Right then, Bangalore threw away the advantage of posting a towering total on the board. They lost the plot completely and now have only 156 runs to work with. The pitch looked like a belter and if the dew sets in, it would get even worse for Bangalore. It will all depend on the start in the Powerplay. Let's see how it pans out. Stay tuned for the chase...
...THE RUN CHASE...
It was an outstanding batting effort from Bangalore at the start to leave the disappointment of the last match behind. Virat Kohli batted with an attacking mindset and soon Devdutt Padikkal also joined him. They took the Chennai bowlers to the cleaners. 55 runs came in the Powerplay and Bangalore reached 90 for no loss at the halfway mark. Chennai managed to put the brakes on the scoring rate after that and also removed Kohli to break the 111-run stand. It was that stage of the match when Chenna
Devdutt Padikkal comes up for a quick chat. Says that they started off pretty nicely and after the Powerplay, it got a bit tough to score freely as the pitch was holding up. He adds that they were trying to rotate the strike and hit the bad balls. Shares that the wicket is a bit two-paced and they are confident that they can pull this off with the ball.
A resounding comeback from Chennai! They were under the pump after a flying start from Bangalore but bounced back tremendously well in the second half of the innings. At one stage, Bangalore looked set to touch the 200-run mark but they have been restricted to 156. Splendid.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, ! CAUGHT! Dwayne Bravo picks up his third wicket and it is Suresh Raina who takes the catch. He has been very lively in the field today. Bravo serves a full-length ball, on off. Patel goes after it and lifts it high in the air. The ball goes towards extra cover, Suresh Raina keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a sharp catch. BANGALORE END THEIR INNINGS AT 156/6.
Dwayne Bravo to Wanindu Hasaranga, A low full toss and on off. Wanindu Hasaranga pushes it to covers for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Full-length ball, on the pads. Patel stays back and knocks it down to long on for a single.
Wanindu Hasaranga is the new man in.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Very full and wide outside off, Patel pushes at it and misses.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Chennai have made a solid comeback in this game. Dwayne Bravo gets his second wicket of the game. A length ball, on off. Maxwell makes room and whips it across the line. The ball flies towards deep mid-wicket. Ravindra Jadeja is there in the deep to take the catch with ease.Â
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to push it to the off side but misses.
Harshal Patel comes in at number 6 and will be on strike.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, On a length, on off. Maxwell drives it through cover for a single. A terrific over from Chahar.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Deepak Chahar is not happy with Ruturaj Gaikwad in the deep, he thinks he should've charged and taken the catch. A length ball, on off. Patel stays back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket. The ball hangs in the air for a while. Ruturaj Gaikwad charges forward but then stops midway. The ball lands safely in front of him. They take one.
Deepak Chahar (3-0-31-0) to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, A length ball, on off. Maxwell flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, A full-length ball, on middle. Patel looks to flick it away to the leg side. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards wide mid off. The batters take a single.
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, ! CAUGHT! Tim David goes cheaply. Deepak Chahar who was getting thrashed until now finally gets himself into the wickets column. A length ball, on off, slower in pace. Tim David stays back and chips it straight to Suresh Raina at extra cover. He takes the catch with ease.Â
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, Chahar starts with a dot ball. There was a mix-up in the middle! A length ball, on off. Tim David pushes it to point. Glenn Maxwell calls for a single, he is already down the pitch, but David sends him back. Dwayne Bravo collects the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses the stumps. Maxwell gets inside safely.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! Maxwell latches onto it really well. A full-length ball, on off. Maxwell gets low and whips it across the line. The ball clears the mid-wicket fence with ease. First maximum for him.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to play the reverse-sweep but does not get any connection on it.
Tim David, the debutant, comes in now. Also, Dwayne Bravo (2-0-12-1) is brought back into the attack.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell removes his front leg and flicks it to deep mid-wicket. The batters pick up a brace.
Dwayne Bravo to Tim David, A length ball, on off. David pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Massive chance but a tough one! A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell throws the kitchen sink at it. The ball takes the outer half and flies towards covers. Suresh Raina comes running from extra cover to his left, he puts in a dive but the ball goes past him. The batters take a single. A younger Raina would have taken it.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Nicely bowled. A length ball, around off. Maxwell stays back and looks to defend it out but misses.
The 'Big Show', Glenn Maxwell is in at number 4.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal,! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets two wickets in two deliveries. He is getting his side back into the game. A slower short ball, on middle and off, and this one does not rise much. Devdutt Padikkal struggled today against the short ball and looks to ramp this one over short third man by going down low. The lack of pace doesn't help him as he mistimes his shot aerially towards Ambati Rayudu who takes an easy catch at short third man. Thakur has bowled
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets the big wicket of AB de Villiers. Just when ABD was getting into the groove, Thakur made sure he sends him back to the pavilion. Thakur hurls it short and slow outside off, AB de Villiers throws his bat at it as he attempts to crack it through the line. The ball though goes high in the air off the bottom end of the bat towards covers. Suresh Raina does not have to move an inch as he cups the ball safely in his palms.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Shardul Thakur bangs in a short ball, on off. AB de Villiers stays inside the crease and looks to pull it away but misses.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! BOOM! AB de Villiers goes big this time. A length ball, on off. AB de Villiers hangs back and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take a single this time.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, around off. Devdutt Padikkal works it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
Strategic Time-Out! 13 runs in the last over, otherwise, it was a good passage of play for Chennai after the 10th over mark. They pulled things back a shade through some tidy bowling and also managed to remove Virat Kohli from the crease. Now, four overs are left in the innings and Bangalore would be eyeing a big finish. With AB de Villiers in the middle along with a set batsman in Devdutt Padikkal, Bangalore would be looking to get close to the 200-run mark. It's all about limiting the damage
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, Josh Hazlewood serves it on a length, around off. AB de Villiers drives it through extra cover. The batters pick up two before the fielder in the deep cuts it off. A good over for Bangalore. 13 runs coming off it!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, A length ball, on off. Padikkal punches it through covers for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! BANG! A full-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and muscles it over the long on fence for a maximum. First boundary after the 13th over.
Josh Hazlewood comes back into the attack. He has given away 22 runs in his 3 overs so far.
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, LEG BYE! This one did not bounce as much as anticipated by AB de Villiers. A length ball, on the bodyline. AB de Villiers hangs back and looks to pull it away but misses. The ball goes on to hit his body and rolls to the off side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Devdutt Padikkal tries to be innovative this time. A full toss outside off, Padikkal moves across and scoops it over the keeper's head towards fine leg. Ambati Rayudu gives it a chase but the ball lands safely just in front of him. They take one.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Hazlewood serves a full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal puhses it towards deep point. The batters pick up two comfortably.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and on the leg stump line. Padikkal waits for it but still mistimes his pull. The ball goes uppishly towards deep backward square leg and they get a single. Padikkal wants the second but it's never on. 4 from the over, another good one for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Back of a length and de Villiers tucks it off the back foot towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! A good yorker from Shardul Thakur. This one is around the leg stump and Devdutt Padikkal gets all jammed up. The ball hits the pads and goes on the leg side. They do get a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Length again and on middle and leg. AB de Villiers pushes it towards wide long on and gets across quickly. He thinks about the second but decides against it.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Mistimed! Short in length and outside off, AB tries to cut but ends up chopping it down the pitch.
Shardul Thakur comes back into the attack. His figures are 2-0-17-0 so far. He replaces Ravindra Jadeja.
Who will walk out next? Will they send Srikar Bharat or will they tweak the order a bit and send out AB de Villiers? They go with the latter option and out comes AB de Villiers at number 3. It was a no-brainer, to be honest, after the kind of start Bangalore have got.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Can't get that one through. Pitched up, around off and AB de Villiers creamed it straight to Raina at covers.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Low full toss and this is driven down to long on for a single. Just 3 runs from it and the big wicket of Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower length ball, wide of off stump. Padikkal steers it to the left of short third man and sets off for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, This is clever bowling from Bravo. Full and wide, Padikkal looks to get some bat on it but fails to do so.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Loopy slower ball, on middle. De Villiers pushes it to wide long on and gets off the mark with a single.
Dwayne Bravo comes back into the attack. His figures read 1-0-9-0 so far. He replaces Deepak Chahar.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! Nelson strikes. The man with the golden arm, Dwayne Bravo has done it again. Bravo has finally broken this opening stand and Chennai will breathe a huge sigh of relief. This one is in the slot and the bottom hand comes into play again from Kohli. He whips it across the line but the ball goes straight down to deep mid-wicket and Ravindra Jadeja takes the catch. Afterwards, he even teases to touch the ropes. End of a fantastic knock from Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On a length and around off. Virat Kohli goes for the big swing across the line but misses the ball.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Slower one, but it's short and outside off. Kohli goes deep in his crease to ease it past point and gets a single. That's the end of Ravindra Jadeja's spell.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, This one is fired in full and outside off. Padikkal guides it to third man for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit fuller and outside off. Padikkal tries to squeeze it out late but misses.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, Kohli cuts it off the back foot to deep cover for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, My word! That one gripped and turned away a mile. Jadeja tosses it up on middle and leg and the ball just turns away sharply, leaving Kohli bamboozled as he tries to play inside the line. Almost took the outside edge.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, ! Fifty for Virat Kohli and it's been a true skipper's knock so far! Jadeja drifts onto the pads and Kohli tickles it very fine and the ball races into the fine leg fence. King Kohli made his intentions very clear right from the beginning and his attacking mindset has worked for Bangalore.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Good-length ball, around off. Virat Kohli will retain the strike with a single through covers. Good comeback from Chahar after conceding a boundary on the first ball.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and it's outside off. Padikkal pulls it to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, This time it's very full and outside off. Kohli squeezes it out towards the cover-point region and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Slower delivery, on middle. Kohli blocks it out at the last moment after picking the variation late.Â
Deepak Chahar comes back into the attack. His figures read 2-0-23-0 so far. The pacer has taken some beating in his two overs. Can he redeem himself?
