it was not enough. Talks about Shivam Dube being a very good batter against spin but the way he played the bouncers was very good to watch. Ends by saying that Anuj Rawat showed good composure and it is a positive sign for the team.

Earlier in the game, after Faf du Plessis called it right, he had no hesitation in opting to bat first. Faf du Plessis got off the blocks quickly and got Bengaluru off to a flier. His departure triggered a mini-collapse as Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell departed in quick succession without troubling the scorers. Virat Kohli and Cameron Green got together to steady the ship but before they could break free, their stay was cut short. Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik joined hands and had a real job on their hands at that stage. Both batters started by picking the ones and twos before changing gears. Rawat was the aggressor of the two batters and thanks to the 95-run rescue act by him and Karthik, Bengaluru recovered from 78-5 to get to 173. For Chennai, Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 29 from his four overs. All his wickets came in the middle phase which helped Chennai to claw their way back into the game after a brisk start from Bengaluru.

As for Bengaluru, having recovered from a precarious position and finished well with the bat, they had a fighting total on the board. Mohammed Siraj was a bit off with his lines and lengths but Yash Dayal made the new ball talk to get the prized scalp of Chennai skipper. However, they were not able to build on that scalp and Rachin Ravindra took the attack to them. They staged a mini-comeback in the middle phase with twin strikes from Cameron Green and a solitary wicket from Karn Sharma. Considering the kind of start they had, Chennai had the chase under control despite losing three wickets in the middle phase and Bengaluru needed to pick up a wicket or two at that stage to get their noses in front. Their short-ball ploy did not work out against Dube and he joined hands with Jadeja and took the game away from them.

Chennai begin their title defence with a win! A job well done by the defending champions in the curtain raiser and they have outstretched their record, winning the last eight Indian T20 League games at home against Bengaluru. In pursuit of 174 runs, Ruturaj Gaikwad walked out to open the innings with his new opening partner, Rachin Ravindra. Playing in his maiden Indian T20 League game, Ravindra was quick to get into the groove. Although Gaikwad's inning was short-lived, Ravindra kept finding the boundaries to set the tone of the chase. However, he failed to kick on, and the onus was then on Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell to take the innings forward. Rahane could not convert his start, and it was the same story with Mitchell. Having soaked up the barrage of short balls, the Impact Player, Shivam Dube, grew in confidence as the innings progressed. At the other end, Ravindra Jadeja did not allow the bowlers to settle and ticked along at a good rate. A 66-run unbeaten stand between the two southpaws took Chennai over the line with 8 balls to spare.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, 4 Leg byes.FOUR LEG BYES! Chennai and Shivam Dube finish off the run chase and have won the first game of the season. Alzarri Joseph pitches the ball up with pace on the pads of Shivam Dube who looks to flick the ball but gets a hit on the pads and the ball rolls away to the fine leg fence for a boundary. Bengaluru take the review but the Ball Tracking shows that the ball has pitched outside the leg stump.

This looks more in hope than anything else. The third umpire is called into action for an LBW review. Nothing on UltraEdge and as it looked at first glance, the ball has pitched outside leg on Ball Tracking.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, Six!SIX! Shivam Dube slams Alzarri Joseph for a huge SIX! Alzarri Joseph drops it short once again and this time Shivam Dube stands ready and pulls it away from the middle of the bat and deposits the ball into the stands over deep square leg. Chennai now just 2 runs away from the first win of the season.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, No run.A very well-directed short ball again at the batter. Shivam Dube looks to launch a pull but misses it completely.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, Wide!WIDE! Wayward outside the leg stump line with pace. Good take behind the stumps by Anuj Rawat but the umpire signals WIDE.

