The Royal Challengers Bengaluru got off to a flying start after being put in to bat first by Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. Former CSK star Faf du Plessis looked in ominous touch, timing the ball sweetly and finding the boundaries regularly in the powerplay.
Du Plessis raced to 20 off just 13 balls, punishing the CSK bowlers with a flurry of boundaries through the offside. His opening partner Virat Patidar also got going, as RCB reached 41/0 after 4.2 overs.
However, the momentum swung dramatically in CSK’s favor in the next over. Gaikwad turned to his Bangladesh import Mustafizur Rahman, who struck two crucial blows. First, the wily seamer had du Plessis caught at deep point for 22 as the RCB skipper went for one expansive shot too many.
Two balls later, Patidar’s lack of footwork did him in as he nicked a wide delivery straight to the keeper, walking back for 12. From 41/0, RCB had slumped to 42/2 in the blink of an eye.
Glenn Maxwell joined young opener Anuj Rawat at the crease, but failed to get going immediately. Tushar Deshpande kept things tight as RCB could only muster 42/3 at the end of the powerplay.
After a blistering start, RCB will now need to rebuild carefully on a pitch that seems to be offering some assistance to the seamers. Key men like Maxwell, Rawat and Shahbaz Ahmed will need to bat deep to post a competitive total against the star-studded CSK bowling attack.
Divya 
Priyanka 
user