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, eased down through covers for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Fifty for Devdutt Padikkal and this has been an innings of a high calibre so far. Deepak Chahar hurls a length ball, outside off from around the stumps. Padikkal goes up and over backward point and picks up a boundary. 6th fifty in the Indian T20 League for Padikkal, coming off 35 balls. 100 comes up as well!
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Another quicker one, wide of the off stump line. Padikkal cuts it through point and gets another one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Fired in on the pads and Padikkal flicked it to the left of deep square leg. He raced back for the second run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker and flatter, outside off. Padikkal decides not to play at it in the end.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Tossed up, full and very wide. Padikkal squeezes it out towards deep point and gets two as Thakur fumbles it in the deep.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, angling into leg stump. Kohli tucks it towards square leg for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Angled in on middle and leg, Kohli steps out and clips it to mid-wicket.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, around middle and leg. Devdutt Padikkal ducks under this one. The runs keep flowing for Bangalore. 8 runs coming off this one. They are 90/0 at the halfway mark. 200 is very much on!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thaukur bangs in a short ball, on off. Kohli stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take another single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pushes it through point. They take one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, ! THUMPED! Devdutt Padikkal is on a roll. Slightly short and outside off. Devdutt Padikkal hangs back and cuts it through point. The ball races away to the boundary. There is no stopping that one.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Hurls a length ball, on off. Kohli stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket. He takes off for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! Thakur serves a length ball, on the pads. Padikkal stays back and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball clips the pads and goes to the leg side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur (1-0-10-0) has been brought back into the attack.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A single to end the over! Floated, around off. Padikkal slices it to point and gets a single. 12 runs off the over.Â
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker. Full and around off. Padikkal drives it wide of long off. The batters pick two runs before the fielder cuts it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Magnificent! Tossed up, full and on off. Padikkal skips down the track and powers it over the long on fence for a biggie. Padikkal looks in some touch here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Floated and on off. Kohli pushes it towards long off for another single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Little bit of spin. Loopy ball, around off. The ball turns in a bit. Padikkal gets low and guides it late towards short third man. They take one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Quicker. Flatter, around middle and leg. Kohli hangs back and flicks it to square leg for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On the pads and easily flicked away to deep backward square leg for another single. 9 from Bravo's first over.
Strategic Time-Out! It has been all about Bangalore till now. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal have started off with a bang. They have marched on to a score of 61/0. Chennai would be hoping to put the brakes on the scoring rate in the middle overs and the best way to do it is by picking wickets. Can they succeed? Dwayne Bravo to bowl after the break...
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller one, on middle and leg. Padikkal nudges it on the leg side and rotates the strike.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, Another slower delivery, on a length and on the pads. Kohli tucks it towards mid-wicket for another single and moves into the 40s.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Attempted slower ball, this one is way down the leg side. Wide signalled.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! That was classic Kohli! Pitched up, on off and Virat Kohli uses his wrists and just flicks it in between the fielders at long on and deep mid-wicket. The ball goes on the bounce and into the ropes.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Full and wide, Padikkal caresses it to deep cover for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Bravo starts with a loopy ball, on middle. This one kept dipping into the batter. Devdutt Padikkal does well to keep it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja gives this one a bit of flight and bowls it on the middle stump line. Kohli strides out to defend. 6 from Jadeja's first.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit short and Padikkal rocks back to cut it to deep point for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter again and on middle. Padikkal keeps it out to covers.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter one, outside off. Padikkal cuts it off the back foot but straight to point.
Ravindra Jadeja is brought into the attack. He replaces Shardul Thakur.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Tossed up, full and on off. Devdutt Padikkal hits this one back over the bowler's head and the ball races into the fence.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja starts with a fullish ball on the pads. Kohli nudges it past square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Back of a length, outside off, Kohli taps it down in front of the keeper. He looks at his partner who shows interest in a run and they go for it. MS Dhoni has a shy at the striker's end but misses. 55/0 at the end of the Powerplay!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller on leg, an off cutter, Devdutt Padikkal flicks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Short again, down the leg side, Devdutt Padikkal tries to work it away but gets into a little bit of tangle. Misses. Called a wide!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Shortish and outside off, Virat taps it down to the right side of short third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, ! Bang! Hazlewood goes short and delivers it on middle, Kohli steps back to make room and plays a hammer-pull to fetch a boundary at mid-wicket. 50 up!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood bends his back to dig in a short ball, Virat Kohli gives the charge but mistimes his pull shot towards short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fractionally short and outside off, Devdutt Padikkal hangs on the back foot and guides it down to deep backward point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, On a good length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal stands back and plays it down to cover-point for one. 10 from the over, Bangalore have got off to a flying start!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Angling in from a length around off, Virat closes the face of the bat and helps it towards mid-wicket for a sharp single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli has sent this packing. Thakur pitches it up and around off, Virat Kohli latches onto it and cracks it all the way over wide long on for a maximum. What a shot!
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Shardul Thakur delivers it full and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it defensively through cover-point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Slower one, short in length and close to off, Kohli quietly dabs it in the direction of third man for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thakur begins with a dot ball. Short in length and outside off, Virat Kohli skips down the track to flat-bat it over the off side but it takes the inner edge, beats the stumps and rolls towards the keeper. MS Dhoni collects it.
Here comes the first bowling change. Shardul Thakur comes into the attack.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on middle, it's clipped through backward square leg for a single. Bangalore have raced to 36/0 in 4 overs.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking to go after every delivery here. A touch short and around off, Kohli hangs on the back foot to pull it but it takes the bottom half of his blade and rolls back to the bowler.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Again it's shortish and around leg, Devdutt Padikkal tucks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, on middle, Padikkal plays a mistimed pull shot to short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! This one has gone all the distance. Josh Hazlewood bowls it on a length and in the slot for the batsman, Devdutt Padikkal shows a lovely extension of his arms and dispatches it behind the bowler's head for a biggie. Glorious.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Good bounce and carry. On a length and around off, it lands on the seam and zips through. Devdutt leaves it and Dhoni collects it in front of his face.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, A muted appeal for an lbw, not given. A length ball is angled in around off, Kohli walks forward with the intention of flicking it. Misses and is hit on the pads. The ball deflects to point. A dot ball to end another expensive over from Deepak Chahar.Â
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli is on fire. Hits his third boundary of the innings. Chahar delivers the slower one, on a length around off, Virat Kohli shimmies down the track and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar goes length and serves it on off, Padikkal drops it with gentle hands towards covers and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Bang! Poor length and punished. Short and wide outside off, Devdutt Padikkal picks the length in a trice, goes on the back foot and whacks it to the sweeper cover fence.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar serves it on a fuller length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and shows a straight bat in defense.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, On a length and outside off, Kohli waits and runs it down to third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Slightly short and on middle, Virat stays back and uses the angle of the bowler. He tucks it behind square leg and retains strike with a single. A good over from Josh!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Play and a miss! Short in length and outside off, Kohli tries to slam it through the line but misses.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking in some mood. Uses his feet to a length ball outside off and smashes it through covers. It's cut off in the deep and they take a couple of runs. The ball slowed down, maybe Moeen got some hand on it inside the ring.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Around off, on a fuller length, Devdutt Padikkal defends it from the lower half of his blade and it rolls near the stumps. Kohli quickly calls his partner through for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, The batsman goes back in his crease and guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Devdutt Padikkal also opens his account with a boundary. Chahar overpitches this time, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and crunches his drive through covers for a boundary, third in the over. Expensive start from Chahar.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood speeds in and delivers it a bit short around off, Virat Kohli steps down the track to hit it across the line but it takes the inner edge and rolls off his pads to the off side. The skipper wants a run but Devdutt Padikkal is not interested.
Who will bowl from the other end? Josh Hazlewood it is.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Better line and length from Deepak Chahar! Delivers it close to off on a fuller length, a bit of inward movement. Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and makes a brave leave.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Hurls across a length ball, in the channel outside off, Devdutt Padikkal watches it go to the keeper.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Length ball, outside off and there's away movement on this occasion. Kohli guides it to third man for a run.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Runs straightaway for Virat Kohli and Bangalore. On the pads and flicked away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
The game is set to begin. The Chennai players are seen to be in a huddle near the fence. Getting some final words from the skipper MS Dhoni. They spread out to their respective fielding positions. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal walk out to bat for Bangalore. Deepak Chahar to start with the ball. Here we go...
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Virat Kohli. Deepak Chahar once again looks to swing it but there's no swing and Kohli clips it beautifully over mid-wicket and the ball races away to the fence.
Bangalore (Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), Srikar Bharat (WK), AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Navdeep Saini (In for Sachin Baby), Tim David (On Debut) (In for Kyle Jamieson), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. He says that the wicket looks nice and hard. Mentions the pitch wonât change too much. Adds that even they wouldâve bowled first but also says they will look forward to adding some extra runs on the board. Mentions that Sachin Baby makes way for Navdeep Saini. Also, Kyle Jamieson goes out and Tim David will make his debut for the side.
MS Dhoni, the captain of Chennai, says that they will bowl first because there are a few wet patches that have mostly dried up and there could be dew later on. Adds that they are playing the same XI and it was a fine performance with the bat in the latter half of the innings in the last game and it was a complete team effort. About Gaikwad, he mentions that Gaikwad isn't flashy but can play aerial shots when needed and his confidence shows and hopes that Gaikwad can continue like this.
Chennai (Unchanged Playing XI) -Â Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.
All good now. Toss time in Sharjah! Captain Cool vs Captain Fire. Both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are in the middle. The latter has the coin and he gives it a good toss. MSD calls it correctly and CHENNAI ELECT TO FIELD!
