CSK Vs RCB: Bravo Perform Again To Beat Bangalore.

CSK vs RCB: Bangalore started well but could not continue their attack as Chennai closed them off nicely. In reply, Chennai walks past a target of 156 with eleven balls remaining and 6 wickets in hand. Every batter for Chennai was in double-figure.

Dwayne Bravo, the recent CPL winning captain, was brilliant with the ball. Making important breakthroughs at regular intervals. He got the scalp of RCB skipper, Dangerously looking Glenn Maxwell, and purple cap holder Harshal Patel. His slower deliveries were excellent.

Looking in touch right from the start, Indian youngster Devdutt Padikkal(70) again impressed everyone with his play. Hitting three monstrous sixes supported with five boundaries, His batting was a pleasure to watch.

However, Lord Shardul was in the house. He got rid of the opener, Devdutt Padikkal, who was again looking to play the uppercut which didn’t quite connect. Before him, He got a big scalp of South African legend AB de Villiers, not giving him the length. AB opened his arm anyway but he towered the ball high into the night sky to find Suresh Raina underneath.

No matter the start for the team in red but after the skipper’s departure, they just muffled in silence. From 111/1 they just managed to get 156 in their twenty. Dhoni brigade just gave 6 runs in their last two overs. Bangalore just fell like a house of cards.

Virat Kohli(53) powered the innings from the start by showing a glimpse of the lost form returning. Starting with two consecutive boundaries at the very beginning of the innings raised the platform of the game higher.

To start the Chennai innings, South African batter, Faf du Plessis was innovative with his scoop shots. on the other end, Ruturaj Gaikwad was again excellent. His international campaign is not far if this form is near. Chennai openers were hammering hard throughout the powerplay.

Yuzvendra Chahal broke the initial partnership which was racing like Usain Bolt. A genuine leg spinner dismissal. Gaikwad a fraction early on that one and a fantastic catch diving in front by the skipper.

Wanindu Hasaranga and Navdeep Saini were not at their best in the match. Playing Saini at this pitch which looked to be slowing down at the time was passing was not strategic at all. While the Sri Lankan spinner has failed to replicate his performance against India. I won’t be shocked if he would be left out in the next match and the left-arm spinner, Shahbaz Ahmed, getting a chance.

Faf du Plessis(31) fell to Glenn Maxwell, trying to sweep the ball but was unable to clear the tall Navdeep Saini at short fine-leg. It was a double blow for Chennai.

Moeen Ali(23) and Ambati Rayudu(32) made the situation for RCB worse with quick scoring. It was raining sixes at Sharjah Stadium. Every batter except the skipper had a huge six-moment for CSK.

The purple cap holder improved his position with two breakthroughs of Ali and Rayudu. The first one with a slower ball and another one with a similar ball which did AB’s innings but instead of going straight Rayudu looks to pull it.

A tough loss for Virat Kohli and the team with the way they started the innings. I expect two to three changes in the next match for sure for RCB.

While the Whistle Podu army is just one step away from entering the playoffs. They played unchanged and still will remain unchanged or will get just one change if Dhoni decides to experiment.

Dwayne Bravo grabs the man of the match for tonight. He says that he just strives to be competitive and calls the Indian T20 league the toughest tournament in the world. Adds that the pride and passion he has for the game keeps him going. Tells that the wicket of Kohli was very important and he just kept it simple and stuck to the basics. Feels that the batsmen know what he is going to do but he mixes it well to confuse the batters. Mentions that preparation is the key for him and he practices a lot in the nets. Wants to enjoy the competition when he comes up against the best in the business. On Chennai being called the dad’s army, DJ shares that the message from Dhoni is that they might not be the quickest in the field but have to be the smartest.

Watch the highlights of CSK vs RCB, here.