Rohit Sharma was the star of Mumbai Indians’ batting show on Saturday as the opener made a well-paced 67 off just 48 deliveries on a slow track at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai. The MI skipper smashed six boundaries and three sixes on a pitch where some of the best names struggled to put bat to ball.
Mumbai posted 155 for 4 in their stipulated 20-overs and their bowlers did a fine job defending what seemed a par-total.
In the absence of MS Dhoni who missed Friday’s IPL 2019 encounter due to fever, Chennai Super Kings never looked comfortable during their chase and were eventually bundled out for 109 in 17.4 overs.
Comeback man Murali Vijay top-scored with 38 but Krunal Pandya (2/7) and Lasith Malinga (4/37) ran through CSK’s batting order. Stand-in captain Suresh Raina (2), opener Shane Watson (8), Ambati Rayudu (0) and Kedar Jadhav (6) failed with the bat as the defending champions slipped to a defeat at home for the first time in the season.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Rohit showed that on pitches with a lot of assistance for bowlers, you need the right technique and temperament to score….even in a T20 game. Stand out batsman today. My Man Of The Match too. #CSKvMI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 26, 2019
CSK without Dhoni doesn’t wear the same invincible aura. Batting has become too brittle #CSKvsMI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 26, 2019
.@mipaltan were dominant and in control as the 🔵 get the edge in the classic #CSKvMI rivalry!#VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/yyiBeiPVeN
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 26, 2019
Chinna Thala sentiments aside, not sure Raina can just walk into the CSK XI like he once did.
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) April 26, 2019
Chennai batting order without MS Dhoni. pic.twitter.com/mihixoOExM
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 26, 2019
#CSKvMI CSK with Dhoni
CSK without Dhoni* #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/C0MLTXWPVM— Mufaddal Vohra (@nithishbillava) April 26, 2019
True 🤔#IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/AP8IgiGPbS
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 27, 2019
Rohit Sharma vs CSK in Chepauk:
2 games for Deccan Chargers (2008, 2010)
2 games as MI player (2012, 2013)
2 games as MI captain (2015, 2019)His teams won in all these six matches. #IPL2019 #CSKvMI
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 26, 2019
Victory to CSK without Dhoni😒 #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/Zm0l2uELwh
— Ro¢ky Edwαrd 🎩🎧 (@IAmRockyEdward) April 26, 2019
CSK in last 19 games at Chepauk lost only twice
v MI in IPL 2015
v MI in IPL 2019 #CSKvMI— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 26, 2019
Dhoni to raina #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/IDLENG2Arl
— Romesh sachdev (@sarcasticroms) April 26, 2019
— VIJAY DHONI FAN (@ASultan58738402) April 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/Princy2weets/status/1121838641456865280
We love to say this again and again – Hitman of the Match 💙💪🏻#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #CSKvMI @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/Mj1VGGJJ2G
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 26, 2019