Alzarri Joseph to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Short of a length, on middle, Ravindra Jadeja pulls it through square leg for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, No run.Short and wide outside the off stump line. Shivam Dube looks to cut the ball but gets beaten.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, Four!FOUR! What a shot from Shivam Dube! Good ball from Mohammed Siraj as he bangs in short on top of the off stump line and Shivam Dube stands tall and launches the ball straight over the bowler's head and gets it to go away to the fence.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, No run.Pitches the ball up on the off stump line. Shivam Dube drives it straight to covers from the crease.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, No run.Zips past the outside edge of the bat this time. Good comeback from Mohammed Siraj from a good length outside the off stump. Anuj Rawat asking the umpire for a caught behind but the umpire says no.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, Four!FOUR! Shivam Dube gets another boundary! Plays the situation well and picks out the gap! Just short from Mohammed Siraj at the body of the batter and Shivam Dube pulls it away to the deep square leg boundary for four more runs.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, No run.Tries to go full but ends up serving a waist-high full toss, on off, Shivam Dube punches it to extra cover.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, 1 run.Fuller and on off, Shivam Dube knocks it with a straight bat to mid off for a single.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, 4 Byes.FOUR BYES! That has zipped through! Bangs it in short, around off, Shivam Dube misses out on the pull and the ball sails through towards the keeper. Anuj Rawat leaps but the ball keeps rising and only manages to get fingertips to it. The ball races away for a boundary.

Halt! Anuj Rawat has injured his right index finger and the physio is out to have a look. The treatment is complete and we are all good to go now.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, Wide!WIDE! Another wayward bouncer! The Umpire signals wide.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, Four!FOUR! Uses the pace to his advantage! Shivam Dube playing a gem of an innings! Back of a length, on off, Shivam Dube waits on it and uses the pace to ramp it wide of short third for a boundary.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, Wide!WIDE! Too short this time, over the head of Shivam Dube. The umpire signals a WIDE!

Alzarri Joseph to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Angling across, on a back of a length, outside off, Ravindra Jadeja drags the pull to wide long on for a single.

Alzarri Joseph to Ravindra Jadeja, 2 runs.Another good short ball at Ravindra Jadeja with pace. Ravindra Jadeja looks to pull it but is rushed and tosses it up in the air towards the mid-wicket region. The batters run hard and pick up a couple.

Alzarri Joseph to Ravindra Jadeja, 2 runs.Bangs the ball in short just outside the off stump line and Ravindra Jadeja stays back and cuts the ball to sweeper covers for a single. Mohammed Siraj throws it towards the batting end and hits the stumps there. The ball rolls towards the keeper and Jadeja wants to sneak in a single. He gets sent back by Dube. Anuj Rawat picks it up and tries to catch Jadeja by surprise by throwing at the bowling end. He fails to hit the stumps at the bowling end and no one is alert enough to back the throw up. The batters pick up the second off the over throw at the bowler's end and it was a needless throw from the Bengaluru keeper.

Cameron Green to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Short and wide to Ravindra Jadeja outside the off stump and he slices it to sweeper cover for a run to end the over.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, 1 run.Holds the length back on top of the stumps and Shivam Dube flicks the ball to deep square leg for a single.

Cameron Green to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Pitches the ball up outside the off stump line. Ravindra Jadeja drives the ball to sweeper covers for a single.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, 3 runs.Short and wide outside the off stump line and Shivam Dube tucks it over point where Mayank Dagar saves a boundary and keeps it down to 3 runs at deep backward point.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, Wide!WIDE! Wayward bouncer over the head of the tall Shivam Dube. The umpire signals wide.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, Four!FOUR! Short ball and punished! Shivam Dube uses the pace and finds the gap! Cameron Green bangs in short at the body of the batter. Shivam Dube stays on the crease and pulls it away with good timing between deep square leg and fine leg to pick up four runs.

Cameron Green to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Holds the length back on top of the stumps. Ravindra Jadeja flicks the ball from the crease towards Rajat Patidar at deep mid-wicket for a single.

Strategic Break! The game looks to be going down the wire with Chennai needing 46 in 30 balls. The pair of Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja are at the crease and will look to bat sensibly to get their side over the line from here. Bengaluru have managed 4 wickets and need a couple more quickly to put the pressure back on Chennai. Let's see what happens after the break.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, No run.Slightly slower and shorter, angling away, on off, Shivam Dube tries to drag the pull but misses. The keeper, Anuj Rawat collects it well on the half-volley. 7 runs off the over and Chennai require 46 runs from the last five overs.

