Indian Premier League: Chennai Super Kings faced Royal Challenger Bangalore in the opening match of IPL 2019- see pictures.
IPL 2019: Chennai Super Kings spinners rocked Royal Challengers Bangalore's batting as they won the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 by seven wickets on Saturday.
On a slow Chepauk turner, CSK spinners wreaked havoc as they bundled out Virat Kohli's men for just 70 runs. MS Dhoni, who won the toss and decided to bowl first, introduced Harbhajan Singh in the second over. The senior off-spinner rolled back years with figures of 3/20.
CSK vs RCB, IPL 2019: Full Scorecard
Once Harbhajan had wreaked havoc, Imran Tahir (3/9 in 3 overs) tormented RCB even more with his traditional leg-breaks to kill the contest in the first half. With so much assistance for spinners, Ravindra Jadeja wasn't going to be left behind, finishing with 2/15 in 4 overs.
In the chase, Chennai lost Shane Watson for a duck. It was not easy batting in the second innings as well. However, it was never a competitive total and CSK reached it in 17.2 overs with loss of three wickets.
Here's the story of the match in pictures-
1. CSK vs RCB: Eyes on the prize
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MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli had their eyes on the prize before the start of the first match of 12th edition of the Indian Premier League on Saturday. (Image: PTI)
2. CSK vs RCB: MS Dhoni won the toss
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MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to bowl first in the first match IPL 2019. Virat Kohli's RCB handed IPL debuts to Shivam Dube and Shimron Hetmyer. (Image: PTI)
3. CSK vs RCB: Abhinandan on the mind
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Fans during the first match of IPL 2019 at MAC Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. (Image: PTI)
4. CSK vs RCB: Chennai fans in attendence
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Chennai fans were in full support behind their team during the match. (Image: PTI)
5. CSK vs RCB: Tribute to martyrs
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Army band playing at Chepauk on Saturday. As a mark of respect to the martyred CRPF personnel who lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Pulwama district, a concert was conducted ahead of the inaugural Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Image: AFP)
6. CSK vs RCB: Dhoni presents cheque to martyrs' family
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BCCI contributed the cost of the opening ceremony towards CRPF and Indian Armed Forces. CSK also presented their first match earnings towards the noble cause. MS Dhoni presented the cheque to a family member of the victim of Pulwama attack before start the first match. (Image: PTI)
7. Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel start for RCB
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Virat Kohli opened the innings for RCB with Parthiv Patel. However, Chennai bowlers Deepak Chahar and Harbhajan Singh kept things tight in the early overs. They were rewarded for this when Kohli (6) was caught in the deep going for a big shot against Harbhajan in the 4th over. (Image: PTI)
8. Harbhajan Singh takes three
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Harbhajan Singh rocked the top-order with a three-wicket burst. The senior off-spinner opening the bowling, rolled back years with figures of 3/20 in his four-over spell. (Image: PTI)
9. Imran Tahir, Ravindra Jadeja too among wickets
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Once Harbhajan had wreaked havoc, Imran Tahir (3/9 in 3 overs) tormented RCB even more with his traditional leg-breaks to kill the contest in the first half. With so much assistance for spinners, Ravindra Jadeja wasn't going to be left behind, finishing with 2/15 in 4 overs.
10. RCB all out for 70
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Royal Challengers Bangalore were all out for a paltry 70 in 17.1 overs. Parthiv Patel (29) was the only notable contribution on Saturday. (Image: PTI)
11. Chennai win by 7 wickets
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In the chase, Chennai lost Shane Watson for a duck. It was not easy batting in the second innings as well. However, it was never a competitive total and Rayudu (28) ensured that CSK reached it easily in 17.2 overs with loss of three wickets. (Image: PTI)