Hello and welcome to everyone for yet another dose of T20 cricket. We've witnessed action in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since resumption and so far it won't be wrong to say that the bowlers have enjoyed the proceedings more than the batters. It all can change in this game though. A batting paradise of Sharjah is all set to host this Chennai versus Bangalore battle and if you know the history of this venue, expect nothing less than a high-scoring humdinger.
It was a wake-up call for Bangalore in Virat Kohli's words after their humiliating defeat in the last match. There is still no need for them to press the panic button as they are placed in the top 4 however they would like to return to winning ways and also improve their current NRR.Â
No such issues for Chennai. A win will take them to the first spot again due to their better NRR than Delhi. Historically also, Chennai have dominated this head-to-head battle with a 17-9 scoreline. They have won 9 out of the last 11 encounters against Bangalore but the last five clashes have been more even with the Red Brigade winning two of them. Â
Latest - Toss to take place at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Play to start 15 minutes after that.
Update 5.44 pm local (1.44 pm GMT) - There will be an inspection at 5:55 pm local time. Both the captains are in the middle with MS Dhoni having a conversation with Virat Kohli.
Last meeting - It was the Ravindra Jadeja show! He smashed a 28-ball 62* and that included 37 off Harshal Patel's over. Not to forget his 3-fer that helped Chennai in demolishing Bangalore. What's in store for this evening?
Update 5.30 pm local (1.30 pm GMT) - Toss has been delayed by 10 minutes. Reason - Dust storm in Sharjah! The Indian fans or basically all the fans of this beautiful game will be remembering Sachin Tendulkar's epic knock in 1998. That was sensational.
Pitch report - Kevin Pietersen is near the surface. He mentions that the pitch is patchy. Adds that he was expecting sheen on the deck but it is absent. KP reckons that the captain winning the toss should look to bowl first just to get a measure of the pitch.
... MATCH DAY ...
Right then, Bangalore threw away the advantage of posting a towering total on the board. They lost the plot completely and now have only 156 runs to work with. The pitch looked like a belter and if the dew sets in, it would get even worse for Bangalore. It will all depend on the start in the Powerplay. Let's see how it pans out. Stay tuned for the chase...
...THE RUN CHASE...
It was an outstanding batting effort from Bangalore at the start to leave the disappointment of the last match behind. Virat Kohli batted with an attacking mindset and soon Devdutt Padikkal also joined him. They took the Chennai bowlers to the cleaners. 55 runs came in the Powerplay and Bangalore reached 90 for no loss at the halfway mark. Chennai managed to put the brakes on the scoring rate after that and also removed Kohli to break the 111-run stand. It was that stage of the match when Chenna
Devdutt Padikkal comes up for a quick chat. Says that they started off pretty nicely and after the Powerplay, it got a bit tough to score freely as the pitch was holding up. He adds that they were trying to rotate the strike and hit the bad balls. Shares that the wicket is a bit two-paced and they are confident that they can pull this off with the ball.
A resounding comeback from Chennai! They were under the pump after a flying start from Bangalore but bounced back tremendously well in the second half of the innings. At one stage, Bangalore looked set to touch the 200-run mark but they have been restricted to 156. Splendid.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, ! CAUGHT! Dwayne Bravo picks up his third wicket and it is Suresh Raina who takes the catch. He has been very lively in the field today. Bravo serves a full-length ball, on off. Patel goes after it and lifts it high in the air. The ball goes towards extra cover, Suresh Raina keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a sharp catch. BANGALORE END THEIR INNINGS AT 156/6.
Dwayne Bravo to Wanindu Hasaranga, A low full toss and on off. Wanindu Hasaranga pushes it to covers for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Full-length ball, on the pads. Patel stays back and knocks it down to long on for a single.
Wanindu Hasaranga is the new man in.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Very full and wide outside off, Patel pushes at it and misses.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Chennai have made a solid comeback in this game. Dwayne Bravo gets his second wicket of the game. A length ball, on off. Maxwell makes room and whips it across the line. The ball flies towards deep mid-wicket. Ravindra Jadeja is there in the deep to take the catch with ease.Â
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to push it to the off side but misses.
Harshal Patel comes in at number 6 and will be on strike.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, On a length, on off. Maxwell drives it through cover for a single. A terrific over from Chahar.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Deepak Chahar is not happy with Ruturaj Gaikwad in the deep, he thinks he should've charged and taken the catch. A length ball, on off. Patel stays back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket. The ball hangs in the air for a while. Ruturaj Gaikwad charges forward but then stops midway. The ball lands safely in front of him. They take one.
Deepak Chahar (3-0-31-0) to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, A length ball, on off. Maxwell flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, A full-length ball, on middle. Patel looks to flick it away to the leg side. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards wide mid off. The batters take a single.
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, ! CAUGHT! Tim David goes cheaply. Deepak Chahar who was getting thrashed until now finally gets himself into the wickets column. A length ball, on off, slower in pace. Tim David stays back and chips it straight to Suresh Raina at extra cover. He takes the catch with ease.Â
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, Chahar starts with a dot ball. There was a mix-up in the middle! A length ball, on off. Tim David pushes it to point. Glenn Maxwell calls for a single, he is already down the pitch, but David sends him back. Dwayne Bravo collects the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses the stumps. Maxwell gets inside safely.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! Maxwell latches onto it really well. A full-length ball, on off. Maxwell gets low and whips it across the line. The ball clears the mid-wicket fence with ease. First maximum for him.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to play the reverse-sweep but does not get any connection on it.
Tim David, the debutant, comes in now. Also, Dwayne Bravo (2-0-12-1) is brought back into the attack.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell removes his front leg and flicks it to deep mid-wicket. The batters pick up a brace.
Dwayne Bravo to Tim David, A length ball, on off. David pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Massive chance but a tough one! A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell throws the kitchen sink at it. The ball takes the outer half and flies towards covers. Suresh Raina comes running from extra cover to his left, he puts in a dive but the ball goes past him. The batters take a single. A younger Raina would have taken it.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Nicely bowled. A length ball, around off. Maxwell stays back and looks to defend it out but misses.
The 'Big Show', Glenn Maxwell is in at number 4.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal,! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets two wickets in two deliveries. He is getting his side back into the game. A slower short ball, on middle and off, and this one does not rise much. Devdutt Padikkal struggled today against the short ball and looks to ramp this one over short third man by going down low. The lack of pace doesn't help him as he mistimes his shot aerially towards Ambati Rayudu who takes an easy catch at short third man. Thakur has bowled
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets the big wicket of AB de Villiers. Just when ABD was getting into the groove, Thakur made sure he sends him back to the pavilion. Thakur hurls it short and slow outside off, AB de Villiers throws his bat at it as he attempts to crack it through the line. The ball though goes high in the air off the bottom end of the bat towards covers. Suresh Raina does not have to move an inch as he cups the ball safely in his palms.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Shardul Thakur bangs in a short ball, on off. AB de Villiers stays inside the crease and looks to pull it away but misses.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! BOOM! AB de Villiers goes big this time. A length ball, on off. AB de Villiers hangs back and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take a single this time.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, around off. Devdutt Padikkal works it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
Strategic Time-Out! 13 runs in the last over, otherwise, it was a good passage of play for Chennai after the 10th over mark. They pulled things back a shade through some tidy bowling and also managed to remove Virat Kohli from the crease. Now, four overs are left in the innings and Bangalore would be eyeing a big finish. With AB de Villiers in the middle along with a set batsman in Devdutt Padikkal, Bangalore would be looking to get close to the 200-run mark. It's all about limiting the damage
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, Josh Hazlewood serves it on a length, around off. AB de Villiers drives it through extra cover. The batters pick up two before the fielder in the deep cuts it off. A good over for Bangalore. 13 runs coming off it!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, A length ball, on off. Padikkal punches it through covers for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! BANG! A full-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and muscles it over the long on fence for a maximum. First boundary after the 13th over.
Josh Hazlewood comes back into the attack. He has given away 22 runs in his 3 overs so far.
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, LEG BYE! This one did not bounce as much as anticipated by AB de Villiers. A length ball, on the bodyline. AB de Villiers hangs back and looks to pull it away but misses. The ball goes on to hit his body and rolls to the off side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Devdutt Padikkal tries to be innovative this time. A full toss outside off, Padikkal moves across and scoops it over the keeper's head towards fine leg. Ambati Rayudu gives it a chase but the ball lands safely just in front of him. They take one.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Hazlewood serves a full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal puhses it towards deep point. The batters pick up two comfortably.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and on the leg stump line. Padikkal waits for it but still mistimes his pull. The ball goes uppishly towards deep backward square leg and they get a single. Padikkal wants the second but it's never on. 4 from the over, another good one for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Back of a length and de Villiers tucks it off the back foot towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! A good yorker from Shardul Thakur. This one is around the leg stump and Devdutt Padikkal gets all jammed up. The ball hits the pads and goes on the leg side. They do get a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Length again and on middle and leg. AB de Villiers pushes it towards wide long on and gets across quickly. He thinks about the second but decides against it.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Mistimed! Short in length and outside off, AB tries to cut but ends up chopping it down the pitch.
Shardul Thakur comes back into the attack. His figures are 2-0-17-0 so far. He replaces Ravindra Jadeja.
Who will walk out next? Will they send Srikar Bharat or will they tweak the order a bit and send out AB de Villiers? They go with the latter option and out comes AB de Villiers at number 3. It was a no-brainer, to be honest, after the kind of start Bangalore have got.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Can't get that one through. Pitched up, around off and AB de Villiers creamed it straight to Raina at covers.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Low full toss and this is driven down to long on for a single. Just 3 runs from it and the big wicket of Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower length ball, wide of off stump. Padikkal steers it to the left of short third man and sets off for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, This is clever bowling from Bravo. Full and wide, Padikkal looks to get some bat on it but fails to do so.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Loopy slower ball, on middle. De Villiers pushes it to wide long on and gets off the mark with a single.