Mohammed Siraj to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.This is on a shortish length again, on middle, Ravindra Jadeja pulls it through square leg and rotates the strike.

Mohammed Siraj to Shivam Dube, 1 run.Siraj bangs it into the deck again, on off and middle, Shivam Dube rolls his wrists nicely and hammers the pull towards deep mid-wicket where Glenn Maxwell mops it up. Just a single off it then.

Mohammed Siraj to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Short of a length, on middle, Ravindra Jadeja rides the bounce and controls the pull to deep square leg for one. 5 runs off the first three balls.

Mohammed Siraj to Ravindra Jadeja, 2 runs.A bit too straight again from Siraj, on a back of a length, around leg, Ravindra Jadeja shapes up for the pull but gets it finer than he intended. Cameron Green sprints to his left at fine leg but cannot prevent Jadeja from coming for the second run.

Mohammed Siraj to Ravindra Jadeja, 2 runs.Bowls it at 136 kph, full but the line is on the pads, Ravindra Jadeja flicks it with ease to the right of deep square leg. Glenn Maxwell covers good ground and slides in the deep to keep it down to just two.

Glenn Maxwell to Shivam Dube, No run.Half a shout but turned down and rightly so, as it had come off Dube's pads. Slants it in, on a nagging length, on the pads, Shivam Dube tries to help it away off his pads but misses. The keeper, Anuj Rawat moves swiftly to his right and snaffles it but the umpire is unmoved.

Glenn Maxwell to Shivam Dube, No run.A bit of extra bounce, short and on off, Shivam Dube makes room and cracks the cut towards backward point where Mohammed Siraj dives to his left and saves at least a couple of runs for his side.

Glenn Maxwell to Shivam Dube, No run.Pushes it through, short and on middle; Shivam Dube punches it back to the bowler.

Glenn Maxwell to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Full and sliding in, on middle and leg, eased with a straight bat to long on for one.

Glenn Maxwell to Ravindra Jadeja, Six!SIX! Easy as you like! Maxwell loops it up, full and right in the slot for the batter, on middle, Ravindra Jadeja holds his shape and does not try to overhit this one. Clears the long on fence with ease for a maximum.

Glenn Maxwell to Ravindra Jadeja, No run.Darts this one in from around the wicket, full and on middle, Ravindra Jadeja plays for the turn but this keeps straight and it comes off the inner half of the bat towards the bowler.

Glenn Maxwell comes into the attack for Bengaluru.

Cameron Green to Ravindra Jadeja, 1 run.Slower and shorter, on middle, Ravindra Jadeja pulls it without much timing to deep mid-wicket and retains the strike with a single. End of a successful over from Green and Chennai now need 60 runs in 42 balls.

Cameron Green to Ravindra Jadeja, 2 runs.Angling in, on a length, outside off, Ravindra Jadeja extends his arms and drives it to the left of deep cover. He takes a couple of runs to get off the mark.

Cameron Green to Ravindra Jadeja, Wide!WIDE! Green tries the bumper again but this goes over the batter's head for a wide. Anuj Rawat leaps and makes the stop.

Cameron Green to Ravindra Jadeja, No run.Comes from around the wicket for the left-hander and delivers it on a hard length, Ravindra Jadeja taps it in front of cover and looks for a single but the fielder is quick to get to the ball and prevents the quick single.

Ravindra Jadeja walks out to bat for Chennai.

Cameron Green to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! c Rajat Patidar b Cameron Green.OUT! CAUGHT! Cameron Green has his second and the short ball ploy has done the trick for Bengaluru. Green digs it in short again, over off and middle, Daryl Mitchell backs away and stays deep in his crease. Mitchell does not back down from taking on the short ball and shapes up to flat bat it down the ground. He does not get the desired elevation and hits it flat and straight down the throat of long on where Rajat Patidar does the rest.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, 1 run.In the air..but it falls safe! Green bowls it on a back of a length, on middle, Shivam Dube tries to pull it away but fails to ride the bounce. It comes off the upper half of the bat but lands safely in the vacant square leg region. They cross.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, No run.A big, big shout for caught behind but turned down! The keeper, Anuj Rawat is convinced as is Cameron Green. Faf du Plessis takes the review. Green steams in from over the wicket and angles it across, outside off, Shivam Dube tries to take on the short ball but connects with thin air. There is nothing on UltraEdge and Bengaluru lose their review. Signalled as one bouncer for the over from the umpire.

