Indian Premier League 2022 began with a six-wicket win for Kolkata Knight Riders as they avenged their defeat of last season’s final against Chennai Super Kings. In a match featuring two new captains for the franchises, who share their birthdays, Shreyas Iyer of KKR prevailed over Ravindra Jadeja of CSK. Shreyas aso played the winning hit to complete the chase at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in Match 1 of IPL 2022.
On a day where M.S. Dhoni’s half-century and Dwayne Bravo’s bowling went in vain, Ajinkya Rahane and later Sam Billings starred for Kolkata.
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Chennai Super Kings 131/5 in 20 overs
Shreyas won the toss and did not hesitate to bowl on his Ranji Trophy home ground. KKR went with only three overseas players – Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Sam Billings – and included both Ajinkya Rahane and Sheldon Jackson in the XI. CSK, on the other hand, included three New Zealand players – Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner, and IPL debutant Devon Conway – as well as Dwayne Bravo.
Umesh Yadav, who played just two matches over the last two seasons, opened bowling for KKR and generated serious pace. He scalped Ruturaj Gaikwad, the highest scorer from last season, for a duck in the very first over, and picked up Conway in his third over as CSK scored 35/2 during the Powerplay.
Robin Uthappa, who held his spot in the CSK lineup, raced to a 21-ball 28 with a couple of fours and sixes, but Jackson stumped him brilliantly off Varun Chakravarthy to cut his innings short. Ambati Rayudu was run out in the next over. And when CSK lost Shivan Dube for three in the 11th over, all seemed lost for them. The score read 61/5 at this point.
Dhoni joined the Jadeja and began cautiously. Shreyas immediately recalled Chakravarthy, who boasts of an excellent record against Dhoni. Despite not looking comfortable, Dhoni played out Chakravarthy's spell. The pair kept taking singles until Dhoni hit a four in the 16th over, after a gap of 48 balls. Even then, the score read 84/5 after 17 overs.
At this point Dhoni finally changed gears, and the next three overs, from Russell and Shivam Mavi, went for 47. Dhoni Dhoni finished with an unbeaten fifty and took the score to 131/5.
Kolkata Knight Riders 133/4 in 18.3 overs
KKR opened batting with Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer. Rahane used the pace of Milne and Tushar Deshpande expertly, scoring runs early in the innings. Bravo came into the attack just after Powerplay to dismiss Venkatesh.
Nitish Rana began aggressively and reached 20 in no time. An over from Dube then went for 15. Bravo got Rana as well, but KKR reached 76/2 in 10 overs. Rahane finally fell to Santner for 44, but his dismissal brought Billings, who, along with Shreyas, looked for quick runs without taking much risk. They duo rotated the strike, with Billings also hitting a huge six off Jadeja.
Bravo got Billings to draw level with Lasith Malinga at the list of all-time list of wicket-takers in IPL history: both men are on 170 wickes. But by then KKR needed just nine runs. With Shreyas in the middle, they closed the chase with nine balls to spare.
Brief Scores
Chennai Super Kings 131/5 in 20 overs (MS Dhoni 50*; Umesh Yadav 2-20) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 133/4 in 18.3 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 44; Dwayne Bravo 3-20) by 6 wickets with 9 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Umesh Yadav.
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