IPL 2020: Twitter Erupts As Chennai Super Kings Thrash Mumbai Indians In Tournament-Opener

Riding on fine fifties from Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis, Chennai Super Kings thrashed Mumbai Indians by five wickets to start their IPL 2020 campaign on a strong note. Rayudu scored 71 while du Plessis scored 58 as they shared a decisive stand of 115 runs to help his side start the tournament with a win.

Chasing 163, Chennai Super Kings were off to a poor start with their openers Shane Watson and Murali Vijay departing quickly with just six runs on the board. Trent Boult sent back Watson before James Pattinson dismissed Murali Vijay.

Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu then steadied the ship although they struggled to score at a good pace. By the time the powerplay ended, Chennai Super Kings had managed to score only 37 runs while the scoreboard was reading 70 at the end of the tenth over.

Both the players were mixing caution with aggression to keep their side in hunt. In the 12th over, Rayudu reached his fifty with a four off Jasprit Bumrah. Rayudu was playing the big shots while du Plessis looked happy to play the role of the second fiddle.

Is Rayudu making a statement at number 4? Past is past but just saying. #MIvCSK

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 19, 2020

CSK soon crossed the 100-run mark in the 14th over and needed 47 runs from the final five overs with eight wickets in hand. But before the two set batsmen could take their side home, Rahul Chahar gave Mumbai the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Rayudu for 71 in the 16th over.

But du Plessis remained till the end to make sure CSK cross the line without much trouble. Ravindra Jadeja (10 off 5) and Sam Curran (18 off 6) played fine cameos too before du Plessis and MS Dhoni took the side home with four balls remaining.

Mumbai Indians’ innings:

Earlier in the game, Chennai Super Kings managed to restrict Mumbai Indians to 162 for 9 after the defending champions were off to a flying start. Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock came out all guns blazing, helping their side race away to 45 in just 4 overs.

But before they could inflict further damage, Piyush Chawla and Sam Curran dismissed Rohit and de Kock respectively to reduce Mumbai Indians to 48 for 2 from 46 for 0. From thereon, the four-time champions kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Honestly, not sure if this was the first laddoo or second laddoo…but laddoo laddoo dhaan! ? #Fafulous'ly brought us back into the game! ??? #WhistleFromHome #WhistlePodu #Yellove #MIvCSK pic.twitter.com/z4SdH3Teqc

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) September 19, 2020

Saurabh Tiwary top-scored for the side, scoring 42 but there was little support from the other end. Hardik Pandya started well by hitting two sixes but he and Tiwary returned to the hut in the same over courtesy two brilliant catches from Faf du Plessis. In the last four overs, Mumbai managed to score only 26 runs. For CSK, Lungi Ngidi picked up three wickets while Deepak Chahar and Ravindra Jadeja picked two apiece.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

MI are not getting overs from spin that CSK got from the wily Chawla. And how good has Rayudu garu been so far.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 19, 2020

https://twitter.com/abhiraj1717/status/1307376885932777472

Ambati Rayudu playing IPL is part of unlock 4.0

— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) September 19, 2020

When you are a Mumbai Indian fan the first match loss doesnt matter to you ……#MIvCSK

— Aditya Vora (@ExtrADInary_) September 19, 2020

Ambati Rayudu has the rare privilege of being abandoned by both Indians and Mumbai Indians.#IPL2020 #MIvsCSK

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) September 19, 2020

Looks like Rayudu got a balcony room.

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) September 19, 2020

What an innings by Rayudu. Looks a million dollars today. Clearly the best batsman from either sides, seems to be batting on a different surface. Should he have been on the plane last year? #IPL2020 #CSKvsMI https://t.co/JuvT7IrJVy

— Agent Vikram (@SriniMaama16) September 19, 2020

Brilliant fifty from Ambati Rayudu, under pressure when team were 2 down in no time he handled the pressure well with Faf Du Plessis.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 19, 2020

#MIvCSK
Hmm! MI has Jio logo on their shoulder, while CSK has it on their cap.
So, MI has been using their muscle, and CSK their head.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) September 19, 2020

The best thing out of empty stands in #IPL is to not witness the ‘Tasty Treat Chuk chuk Express’ ? #MIvCSK

— Daksh Khandelwal (@khandelwal_07) September 19, 2020

https://twitter.com/__aditiii__/status/1307347180148027392

*Any six hitting shot*

Faf Du Plessis:- pic.twitter.com/zu8Zluqs5s

— Sarcaster ?? (@sarcaster_) September 19, 2020

Every year Faf Du Plessis does this without fail. I love it! What an athlete ?

— Anirudh (@anirudhsriraman) September 19, 2020

Lungi Ngidi was so pumped up after Sam Curran got Quinton De Kock out. ??

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 19, 2020

Quinton de Kock thug life#MIvCSK #CSKvsMI #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/IXM3IioGYd

— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) September 19, 2020

https://twitter.com/bambamraj__/status/1307336799304343553

Me looking at Dhoni in action after 437 days #MIvCSK #PariWar #PyaarKeAageyWar pic.twitter.com/cfIhZTblXH

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) September 19, 2020

Great that #IPL2020 is on.
But, the crowd sound seems like they recorded for hours at Marina beach, and overlaid it with a few people clapping in the studio.#MIvCSK

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) September 19, 2020

Watch: Faf du Plessis Takes Two Stunners Near Boundary In The Same Over To Stun Mumbai Indians

Also Read: IPL 2020: MS Dhoni Comes Up With Brilliant Reply After Commentator Asks Him Whether He Wants Revenge Against Mumbai Indians