Dwayne Bravo comes back into the attack. His figures read 1-0-9-0 so far. He replaces Deepak Chahar.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! Nelson strikes. The man with the golden arm, Dwayne Bravo has done it again. Bravo has finally broken this opening stand and Chennai will breathe a huge sigh of relief. This one is in the slot and the bottom hand comes into play again from Kohli. He whips it across the line but the ball goes straight down to deep mid-wicket and Ravindra Jadeja takes the catch. Afterwards, he even teases to touch the ropes. End of a fantastic knock from Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On a length and around off. Virat Kohli goes for the big swing across the line but misses the ball.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Slower one, but it's short and outside off. Kohli goes deep in his crease to ease it past point and gets a single. That's the end of Ravindra Jadeja's spell.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, This one is fired in full and outside off. Padikkal guides it to third man for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit fuller and outside off. Padikkal tries to squeeze it out late but misses.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, Kohli cuts it off the back foot to deep cover for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, My word! That one gripped and turned away a mile. Jadeja tosses it up on middle and leg and the ball just turns away sharply, leaving Kohli bamboozled as he tries to play inside the line. Almost took the outside edge.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, ! Fifty for Virat Kohli and it's been a true skipper's knock so far! Jadeja drifts onto the pads and Kohli tickles it very fine and the ball races into the fine leg fence. King Kohli made his intentions very clear right from the beginning and his attacking mindset has worked for Bangalore.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Good-length ball, around off. Virat Kohli will retain the strike with a single through covers. Good comeback from Chahar after conceding a boundary on the first ball.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and it's outside off. Padikkal pulls it to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, This time it's very full and outside off. Kohli squeezes it out towards the cover-point region and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Slower delivery, on middle. Kohli blocks it out at the last moment after picking the variation late.Â
Deepak Chahar comes back into the attack. His figures read 2-0-23-0 so far. The pacer has taken some beating in his two overs. Can he redeem himself?
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, eased down through covers for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Fifty for Devdutt Padikkal and this has been an innings of a high calibre so far. Deepak Chahar hurls a length ball, outside off from around the stumps. Padikkal goes up and over backward point and picks up a boundary. 6th fifty in the Indian T20 League for Padikkal, coming off 35 balls. 100 comes up as well!
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Another quicker one, wide of the off stump line. Padikkal cuts it through point and gets another one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Fired in on the pads and Padikkal flicked it to the left of deep square leg. He raced back for the second run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker and flatter, outside off. Padikkal decides not to play at it in the end.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Tossed up, full and very wide. Padikkal squeezes it out towards deep point and gets two as Thakur fumbles it in the deep.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, angling into leg stump. Kohli tucks it towards square leg for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Angled in on middle and leg, Kohli steps out and clips it to mid-wicket.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, around middle and leg. Devdutt Padikkal ducks under this one. The runs keep flowing for Bangalore. 8 runs coming off this one. They are 90/0 at the halfway mark. 200 is very much on!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thaukur bangs in a short ball, on off. Kohli stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take another single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pushes it through point. They take one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, ! THUMPED! Devdutt Padikkal is on a roll. Slightly short and outside off. Devdutt Padikkal hangs back and cuts it through point. The ball races away to the boundary. There is no stopping that one.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Hurls a length ball, on off. Kohli stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket. He takes off for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! Thakur serves a length ball, on the pads. Padikkal stays back and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball clips the pads and goes to the leg side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur (1-0-10-0) has been brought back into the attack.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A single to end the over! Floated, around off. Padikkal slices it to point and gets a single. 12 runs off the over.Â
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker. Full and around off. Padikkal drives it wide of long off. The batters pick two runs before the fielder cuts it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Magnificent! Tossed up, full and on off. Padikkal skips down the track and powers it over the long on fence for a biggie. Padikkal looks in some touch here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Floated and on off. Kohli pushes it towards long off for another single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Little bit of spin. Loopy ball, around off. The ball turns in a bit. Padikkal gets low and guides it late towards short third man. They take one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Quicker. Flatter, around middle and leg. Kohli hangs back and flicks it to square leg for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On the pads and easily flicked away to deep backward square leg for another single. 9 from Bravo's first over.
Strategic Time-Out! It has been all about Bangalore till now. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal have started off with a bang. They have marched on to a score of 61/0. Chennai would be hoping to put the brakes on the scoring rate in the middle overs and the best way to do it is by picking wickets. Can they succeed? Dwayne Bravo to bowl after the break...
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller one, on middle and leg. Padikkal nudges it on the leg side and rotates the strike.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, Another slower delivery, on a length and on the pads. Kohli tucks it towards mid-wicket for another single and moves into the 40s.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Attempted slower ball, this one is way down the leg side. Wide signalled.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! That was classic Kohli! Pitched up, on off and Virat Kohli uses his wrists and just flicks it in between the fielders at long on and deep mid-wicket. The ball goes on the bounce and into the ropes.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Full and wide, Padikkal caresses it to deep cover for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Bravo starts with a loopy ball, on middle. This one kept dipping into the batter. Devdutt Padikkal does well to keep it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja gives this one a bit of flight and bowls it on the middle stump line. Kohli strides out to defend. 6 from Jadeja's first.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit short and Padikkal rocks back to cut it to deep point for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter again and on middle. Padikkal keeps it out to covers.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter one, outside off. Padikkal cuts it off the back foot but straight to point.
Ravindra Jadeja is brought into the attack. He replaces Shardul Thakur.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Tossed up, full and on off. Devdutt Padikkal hits this one back over the bowler's head and the ball races into the fence.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja starts with a fullish ball on the pads. Kohli nudges it past square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Back of a length, outside off, Kohli taps it down in front of the keeper. He looks at his partner who shows interest in a run and they go for it. MS Dhoni has a shy at the striker's end but misses. 55/0 at the end of the Powerplay!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller on leg, an off cutter, Devdutt Padikkal flicks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Short again, down the leg side, Devdutt Padikkal tries to work it away but gets into a little bit of tangle. Misses. Called a wide!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Shortish and outside off, Virat taps it down to the right side of short third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, ! Bang! Hazlewood goes short and delivers it on middle, Kohli steps back to make room and plays a hammer-pull to fetch a boundary at mid-wicket. 50 up!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood bends his back to dig in a short ball, Virat Kohli gives the charge but mistimes his pull shot towards short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fractionally short and outside off, Devdutt Padikkal hangs on the back foot and guides it down to deep backward point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, On a good length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal stands back and plays it down to cover-point for one. 10 from the over, Bangalore have got off to a flying start!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Angling in from a length around off, Virat closes the face of the bat and helps it towards mid-wicket for a sharp single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli has sent this packing. Thakur pitches it up and around off, Virat Kohli latches onto it and cracks it all the way over wide long on for a maximum. What a shot!
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Shardul Thakur delivers it full and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it defensively through cover-point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Slower one, short in length and close to off, Kohli quietly dabs it in the direction of third man for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thakur begins with a dot ball. Short in length and outside off, Virat Kohli skips down the track to flat-bat it over the off side but it takes the inner edge, beats the stumps and rolls towards the keeper. MS Dhoni collects it.
Here comes the first bowling change. Shardul Thakur comes into the attack.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on middle, it's clipped through backward square leg for a single. Bangalore have raced to 36/0 in 4 overs.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking to go after every delivery here. A touch short and around off, Kohli hangs on the back foot to pull it but it takes the bottom half of his blade and rolls back to the bowler.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Again it's shortish and around leg, Devdutt Padikkal tucks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, on middle, Padikkal plays a mistimed pull shot to short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! This one has gone all the distance. Josh Hazlewood bowls it on a length and in the slot for the batsman, Devdutt Padikkal shows a lovely extension of his arms and dispatches it behind the bowler's head for a biggie. Glorious.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Good bounce and carry. On a length and around off, it lands on the seam and zips through. Devdutt leaves it and Dhoni collects it in front of his face.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, A muted appeal for an lbw, not given. A length ball is angled in around off, Kohli walks forward with the intention of flicking it. Misses and is hit on the pads. The ball deflects to point. A dot ball to end another expensive over from Deepak Chahar.Â
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli is on fire. Hits his third boundary of the innings. Chahar delivers the slower one, on a length around off, Virat Kohli shimmies down the track and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar goes length and serves it on off, Padikkal drops it with gentle hands towards covers and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Bang! Poor length and punished. Short and wide outside off, Devdutt Padikkal picks the length in a trice, goes on the back foot and whacks it to the sweeper cover fence.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar serves it on a fuller length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and shows a straight bat in defense.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, On a length and outside off, Kohli waits and runs it down to third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Slightly short and on middle, Virat stays back and uses the angle of the bowler. He tucks it behind square leg and retains strike with a single. A good over from Josh!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Play and a miss! Short in length and outside off, Kohli tries to slam it through the line but misses.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking in some mood. Uses his feet to a length ball outside off and smashes it through covers. It's cut off in the deep and they take a couple of runs. The ball slowed down, maybe Moeen got some hand on it inside the ring.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Around off, on a fuller length, Devdutt Padikkal defends it from the lower half of his blade and it rolls near the stumps. Kohli quickly calls his partner through for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, The batsman goes back in his crease and guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Devdutt Padikkal also opens his account with a boundary. Chahar overpitches this time, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and crunches his drive through covers for a boundary, third in the over. Expensive start from Chahar.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood speeds in and delivers it a bit short around off, Virat Kohli steps down the track to hit it across the line but it takes the inner edge and rolls off his pads to the off side. The skipper wants a run but Devdutt Padikkal is not interested.
