IPL 2024 Match Result: CSK Beat RCB By Six Wickets in Season Opener; Mustafizzur Rahman Stars With Four-Wicket Spell

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IPL 2024 Match Result: Defending Champions Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets in the opening match of the IPL 2024 season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday (March 22).

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman starred in the win with a spell of 4/29 that left Royal Challengers Bangalore's batting line-up exposed before Anuj Rawat (48) and Dinesh Karthik (38*) took the side to a respectable total of 173/6.

The target, however, wasn't enough Ravindra Jadeja (25 not out off 17 balls) used his vast experience to propel a rusty Dube (34 off 28 balls) into a few quick doubles, completing the chase in 18.4 overs and six wickets to spar. By the end, Dube seemed even more confident in Jadeja's company as he quickly completed the chase.

Rachin Ravindra (37 from 15 balls) deserves credit too, as he set the tone with a masterful opening tee that included three sixes and as many boundaries.

Before being dismissed for good outfield play by Glenn Maxwell, Ajinkya Rahane (27 off 19 balls), who had a terrible Ranji season with the bat, also blasted a couple of sixes. Alzarri Joseph and Cameron Green rained short balls on Dube and Daryl Mitchell (22 off 18 balls), with the latter falling victim to one of them.

Mustafizur reminded everyone of his rookie season as RCB batted, but Rawat's outstanding rearguard effort lifted the team to a competitive total. Taking a risk at first, Rawat jumped into Tushar Deshpande, whose natural length is rather shorter. The course was reversed by three sixes and a four in the eighteenth over, as RCB scored 83 runs in their final six overs.

This came after Mustafizur reduced RCB to 78 for five with four wickets in his opening two overs. Had the 'Yellow Brigade' been represented by Matheesha Pathirana, "Fizz," as he is affectionately called in the cricket community, would not have been selected for the starting eleven.

Sensing the pace of the pitch, Mustafizur didn't keep it too full and bowled between the 7-8 metre length to extract enough bounce to achieve a couple of dismissals. This was done in the Powerplay to thwart a rampaging Faf du Plessis (35 off 23). In his first match back in the professional circuit after almost two months, Kohli scored an impressive 21 from 20 balls.

Having got to face only six deliveries in the Powerplay, Kohli's first attacking stroke was a pull six off Maheesh Theekshana (0/36 in 4 overs) but he never looked in rhythm after a two-month paternity break as a mistimed pull led to his dismissal. Rahane had caught it at deep mid-wicket but as he was about slide out, he flicked it inside for Rachin to complete the relay catch.

Mustafizur's best delivery however was one that cleaned up Green when he rolled his wrists to bowl a cutter with a wobbly seam.

At the onset, Deepak Chahar (1/37 in 4 overs) did look woefully short of match practice, as his loopy outswingers got harsh treatment first up from skipper Du Plessis.

But RCB's joy was short-lived as the skipper was caught in the deep after a brisk knock.

Rajat Patidar's (0) wretched run since England Tests continued as he nicked one to Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.

The break in momentum for RCB worked in Chahar's favour as a change of ends saw him bowl one that pitched on back of length and moved a shade to have Glenn Maxwell caught behind.

-With inputs from PTI