IPL 2021 resumes, Chennai beat Mumbai by 20 runs

THE 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) resumed after a gap of more than four months on Sunday (19) and former champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) by 20 runs to go to the top of the points table.

The yellow brigade had a horrific start to their innings after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat in the match played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. They were reduced to three for seven with Ambati Rayudu getting retired hurt but a solid knock of 88 not out by opener Ruturaj Gaekwad in just 58 balls propelled the CSK to reach a score of 156 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Ravindra Jadeja scored 26 off 33 while Dwayne Bravo made 23 off eight to give Gaikwad key partnerships to take their team to a competitive total.

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For the Indians, pacers Trent Boult, Adam Milne and Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets each.

The Super Kings then hit back hard to pick six wickets of the Kieron Pollard-led Indians’ side for only 94 in the 14th over with the tail left to accomplish a tall task. Saurabh Tiwary scored 50 not out off 40 balls but it was not enough for the defending champions to overhaul the target. The Mumbai Indians are without the service of their regular captain Rohit Sharma and ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Chennai spearhead Deepak Chahar took two wickets for 19 runs and Bravo took three for 25. Mumbai finished at 136 for 8 in 20 overs and are placed at No.4 of the points table with eight points from as many matches. Gaikwad was adjudged the man of the match.

Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the next match in Abu Dhabi on Monday (20).

The 2021 edition of the IPL was suspended after 29 games in early May because of the outbreak of the devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that killed several people in India.