Who will bowl from the other end? Josh Hazlewood it is.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Better line and length from Deepak Chahar! Delivers it close to off on a fuller length, a bit of inward movement. Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and makes a brave leave.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Hurls across a length ball, in the channel outside off, Devdutt Padikkal watches it go to the keeper.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Length ball, outside off and there's away movement on this occasion. Kohli guides it to third man for a run.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Runs straightaway for Virat Kohli and Bangalore. On the pads and flicked away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
The game is set to begin. The Chennai players are seen to be in a huddle near the fence. Getting some final words from the skipper MS Dhoni. They spread out to their respective fielding positions. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal walk out to bat for Bangalore. Deepak Chahar to start with the ball. Here we go...
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Virat Kohli. Deepak Chahar once again looks to swing it but there's no swing and Kohli clips it beautifully over mid-wicket and the ball races away to the fence.
Bangalore (Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), Srikar Bharat (WK), AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Navdeep Saini (In for Sachin Baby), Tim David (On Debut) (In for Kyle Jamieson), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. He says that the wicket looks nice and hard. Mentions the pitch wonât change too much. Adds that even they wouldâve bowled first but also says they will look forward to adding some extra runs on the board. Mentions that Sachin Baby makes way for Navdeep Saini. Also, Kyle Jamieson goes out and Tim David will make his debut for the side.
MS Dhoni, the captain of Chennai, says that they will bowl first because there are a few wet patches that have mostly dried up and there could be dew later on. Adds that they are playing the same XI and it was a fine performance with the bat in the latter half of the innings in the last game and it was a complete team effort. About Gaikwad, he mentions that Gaikwad isn't flashy but can play aerial shots when needed and his confidence shows and hopes that Gaikwad can continue like this.
Chennai (Unchanged Playing XI) -Â Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.
All good now. Toss time in Sharjah! Captain Cool vs Captain Fire. Both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are in the middle. The latter has the coin and he gives it a good toss. MSD calls it correctly and CHENNAI ELECT TO FIELD!
Hello and welcome to everyone for yet another dose of T20 cricket. We've witnessed action in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since resumption and so far it won't be wrong to say that the bowlers have enjoyed the proceedings more than the batters. It all can change in this game though. A batting paradise of Sharjah is all set to host this Chennai versus Bangalore battle and if you know the history of this venue, expect nothing less than a high-scoring humdinger.
It was a wake-up call for Bangalore in Virat Kohli's words after their humiliating defeat in the last match. There is still no need for them to press the panic button as they are placed in the top 4 however they would like to return to winning ways and also improve their current NRR.Â
No such issues for Chennai. A win will take them to the first spot again due to their better NRR than Delhi. Historically also, Chennai have dominated this head-to-head battle with a 17-9 scoreline. They have won 9 out of the last 11 encounters against Bangalore but the last five clashes have been more even with the Red Brigade winning two of them. Â
Latest - Toss to take place at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Play to start 15 minutes after that.
Update 5.44 pm local (1.44 pm GMT) - There will be an inspection at 5:55 pm local time. Both the captains are in the middle with MS Dhoni having a conversation with Virat Kohli.
Last meeting - It was the Ravindra Jadeja show! He smashed a 28-ball 62* and that included 37 off Harshal Patel's over. Not to forget his 3-fer that helped Chennai in demolishing Bangalore. What's in store for this evening?
Update 5.30 pm local (1.30 pm GMT) - Toss has been delayed by 10 minutes. Reason - Dust storm in Sharjah! The Indian fans or basically all the fans of this beautiful game will be remembering Sachin Tendulkar's epic knock in 1998. That was sensational.
Pitch report - Kevin Pietersen is near the surface. He mentions that the pitch is patchy. Adds that he was expecting sheen on the deck but it is absent. KP reckons that the captain winning the toss should look to bowl first just to get a measure of the pitch.
7
Diabytes
Chennai Super Kings
157/4(18.1 Overs)
Right then, Bangalore threw away the advantage of posting a towering total on the board. They lost the plot completely and now have only 156 runs to work with. The pitch looked like a belter and if the dew sets in, it would get even worse for Bangalore. It will all depend on the start in the Powerplay. Let's see how it pans out. Stay tuned for the chase...
...THE RUN CHASE...
It was an outstanding batting effort from Bangalore at the start to leave the disappointment of the last match behind. Virat Kohli batted with an attacking mindset and soon Devdutt Padikkal also joined him. They took the Chennai bowlers to the cleaners. 55 runs came in the Powerplay and Bangalore reached 90 for no loss at the halfway mark. Chennai managed to put the brakes on the scoring rate after that and also removed Kohli to break the 111-run stand. It was that stage of the match when Chenna
Devdutt Padikkal comes up for a quick chat. Says that they started off pretty nicely and after the Powerplay, it got a bit tough to score freely as the pitch was holding up. He adds that they were trying to rotate the strike and hit the bad balls. Shares that the wicket is a bit two-paced and they are confident that they can pull this off with the ball.
A resounding comeback from Chennai! They were under the pump after a flying start from Bangalore but bounced back tremendously well in the second half of the innings. At one stage, Bangalore looked set to touch the 200-run mark but they have been restricted to 156. Splendid.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, ! CAUGHT! Dwayne Bravo picks up his third wicket and it is Suresh Raina who takes the catch. He has been very lively in the field today. Bravo serves a full-length ball, on off. Patel goes after it and lifts it high in the air. The ball goes towards extra cover, Suresh Raina keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a sharp catch. BANGALORE END THEIR INNINGS AT 156/6.
Dwayne Bravo to Wanindu Hasaranga, A low full toss and on off. Wanindu Hasaranga pushes it to covers for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Full-length ball, on the pads. Patel stays back and knocks it down to long on for a single.
Wanindu Hasaranga is the new man in.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Very full and wide outside off, Patel pushes at it and misses.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Chennai have made a solid comeback in this game. Dwayne Bravo gets his second wicket of the game. A length ball, on off. Maxwell makes room and whips it across the line. The ball flies towards deep mid-wicket. Ravindra Jadeja is there in the deep to take the catch with ease.Â
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to push it to the off side but misses.
Harshal Patel comes in at number 6 and will be on strike.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, On a length, on off. Maxwell drives it through cover for a single. A terrific over from Chahar.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Deepak Chahar is not happy with Ruturaj Gaikwad in the deep, he thinks he should've charged and taken the catch. A length ball, on off. Patel stays back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket. The ball hangs in the air for a while. Ruturaj Gaikwad charges forward but then stops midway. The ball lands safely in front of him. They take one.
Deepak Chahar (3-0-31-0) to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, A length ball, on off. Maxwell flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, A full-length ball, on middle. Patel looks to flick it away to the leg side. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards wide mid off. The batters take a single.
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, ! CAUGHT! Tim David goes cheaply. Deepak Chahar who was getting thrashed until now finally gets himself into the wickets column. A length ball, on off, slower in pace. Tim David stays back and chips it straight to Suresh Raina at extra cover. He takes the catch with ease.Â
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, Chahar starts with a dot ball. There was a mix-up in the middle! A length ball, on off. Tim David pushes it to point. Glenn Maxwell calls for a single, he is already down the pitch, but David sends him back. Dwayne Bravo collects the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses the stumps. Maxwell gets inside safely.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! Maxwell latches onto it really well. A full-length ball, on off. Maxwell gets low and whips it across the line. The ball clears the mid-wicket fence with ease. First maximum for him.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to play the reverse-sweep but does not get any connection on it.
Tim David, the debutant, comes in now. Also, Dwayne Bravo (2-0-12-1) is brought back into the attack.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell removes his front leg and flicks it to deep mid-wicket. The batters pick up a brace.
Dwayne Bravo to Tim David, A length ball, on off. David pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Massive chance but a tough one! A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell throws the kitchen sink at it. The ball takes the outer half and flies towards covers. Suresh Raina comes running from extra cover to his left, he puts in a dive but the ball goes past him. The batters take a single. A younger Raina would have taken it.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Nicely bowled. A length ball, around off. Maxwell stays back and looks to defend it out but misses.
The 'Big Show', Glenn Maxwell is in at number 4.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal,! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets two wickets in two deliveries. He is getting his side back into the game. A slower short ball, on middle and off, and this one does not rise much. Devdutt Padikkal struggled today against the short ball and looks to ramp this one over short third man by going down low. The lack of pace doesn't help him as he mistimes his shot aerially towards Ambati Rayudu who takes an easy catch at short third man. Thakur has bowled
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets the big wicket of AB de Villiers. Just when ABD was getting into the groove, Thakur made sure he sends him back to the pavilion. Thakur hurls it short and slow outside off, AB de Villiers throws his bat at it as he attempts to crack it through the line. The ball though goes high in the air off the bottom end of the bat towards covers. Suresh Raina does not have to move an inch as he cups the ball safely in his palms.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Shardul Thakur bangs in a short ball, on off. AB de Villiers stays inside the crease and looks to pull it away but misses.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! BOOM! AB de Villiers goes big this time. A length ball, on off. AB de Villiers hangs back and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take a single this time.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, around off. Devdutt Padikkal works it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
Strategic Time-Out! 13 runs in the last over, otherwise, it was a good passage of play for Chennai after the 10th over mark. They pulled things back a shade through some tidy bowling and also managed to remove Virat Kohli from the crease. Now, four overs are left in the innings and Bangalore would be eyeing a big finish. With AB de Villiers in the middle along with a set batsman in Devdutt Padikkal, Bangalore would be looking to get close to the 200-run mark. It's all about limiting the damage
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, Josh Hazlewood serves it on a length, around off. AB de Villiers drives it through extra cover. The batters pick up two before the fielder in the deep cuts it off. A good over for Bangalore. 13 runs coming off it!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, A length ball, on off. Padikkal punches it through covers for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! BANG! A full-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and muscles it over the long on fence for a maximum. First boundary after the 13th over.
