IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings Vs Mumbai Indians Highlights: Rohit guides MI to an easy 8-wicket win

Pune, April 28: Rohit Sharma played a captain's knock and guided Mumbai Indians to a comfortable 8-wicket win over table-toppers Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 encounter here on Saturday (April 28).

Leading his team from the front, Rohit (56* off 33) struck a fine half-century as his team chased down a competitive 170-run target for the loss of just two wickets.

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In a must-win game to keep their playoffs hopes alive, Mumbai Indians put up a clinical show first with the ball and later the batsmen helped the visitors reach home without breaking a sweat.

It’s back on for @mipaltan with a hard-fought win over @ChennaiIPL @IPL has a long way to go to the playoffs! #SelectDugout #KentCricketLive

— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) April 28, 2018

Suryakumar Yadav (44 off 34 balls) and Evin Lewis (47 off 43) gave their team a solid start after Mumbai bowlers restricted Chennai to 169 for 5 in 20 overs.

Lewis, who was struggling with the bat in his previous outings, added some runs in front of his name though he scored very slowly tonight. His knock comprised three fours and two sixes and he scored at a strike rate of just 109.3.

Learning a trick or two from the best in the business!

The Jharkhand boys - Ishan Kishan and MS Dhoni bond after the game.#CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/yYlyGSWzUs

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 28, 2018

Suryakumar, who is doing wonders with the bat ever since he's been asked to open the innings for MI, once again looked in sublime form. The right-handed batsman from Mumbai batted aggressively and did the bulk of scoring in the powerplay. He was batting at 38* off 26 at the end of the sixth over while his partner at the other end had scored just 10 runs.

Yadav was dismissed by Harbhajan Singh in the 10th over when the scoreboard read 69. But the visitors looked in control as Chennai bowlers were hardly posing any threats. Jadeja took a sensational catch near the ropes to bring an end to his innings.

One stunning catch that was to give the initial breakthrough! #whistlepodu #yellove #CSKvMI 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/CtVzbpx62L

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 28, 2018

It was pleasing to see Rohit promoting himself at No. 3 as the skipper desperately needed to put some runs under his belt and lead the team to a convincing win.

The right-handed batsman looked rock solid from the moment he stepped into the field and started scoring. The Mumbaikar smashed two massive sixes off Shane Watson's over to clear his intention while Lewis also started playing aggressively from the other end.

Rohit notched-up his 34th IPL fifty with a boundary. He smashed four back-to-back boundaries in that over bowled by Shardul Thakur to display his class and lazy elegance. Rohit was named the man of the match for his captain's knock.

.@ImRo45 promoted himself to No. 3 with the intent of taking the team home. And, boy, what an innings that was! Calm and cautious to begin with but studded with exquisite shots after he settled in.#क्रिकेटमेरीजान #MI #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/94XbqAqwqm

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 28, 2018

Rohit's teams have never lost when he has remained not out while chasing in IPL. He has remained not out 16 times and won all - 4 times for Deccan Chargers (now defunct) and 12 for Mumbai Indians.

Hardik Pandya joined his skipper into the middle after Lewis was dismissed in the 18th over bowled by Dwayne Bravo. Pandya also freed his hands and remained undefeated at 13* (8 balls). The Baroda all-rounder also had the privilege of hitting the winning runs.

Earlier, Suresh Raina slammed a brilliant 47-ball 75 and guided Chennai Super Kings to a 169/5 against Mumbai Indians in their second encounter against them in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 here on Saturday (April 28).

That tally has surely gone up this season! Many more happy runs to come, Chinna Thala! #whistlepodu #CSKvMI #yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/3AGkbLYxwc

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 28, 2018

Raina, who had missed a couple of matches due to a calf injury, hit the fences six times and blasted four sixes in his unconquered innings after Ambati Rayudu (46 off 35 balls) continued his impressive run and set the foundation for Chennai.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also chipped in with 26 off 21 balls which were studded three boundaries and a six before Mumbai bowlers made a terrific comeback in the death overs to prevent CSK from scoring big and posting a daunting total.

The last time MI played without Kieron Pollard in #IPL - against SRH at Hyderabad on 18 April 2016 (SRH won by 7 wkts!)#CSKvMI#IPL2018

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 28, 2018

Mitchell McClenaghan (2/26) and Krunal Pandya (2/32) were the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai, while Hardik Pandya (1/39) also scalped one wicket.

Put into bat, Ambati Rayudu gave a flying start to Chennai after opening his innings with a six off McClenaghan in the third ball. His partner Shane Watson, however, couldn't stay long as his attempted slog-sweep off-spinner Krunal landed on the safe hands of Mayank Markande at square leg.

Raina then joined Rayudu and the duo blasted a six each to accumulate 15 runs off the over as CSK scored 39-1 in 5 overs. The Mumbaikar then sent the ball soaring over the ropes and hit a four to take his team across the 50-mark in the powerplay overs.

Raina sent Krunal across the ropes in the next over, before young spin sensation Markande was introduced and he bowled a tight over. Ben Cutting was next introduced into the attack and Rayudu smacked him over long-on, while Raina punched him across the extra cover to accumulate 14 runs and complete their 50-run partnership.

Markande was next in line for Raina as he sent him for a boundary over his head before sending the ball sailing over long-on as CSK scored 91 for 1 off 10 overs.

People in Marathi accents and #CSK shirts. #IPL Jai Ho

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 28, 2018

In the 12th over, Krunal dismissed the dangerous Rayudu when he tried to clear the ropes with a sweep shot but ended up hitting straight to Cutting at deep midwicket. Hero of CSK's last match, skipper Dhoni then joined Raina in the middle as CSK crossed the 100-mark in the 13th over bowled by Bumrah, who gave just one run.

In the 15th over, Dhoni smashed Hardik for back-to-back boundaries and then slammed Markande for an inside-out shot across the cover boundaries before depositing him over long-on. Bumrah then came back for his second spell and Raina sent him across the short fine leg boundary and then flicked another one for another four to complete his half-century.

McClenaghan then returned to remove Dhoni, who ended up giving an easy catch to Evin Lewis at deep cover as CSK slipped to 143-3 in 17.1 overs.

One ball later, newman Dwayne Bravo was also sent packing with Markande taking the catch at point. Raina then smashed Bumrah over deep midwicket to take CSK across the 150-mark. Sam Billing also tried to score big but ended up hitting straight to cutting at long-on. Eventually, Raina ended the innings with a six off the last ball.