Alzarri Joseph to Daryl Mitchell, 2 runs.Joseph takes pace off this time but the length stays short, over off and middle, Daryl Mitchell clears his front leg and waits for the ball to arrive. Pulls it to the right of wide long on and comes back for the second run. 7 runs off it, not a bad over for Chennai considering that they need just over 8 runs per over at this stage.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, 1 run.Bends his back and digs it in short, at the helmet of the batter, Shivam Dube anticipates it and pulls it through square leg for one more run.

Alzarri Joseph to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.This is bowled at 143.9 kph, on a hard length, on middle, Daryl Mitchell sits deep in his crease and he is unable to transfer his weight onto the front foot. He is hurried into his shot and mistimes the hit to long on and they cross.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, 1 run.Another bumper aimed at Dube, on off, Shivam Dube gets on his toes and drags the pull to deep mid-wicket for one.

Alzarri Joseph to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.At 142 kph, on a hard length, around off, Daryl Mitchell goes deep in his crease to go big on the leg side but he has to check his shot seeing the length and ends up pushing it in front of long on for a run.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, 1 run.This is on a back of a length, outside off, Shivam Dube stays leg side of the ball and punches it to deep point for one.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, 1 run.Short of a length, angling away, outside off, Shivam Dube slashes at it and gets an outside edge that goes down to deep third for one.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, No run.Goes short again does Green, at the batter, Shivam Dube shapes up for the pull but connects with thin air.

Cameron Green to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.Length delivery, on the pads, Daryl Mitchell works it in front of square on the leg side and gets to the other end.

Cameron Green to Shivam Dube, 1 run.Keeps it into the wicket, over middle, Shivam Dube pulls it to deep mid-wicket and takes a single to open his account.

Shivam Dube is the Impact Player for Chennai, replacing Mustafizur Rahman. Dube walks out to bat now.

Cameron Green to Ajinkya Rahane, OUT! c Glenn Maxwell b Cameron Green.OUT! TAKEN! Cameron Green fights back! Ajinkya Rahane goes after the short ball again but it does not come off this time! Green bangs it into the deck and serves it on off, Ajinkya Rahane is tries to adjust to play the pull. He checks his pull and it goes only as far as deep square leg where Glenn Maxwell runs initially but recovers well to time the jump and reverse cups it over his head. A much-needed breakthrough for Bengaluru.

Cameron Green to Ajinkya Rahane, Six!SIX! Ajinkya Rahane takes on the short ball and gets the reward! Green digs it in short, at the body of the batter, Ajinkya Rahane hops back and swivels to ride the bounce. Pulls it with disdain over deep backward square leg for a maximum.

Cameron Green to Ajinkya Rahane, Wide!WIDE! Starts from over the wicket and tries to angle it back in but slips it down leg, on a length, Ajinkya Rahane misses the tickle and it is called a wide.

Mayank Dagar to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.Short ball at the batter this time. Ajinkya Rahane gets deep in the crease and flicks the ball to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.Fires it in, on a fullish length, around off, Daryl Mitchell digs it out in front of cover for a single.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, No run.Flat and short, on middle, Daryl Mitchell plays it back to the bowler.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, No run.Short and wide outside the off stump. Daryl Mitchell cuts it hard but straight to point.

Mayank Dagar to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.Holds the length back on the stumps. Ajinkya Rahane taps it to long on for a run.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.Floats it up fuller on the off stump. Daryl Mitchell drives the ball to long off for a single.

Karn Sharma to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.Fuller on the middle stump. Daryl Mitchell drives it to long on for a run.

Karn Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.Floats the ball up on the line of the stumps. Ajinkya Rahane flicks the ball to deep mid-wicket for another single.