Josh Hazlewood comes back into the attack. He has given away 22 runs in his 3 overs so far.
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, LEG BYE! This one did not bounce as much as anticipated by AB de Villiers. A length ball, on the bodyline. AB de Villiers hangs back and looks to pull it away but misses. The ball goes on to hit his body and rolls to the off side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Devdutt Padikkal tries to be innovative this time. A full toss outside off, Padikkal moves across and scoops it over the keeper's head towards fine leg. Ambati Rayudu gives it a chase but the ball lands safely just in front of him. They take one.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Hazlewood serves a full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal puhses it towards deep point. The batters pick up two comfortably.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and on the leg stump line. Padikkal waits for it but still mistimes his pull. The ball goes uppishly towards deep backward square leg and they get a single. Padikkal wants the second but it's never on. 4 from the over, another good one for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Back of a length and de Villiers tucks it off the back foot towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! A good yorker from Shardul Thakur. This one is around the leg stump and Devdutt Padikkal gets all jammed up. The ball hits the pads and goes on the leg side. They do get a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Length again and on middle and leg. AB de Villiers pushes it towards wide long on and gets across quickly. He thinks about the second but decides against it.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Mistimed! Short in length and outside off, AB tries to cut but ends up chopping it down the pitch.
Shardul Thakur comes back into the attack. His figures are 2-0-17-0 so far. He replaces Ravindra Jadeja.
Who will walk out next? Will they send Srikar Bharat or will they tweak the order a bit and send out AB de Villiers? They go with the latter option and out comes AB de Villiers at number 3. It was a no-brainer, to be honest, after the kind of start Bangalore have got.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Can't get that one through. Pitched up, around off and AB de Villiers creamed it straight to Raina at covers.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Low full toss and this is driven down to long on for a single. Just 3 runs from it and the big wicket of Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower length ball, wide of off stump. Padikkal steers it to the left of short third man and sets off for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, This is clever bowling from Bravo. Full and wide, Padikkal looks to get some bat on it but fails to do so.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Loopy slower ball, on middle. De Villiers pushes it to wide long on and gets off the mark with a single.
Dwayne Bravo comes back into the attack. His figures read 1-0-9-0 so far. He replaces Deepak Chahar.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! Nelson strikes. The man with the golden arm, Dwayne Bravo has done it again. Bravo has finally broken this opening stand and Chennai will breathe a huge sigh of relief. This one is in the slot and the bottom hand comes into play again from Kohli. He whips it across the line but the ball goes straight down to deep mid-wicket and Ravindra Jadeja takes the catch. Afterwards, he even teases to touch the ropes. End of a fantastic knock from Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On a length and around off. Virat Kohli goes for the big swing across the line but misses the ball.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Slower one, but it's short and outside off. Kohli goes deep in his crease to ease it past point and gets a single. That's the end of Ravindra Jadeja's spell.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, This one is fired in full and outside off. Padikkal guides it to third man for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit fuller and outside off. Padikkal tries to squeeze it out late but misses.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, Kohli cuts it off the back foot to deep cover for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, My word! That one gripped and turned away a mile. Jadeja tosses it up on middle and leg and the ball just turns away sharply, leaving Kohli bamboozled as he tries to play inside the line. Almost took the outside edge.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, ! Fifty for Virat Kohli and it's been a true skipper's knock so far! Jadeja drifts onto the pads and Kohli tickles it very fine and the ball races into the fine leg fence. King Kohli made his intentions very clear right from the beginning and his attacking mindset has worked for Bangalore.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Good-length ball, around off. Virat Kohli will retain the strike with a single through covers. Good comeback from Chahar after conceding a boundary on the first ball.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and it's outside off. Padikkal pulls it to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, This time it's very full and outside off. Kohli squeezes it out towards the cover-point region and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Slower delivery, on middle. Kohli blocks it out at the last moment after picking the variation late.Â
Deepak Chahar comes back into the attack. His figures read 2-0-23-0 so far. The pacer has taken some beating in his two overs. Can he redeem himself?
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, eased down through covers for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Fifty for Devdutt Padikkal and this has been an innings of a high calibre so far. Deepak Chahar hurls a length ball, outside off from around the stumps. Padikkal goes up and over backward point and picks up a boundary. 6th fifty in the Indian T20 League for Padikkal, coming off 35 balls. 100 comes up as well!
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Another quicker one, wide of the off stump line. Padikkal cuts it through point and gets another one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Fired in on the pads and Padikkal flicked it to the left of deep square leg. He raced back for the second run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker and flatter, outside off. Padikkal decides not to play at it in the end.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Tossed up, full and very wide. Padikkal squeezes it out towards deep point and gets two as Thakur fumbles it in the deep.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, angling into leg stump. Kohli tucks it towards square leg for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Angled in on middle and leg, Kohli steps out and clips it to mid-wicket.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, around middle and leg. Devdutt Padikkal ducks under this one. The runs keep flowing for Bangalore. 8 runs coming off this one. They are 90/0 at the halfway mark. 200 is very much on!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thaukur bangs in a short ball, on off. Kohli stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take another single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pushes it through point. They take one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, ! THUMPED! Devdutt Padikkal is on a roll. Slightly short and outside off. Devdutt Padikkal hangs back and cuts it through point. The ball races away to the boundary. There is no stopping that one.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Hurls a length ball, on off. Kohli stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket. He takes off for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! Thakur serves a length ball, on the pads. Padikkal stays back and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball clips the pads and goes to the leg side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur (1-0-10-0) has been brought back into the attack.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A single to end the over! Floated, around off. Padikkal slices it to point and gets a single. 12 runs off the over.Â
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker. Full and around off. Padikkal drives it wide of long off. The batters pick two runs before the fielder cuts it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Magnificent! Tossed up, full and on off. Padikkal skips down the track and powers it over the long on fence for a biggie. Padikkal looks in some touch here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Floated and on off. Kohli pushes it towards long off for another single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Little bit of spin. Loopy ball, around off. The ball turns in a bit. Padikkal gets low and guides it late towards short third man. They take one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Quicker. Flatter, around middle and leg. Kohli hangs back and flicks it to square leg for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On the pads and easily flicked away to deep backward square leg for another single. 9 from Bravo's first over.
Strategic Time-Out! It has been all about Bangalore till now. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal have started off with a bang. They have marched on to a score of 61/0. Chennai would be hoping to put the brakes on the scoring rate in the middle overs and the best way to do it is by picking wickets. Can they succeed? Dwayne Bravo to bowl after the break...
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller one, on middle and leg. Padikkal nudges it on the leg side and rotates the strike.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, Another slower delivery, on a length and on the pads. Kohli tucks it towards mid-wicket for another single and moves into the 40s.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Attempted slower ball, this one is way down the leg side. Wide signalled.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! That was classic Kohli! Pitched up, on off and Virat Kohli uses his wrists and just flicks it in between the fielders at long on and deep mid-wicket. The ball goes on the bounce and into the ropes.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Full and wide, Padikkal caresses it to deep cover for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Bravo starts with a loopy ball, on middle. This one kept dipping into the batter. Devdutt Padikkal does well to keep it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja gives this one a bit of flight and bowls it on the middle stump line. Kohli strides out to defend. 6 from Jadeja's first.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit short and Padikkal rocks back to cut it to deep point for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter again and on middle. Padikkal keeps it out to covers.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter one, outside off. Padikkal cuts it off the back foot but straight to point.
Ravindra Jadeja is brought into the attack. He replaces Shardul Thakur.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Tossed up, full and on off. Devdutt Padikkal hits this one back over the bowler's head and the ball races into the fence.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja starts with a fullish ball on the pads. Kohli nudges it past square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Back of a length, outside off, Kohli taps it down in front of the keeper. He looks at his partner who shows interest in a run and they go for it. MS Dhoni has a shy at the striker's end but misses. 55/0 at the end of the Powerplay!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller on leg, an off cutter, Devdutt Padikkal flicks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Short again, down the leg side, Devdutt Padikkal tries to work it away but gets into a little bit of tangle. Misses. Called a wide!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Shortish and outside off, Virat taps it down to the right side of short third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, ! Bang! Hazlewood goes short and delivers it on middle, Kohli steps back to make room and plays a hammer-pull to fetch a boundary at mid-wicket. 50 up!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood bends his back to dig in a short ball, Virat Kohli gives the charge but mistimes his pull shot towards short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fractionally short and outside off, Devdutt Padikkal hangs on the back foot and guides it down to deep backward point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, On a good length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal stands back and plays it down to cover-point for one. 10 from the over, Bangalore have got off to a flying start!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Angling in from a length around off, Virat closes the face of the bat and helps it towards mid-wicket for a sharp single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli has sent this packing. Thakur pitches it up and around off, Virat Kohli latches onto it and cracks it all the way over wide long on for a maximum. What a shot!
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Shardul Thakur delivers it full and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it defensively through cover-point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Slower one, short in length and close to off, Kohli quietly dabs it in the direction of third man for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thakur begins with a dot ball. Short in length and outside off, Virat Kohli skips down the track to flat-bat it over the off side but it takes the inner edge, beats the stumps and rolls towards the keeper. MS Dhoni collects it.
