MS Dhoni, Shreyas Iyer
Credits - IPL

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) started the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on a superb note beating Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the tournament opener at the Chepauk Stadium on March 23 (Saturday).

After a stunning effort by the bowlers to restrict RCB for a cheap score, it was a cakewalk for the Super Kings batters. However, they made a cautious start as they retained their opener pair of Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson. But, Yuzvendra Chahal exploited the spin on offer to get the wicket of Watson for a duck. Since then, Suresh Raina and Rayudu looked confident to take their side over the rope.

IPL 2019: Match 1, CSK vs RCB - Twitter Rejoices as Chennai Start Their Campaign on a Winning Note 1
IPL

On the other hand, only one main spinner in the playing hurt the chances of the visiting team. However, part-time spinner Moeen Ali brought the second damage dismissing Raina. But with the 32-run second-wicket stand, Chennai have already set the tone for the victory. The Indian batsman in that processed crossed 5000 IPL runs.

Chennai Super Kings crossed the target with seven wickets in hand with 18 balls to spare and start the campaign in a perfect note.

Chennai spinners lead the charge

Previously, Harbhajan Singh set the tone for the Chennai Super Kings after MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first. Former India cricketer Krishnachamari Srikkanth predicted the wicket would be on the slower side and it played the same way. Quick to read the pitch, Dhoni brought in Harbhajan in the very second over. He made proper utilisation to unsettle the backbone of the Bangalore batting-order. He bagged the wicket of Virat Kohli, Moeen Ali, and AB de Villiers to leave the visiting team stranded. Windies batsman Shimron Hetmyer who made his debut in IPL made a comical error to get himself out to put Royal Challengers Bangalore at 39 for four.

IPL 2019: Match 1, CSK vs RCB - Twitter Rejoices as Chennai Start Their Campaign on a Winning Note 2
IPL

Imran Tahir announced his arrival soon after Harbhajan Singh finished his quota of four over returning with figures of three for 20. The spinners dominated the course of the game as the veteran leg-spinner Imran Tahir picked another three to rattle the RCB batting. Parthiv Patel was the only batter to reach the double-digit mark as the visitors were all out for a paltry score of 70 runs.

This will be an alarm for the Virat Kohli-led side who needs to find their combinations right in this long tournament.

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Ankush Das

I am an accountant by qualification, my parents thought their obedient son would study further to become a CA, but I had other things in mind. An ardent Cricket fan is following his passion and making...