Karn Sharma to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.Holds the length back on the stumps. Daryl Mitchell flicks the ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Karn Sharma to Daryl Mitchell, Six!SIX! Two in two for Daryl Mitchell! Pressure on Karn Sharma straight away! Karn Sharma pitches the ball fuller again but this time bowls it outside the off stump line. Daryl Mitchell takes the front foot outside the line of the off stump and plays the ball over the head of long off and gets his team another maximum.

Karn Sharma to Daryl Mitchell, Six!SIX! That's hit straight as an arrow! Karn Sharma tosses the ball up on the line of the stumps and Daryl Mitchell takes the front foot out and launches the ball up and over the bowler's head for a huge maximum.

Karn Sharma to Daryl Mitchell, No run.Pitches it up on the off stump line. Daryl Mitchell plays a defence straight to covers.

Mayank Dagar to Ajinkya Rahane, No run.Bowls an arm ball from a shorter length on the middle stump line. Ajinkya Rahane is hurried and gets a hit on the pads outside the line of the leg stump.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, 1 run.Just short on the off stump. Daryl Mitchell gets back and drives it to long off to open his account with a single.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, No run.Brings the length back outside the off stump. Daryl Mitchell stays on the crease and knocks the ball towards covers.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, No run.Flighted ball just outside the off stump line. Daryl Mitchell walks out and blocks it back to the bowler.

Mayank Dagar to Daryl Mitchell, No run.Drops it short outside the off stump line. Daryl Mitchell stays back and cuts the ball straight to point.

Mayank Dagar to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.Floats the ball up outside the off stump line. Ajinkya Rahane drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Strategic break! Chennai would have loved for Rachin Ravindra to keep going but this is still a good start for them in the pursuit of 174 runs. The free-scoring strokeplay from Rachin has meant that the required run rate is under control for Chennai. As for Bengaluru, they will be relieved to see the back of Rachin and will now look to tighten the screws in the middle phase with wickets at regular intervals. Time for more spin as Mayank Dagar comes on to bowl. Also, Daryl Mitchell is the new batter for Chennai.

Karn Sharma to Rachin Ravindra, OUT! c Rajat Patidar b Karn Sharma.OUT! CAUGHT! Here is the wicket that Bengaluru were waiting for! Rachin Ravindra departs and Chennai are now 2 down. Karn Sharma tosses the ball up, slow on the line of the stumps and Rachin Ravindra plays a slog sweep timing it well but taking it flat and straight to Rajat Patidar at deep square leg who takes a comfortable catch to send back Rachin Ravindra.

Karn Sharma to Rachin Ravindra, Six!SIX! Rachin Ravindra is hitting flat sixes for fun! and making a statement in his first Indian T20 League game. Karn Sharma drops it short at the batter on top of the off stump line and Rachin Ravindra gets deep in the crease and pulls it away over the deep mid-wicket fence for a flat maximum.

Karn Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.Tosses it up slow on the line of the stumps. Ajinkya Rahane drives the ball to long on for a single.

Karn Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, No run.Pitches the ball short on the off stump line. Ajinkya Rahane gets deep in the crease and plays it straight to point.

Karn Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, 2 runs.Fuller on the stumps with pace. Ajinkya Rahane flicks the ball to the right of long on and runs a couple.

Karn Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, No run.Holds it short at the stumps. Ajinkya Rahane stays back and taps it back to the bowler.

Yash Dayal to Ajinkya Rahane, 3 runs.Buzzers! Dayal bowls it right in the blockhole, on off, Ajinkya Rahane gets his bat down and jams it out to cover-point where Mayank Dagar comes charging in and hits the stumps at the bowling end. Rahane is in by then and the ball deflects towards the mid-wicket region, allowing the batters to run two more runs.

Yash Dayal to Ajinkya Rahane, 2 runs.Just over! Hurls it full again and angling across, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane shapes up to go up and over mid off. Gets it off the toe-end of the bat but gets enough bat on it to clear the backtracking Faf du Plessis there. A couple of runs taken.

Yash Dayal to Ajinkya Rahane, 2 runs.Fuller in length, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane leans into it and carves it over cover-point for a couple of runs.