Here comes the first bowling change. Shardul Thakur comes into the attack.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on middle, it's clipped through backward square leg for a single. Bangalore have raced to 36/0 in 4 overs.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking to go after every delivery here. A touch short and around off, Kohli hangs on the back foot to pull it but it takes the bottom half of his blade and rolls back to the bowler.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Again it's shortish and around leg, Devdutt Padikkal tucks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, on middle, Padikkal plays a mistimed pull shot to short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! This one has gone all the distance. Josh Hazlewood bowls it on a length and in the slot for the batsman, Devdutt Padikkal shows a lovely extension of his arms and dispatches it behind the bowler's head for a biggie. Glorious.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Good bounce and carry. On a length and around off, it lands on the seam and zips through. Devdutt leaves it and Dhoni collects it in front of his face.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, A muted appeal for an lbw, not given. A length ball is angled in around off, Kohli walks forward with the intention of flicking it. Misses and is hit on the pads. The ball deflects to point. A dot ball to end another expensive over from Deepak Chahar.Â
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli is on fire. Hits his third boundary of the innings. Chahar delivers the slower one, on a length around off, Virat Kohli shimmies down the track and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar goes length and serves it on off, Padikkal drops it with gentle hands towards covers and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Bang! Poor length and punished. Short and wide outside off, Devdutt Padikkal picks the length in a trice, goes on the back foot and whacks it to the sweeper cover fence.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar serves it on a fuller length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and shows a straight bat in defense.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, On a length and outside off, Kohli waits and runs it down to third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Slightly short and on middle, Virat stays back and uses the angle of the bowler. He tucks it behind square leg and retains strike with a single. A good over from Josh!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Play and a miss! Short in length and outside off, Kohli tries to slam it through the line but misses.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking in some mood. Uses his feet to a length ball outside off and smashes it through covers. It's cut off in the deep and they take a couple of runs. The ball slowed down, maybe Moeen got some hand on it inside the ring.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Around off, on a fuller length, Devdutt Padikkal defends it from the lower half of his blade and it rolls near the stumps. Kohli quickly calls his partner through for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, The batsman goes back in his crease and guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Devdutt Padikkal also opens his account with a boundary. Chahar overpitches this time, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and crunches his drive through covers for a boundary, third in the over. Expensive start from Chahar.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood speeds in and delivers it a bit short around off, Virat Kohli steps down the track to hit it across the line but it takes the inner edge and rolls off his pads to the off side. The skipper wants a run but Devdutt Padikkal is not interested.
Who will bowl from the other end? Josh Hazlewood it is.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Better line and length from Deepak Chahar! Delivers it close to off on a fuller length, a bit of inward movement. Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and makes a brave leave.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Hurls across a length ball, in the channel outside off, Devdutt Padikkal watches it go to the keeper.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Length ball, outside off and there's away movement on this occasion. Kohli guides it to third man for a run.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Runs straightaway for Virat Kohli and Bangalore. On the pads and flicked away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
The game is set to begin. The Chennai players are seen to be in a huddle near the fence. Getting some final words from the skipper MS Dhoni. They spread out to their respective fielding positions. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal walk out to bat for Bangalore. Deepak Chahar to start with the ball. Here we go...
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Virat Kohli. Deepak Chahar once again looks to swing it but there's no swing and Kohli clips it beautifully over mid-wicket and the ball races away to the fence.
Bangalore (Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), Srikar Bharat (WK), AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Navdeep Saini (In for Sachin Baby), Tim David (On Debut) (In for Kyle Jamieson), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. He says that the wicket looks nice and hard. Mentions the pitch wonât change too much. Adds that even they wouldâve bowled first but also says they will look forward to adding some extra runs on the board. Mentions that Sachin Baby makes way for Navdeep Saini. Also, Kyle Jamieson goes out and Tim David will make his debut for the side.
MS Dhoni, the captain of Chennai, says that they will bowl first because there are a few wet patches that have mostly dried up and there could be dew later on. Adds that they are playing the same XI and it was a fine performance with the bat in the latter half of the innings in the last game and it was a complete team effort. About Gaikwad, he mentions that Gaikwad isn't flashy but can play aerial shots when needed and his confidence shows and hopes that Gaikwad can continue like this.
Chennai (Unchanged Playing XI) -Â Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.
All good now. Toss time in Sharjah! Captain Cool vs Captain Fire. Both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are in the middle. The latter has the coin and he gives it a good toss. MSD calls it correctly and CHENNAI ELECT TO FIELD!
Hello and welcome to everyone for yet another dose of T20 cricket. We've witnessed action in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since resumption and so far it won't be wrong to say that the bowlers have enjoyed the proceedings more than the batters. It all can change in this game though. A batting paradise of Sharjah is all set to host this Chennai versus Bangalore battle and if you know the history of this venue, expect nothing less than a high-scoring humdinger.
It was a wake-up call for Bangalore in Virat Kohli's words after their humiliating defeat in the last match. There is still no need for them to press the panic button as they are placed in the top 4 however they would like to return to winning ways and also improve their current NRR.Â
No such issues for Chennai. A win will take them to the first spot again due to their better NRR than Delhi. Historically also, Chennai have dominated this head-to-head battle with a 17-9 scoreline. They have won 9 out of the last 11 encounters against Bangalore but the last five clashes have been more even with the Red Brigade winning two of them. Â
Latest - Toss to take place at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Play to start 15 minutes after that.
Update 5.44 pm local (1.44 pm GMT) - There will be an inspection at 5:55 pm local time. Both the captains are in the middle with MS Dhoni having a conversation with Virat Kohli.
Last meeting - It was the Ravindra Jadeja show! He smashed a 28-ball 62* and that included 37 off Harshal Patel's over. Not to forget his 3-fer that helped Chennai in demolishing Bangalore. What's in store for this evening?
Update 5.30 pm local (1.30 pm GMT) - Toss has been delayed by 10 minutes. Reason - Dust storm in Sharjah! The Indian fans or basically all the fans of this beautiful game will be remembering Sachin Tendulkar's epic knock in 1998. That was sensational.
Pitch report - Kevin Pietersen is near the surface. He mentions that the pitch is patchy. Adds that he was expecting sheen on the deck but it is absent. KP reckons that the captain winning the toss should look to bowl first just to get a measure of the pitch.
... MATCH DAY ...
Right then, Bangalore threw away the advantage of posting a towering total on the board. They lost the plot completely and now have only 156 runs to work with. The pitch looked like a belter and if the dew sets in, it would get even worse for Bangalore. It will all depend on the start in the Powerplay. Let's see how it pans out. Stay tuned for the chase...
...THE RUN CHASE...
It was an outstanding batting effort from Bangalore at the start to leave the disappointment of the last match behind. Virat Kohli batted with an attacking mindset and soon Devdutt Padikkal also joined him. They took the Chennai bowlers to the cleaners. 55 runs came in the Powerplay and Bangalore reached 90 for no loss at the halfway mark. Chennai managed to put the brakes on the scoring rate after that and also removed Kohli to break the 111-run stand. It was that stage of the match when Chenna
Devdutt Padikkal comes up for a quick chat. Says that they started off pretty nicely and after the Powerplay, it got a bit tough to score freely as the pitch was holding up. He adds that they were trying to rotate the strike and hit the bad balls. Shares that the wicket is a bit two-paced and they are confident that they can pull this off with the ball.
A resounding comeback from Chennai! They were under the pump after a flying start from Bangalore but bounced back tremendously well in the second half of the innings. At one stage, Bangalore looked set to touch the 200-run mark but they have been restricted to 156. Splendid.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, ! CAUGHT! Dwayne Bravo picks up his third wicket and it is Suresh Raina who takes the catch. He has been very lively in the field today. Bravo serves a full-length ball, on off. Patel goes after it and lifts it high in the air. The ball goes towards extra cover, Suresh Raina keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a sharp catch. BANGALORE END THEIR INNINGS AT 156/6.
Dwayne Bravo to Wanindu Hasaranga, A low full toss and on off. Wanindu Hasaranga pushes it to covers for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Full-length ball, on the pads. Patel stays back and knocks it down to long on for a single.
Wanindu Hasaranga is the new man in.
Dwayne Bravo to Harshal Patel, Very full and wide outside off, Patel pushes at it and misses.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Chennai have made a solid comeback in this game. Dwayne Bravo gets his second wicket of the game. A length ball, on off. Maxwell makes room and whips it across the line. The ball flies towards deep mid-wicket. Ravindra Jadeja is there in the deep to take the catch with ease.Â
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to push it to the off side but misses.
Harshal Patel comes in at number 6 and will be on strike.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, On a length, on off. Maxwell drives it through cover for a single. A terrific over from Chahar.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Deepak Chahar is not happy with Ruturaj Gaikwad in the deep, he thinks he should've charged and taken the catch. A length ball, on off. Patel stays back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket. The ball hangs in the air for a while. Ruturaj Gaikwad charges forward but then stops midway. The ball lands safely in front of him. They take one.
Deepak Chahar (3-0-31-0) to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.
Deepak Chahar to Glenn Maxwell, A length ball, on off. Maxwell flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Harshal Patel, A full-length ball, on middle. Patel looks to flick it away to the leg side. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards wide mid off. The batters take a single.
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, ! CAUGHT! Tim David goes cheaply. Deepak Chahar who was getting thrashed until now finally gets himself into the wickets column. A length ball, on off, slower in pace. Tim David stays back and chips it straight to Suresh Raina at extra cover. He takes the catch with ease.Â
Deepak Chahar to Tim David, Chahar starts with a dot ball. There was a mix-up in the middle! A length ball, on off. Tim David pushes it to point. Glenn Maxwell calls for a single, he is already down the pitch, but David sends him back. Dwayne Bravo collects the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses the stumps. Maxwell gets inside safely.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, ! Maxwell latches onto it really well. A full-length ball, on off. Maxwell gets low and whips it across the line. The ball clears the mid-wicket fence with ease. First maximum for him.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell looks to play the reverse-sweep but does not get any connection on it.
Tim David, the debutant, comes in now. Also, Dwayne Bravo (2-0-12-1) is brought back into the attack.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, A full-length ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell removes his front leg and flicks it to deep mid-wicket. The batters pick up a brace.
Dwayne Bravo to Tim David, A length ball, on off. David pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Massive chance but a tough one! A full-length ball, outside off. Maxwell throws the kitchen sink at it. The ball takes the outer half and flies towards covers. Suresh Raina comes running from extra cover to his left, he puts in a dive but the ball goes past him. The batters take a single. A younger Raina would have taken it.
Dwayne Bravo to Glenn Maxwell, Nicely bowled. A length ball, around off. Maxwell stays back and looks to defend it out but misses.
The 'Big Show', Glenn Maxwell is in at number 4.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal,! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets two wickets in two deliveries. He is getting his side back into the game. A slower short ball, on middle and off, and this one does not rise much. Devdutt Padikkal struggled today against the short ball and looks to ramp this one over short third man by going down low. The lack of pace doesn't help him as he mistimes his shot aerially towards Ambati Rayudu who takes an easy catch at short third man. Thakur has bowled
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! CAUGHT! Shardul Thakur gets the big wicket of AB de Villiers. Just when ABD was getting into the groove, Thakur made sure he sends him back to the pavilion. Thakur hurls it short and slow outside off, AB de Villiers throws his bat at it as he attempts to crack it through the line. The ball though goes high in the air off the bottom end of the bat towards covers. Suresh Raina does not have to move an inch as he cups the ball safely in his palms.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Shardul Thakur bangs in a short ball, on off. AB de Villiers stays inside the crease and looks to pull it away but misses.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, ! BOOM! AB de Villiers goes big this time. A length ball, on off. AB de Villiers hangs back and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take a single this time.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, around off. Devdutt Padikkal works it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
Strategic Time-Out! 13 runs in the last over, otherwise, it was a good passage of play for Chennai after the 10th over mark. They pulled things back a shade through some tidy bowling and also managed to remove Virat Kohli from the crease. Now, four overs are left in the innings and Bangalore would be eyeing a big finish. With AB de Villiers in the middle along with a set batsman in Devdutt Padikkal, Bangalore would be looking to get close to the 200-run mark. It's all about limiting the damage
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, Josh Hazlewood serves it on a length, around off. AB de Villiers drives it through extra cover. The batters pick up two before the fielder in the deep cuts it off. A good over for Bangalore. 13 runs coming off it!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, A length ball, on off. Padikkal punches it through covers for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! BANG! A full-length ball, on off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and muscles it over the long on fence for a maximum. First boundary after the 13th over.
Josh Hazlewood comes back into the attack. He has given away 22 runs in his 3 overs so far.
Josh Hazlewood to AB de Villiers, LEG BYE! This one did not bounce as much as anticipated by AB de Villiers. A length ball, on the bodyline. AB de Villiers hangs back and looks to pull it away but misses. The ball goes on to hit his body and rolls to the off side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, IN THE AIR...SAFE! Devdutt Padikkal tries to be innovative this time. A full toss outside off, Padikkal moves across and scoops it over the keeper's head towards fine leg. Ambati Rayudu gives it a chase but the ball lands safely just in front of him. They take one.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Hazlewood serves a full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal puhses it towards deep point. The batters pick up two comfortably.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and on the leg stump line. Padikkal waits for it but still mistimes his pull. The ball goes uppishly towards deep backward square leg and they get a single. Padikkal wants the second but it's never on. 4 from the over, another good one for Chennai.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Back of a length and de Villiers tucks it off the back foot towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! A good yorker from Shardul Thakur. This one is around the leg stump and Devdutt Padikkal gets all jammed up. The ball hits the pads and goes on the leg side. They do get a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Length again and on middle and leg. AB de Villiers pushes it towards wide long on and gets across quickly. He thinks about the second but decides against it.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Mistimed! Short in length and outside off, AB tries to cut but ends up chopping it down the pitch.
Shardul Thakur comes back into the attack. His figures are 2-0-17-0 so far. He replaces Ravindra Jadeja.
Who will walk out next? Will they send Srikar Bharat or will they tweak the order a bit and send out AB de Villiers? They go with the latter option and out comes AB de Villiers at number 3. It was a no-brainer, to be honest, after the kind of start Bangalore have got.
Shardul Thakur to AB de Villiers, Can't get that one through. Pitched up, around off and AB de Villiers creamed it straight to Raina at covers.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Low full toss and this is driven down to long on for a single. Just 3 runs from it and the big wicket of Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower length ball, wide of off stump. Padikkal steers it to the left of short third man and sets off for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, This is clever bowling from Bravo. Full and wide, Padikkal looks to get some bat on it but fails to do so.
Dwayne Bravo to AB de Villiers, Loopy slower ball, on middle. De Villiers pushes it to wide long on and gets off the mark with a single.
Dwayne Bravo comes back into the attack. His figures read 1-0-9-0 so far. He replaces Deepak Chahar.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! Nelson strikes. The man with the golden arm, Dwayne Bravo has done it again. Bravo has finally broken this opening stand and Chennai will breathe a huge sigh of relief. This one is in the slot and the bottom hand comes into play again from Kohli. He whips it across the line but the ball goes straight down to deep mid-wicket and Ravindra Jadeja takes the catch. Afterwards, he even teases to touch the ropes. End of a fantastic knock from Virat Kohli.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On a length and around off. Virat Kohli goes for the big swing across the line but misses the ball.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Slower one, but it's short and outside off. Kohli goes deep in his crease to ease it past point and gets a single. That's the end of Ravindra Jadeja's spell.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, This one is fired in full and outside off. Padikkal guides it to third man for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit fuller and outside off. Padikkal tries to squeeze it out late but misses.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, Kohli cuts it off the back foot to deep cover for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, My word! That one gripped and turned away a mile. Jadeja tosses it up on middle and leg and the ball just turns away sharply, leaving Kohli bamboozled as he tries to play inside the line. Almost took the outside edge.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, ! Fifty for Virat Kohli and it's been a true skipper's knock so far! Jadeja drifts onto the pads and Kohli tickles it very fine and the ball races into the fine leg fence. King Kohli made his intentions very clear right from the beginning and his attacking mindset has worked for Bangalore.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Good-length ball, around off. Virat Kohli will retain the strike with a single through covers. Good comeback from Chahar after conceding a boundary on the first ball.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Slower one, banged into the pitch and it's outside off. Padikkal pulls it to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, This time it's very full and outside off. Kohli squeezes it out towards the cover-point region and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Slower delivery, on middle. Kohli blocks it out at the last moment after picking the variation late.Â
Deepak Chahar comes back into the attack. His figures read 2-0-23-0 so far. The pacer has taken some beating in his two overs. Can he redeem himself?
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Good-length ball, eased down through covers for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Fifty for Devdutt Padikkal and this has been an innings of a high calibre so far. Deepak Chahar hurls a length ball, outside off from around the stumps. Padikkal goes up and over backward point and picks up a boundary. 6th fifty in the Indian T20 League for Padikkal, coming off 35 balls. 100 comes up as well!
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Another quicker one, wide of the off stump line. Padikkal cuts it through point and gets another one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Fired in on the pads and Padikkal flicked it to the left of deep square leg. He raced back for the second run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker and flatter, outside off. Padikkal decides not to play at it in the end.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Tossed up, full and very wide. Padikkal squeezes it out towards deep point and gets two as Thakur fumbles it in the deep.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Flatter one, angling into leg stump. Kohli tucks it towards square leg for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Angled in on middle and leg, Kohli steps out and clips it to mid-wicket.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, around middle and leg. Devdutt Padikkal ducks under this one. The runs keep flowing for Bangalore. 8 runs coming off this one. They are 90/0 at the halfway mark. 200 is very much on!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thaukur bangs in a short ball, on off. Kohli stays back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take another single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, A full-length ball, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal stays back and pushes it through point. They take one.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, ! THUMPED! Devdutt Padikkal is on a roll. Slightly short and outside off. Devdutt Padikkal hangs back and cuts it through point. The ball races away to the boundary. There is no stopping that one.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Hurls a length ball, on off. Kohli stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket. He takes off for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, LEG BYE! Thakur serves a length ball, on the pads. Padikkal stays back and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball clips the pads and goes to the leg side. The batters collect a leg bye.
Shardul Thakur (1-0-10-0) has been brought back into the attack.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A single to end the over! Floated, around off. Padikkal slices it to point and gets a single. 12 runs off the over.Â
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker. Full and around off. Padikkal drives it wide of long off. The batters pick two runs before the fielder cuts it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Magnificent! Tossed up, full and on off. Padikkal skips down the track and powers it over the long on fence for a biggie. Padikkal looks in some touch here.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Floated and on off. Kohli pushes it towards long off for another single.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Little bit of spin. Loopy ball, around off. The ball turns in a bit. Padikkal gets low and guides it late towards short third man. They take one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Quicker. Flatter, around middle and leg. Kohli hangs back and flicks it to square leg for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, On the pads and easily flicked away to deep backward square leg for another single. 9 from Bravo's first over.
Strategic Time-Out! It has been all about Bangalore till now. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal have started off with a bang. They have marched on to a score of 61/0. Chennai would be hoping to put the brakes on the scoring rate in the middle overs and the best way to do it is by picking wickets. Can they succeed? Dwayne Bravo to bowl after the break...
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller one, on middle and leg. Padikkal nudges it on the leg side and rotates the strike.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, Another slower delivery, on a length and on the pads. Kohli tucks it towards mid-wicket for another single and moves into the 40s.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Attempted slower ball, this one is way down the leg side. Wide signalled.
Dwayne Bravo to Virat Kohli, ! That was classic Kohli! Pitched up, on off and Virat Kohli uses his wrists and just flicks it in between the fielders at long on and deep mid-wicket. The ball goes on the bounce and into the ropes.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Full and wide, Padikkal caresses it to deep cover for a single.
Dwayne Bravo to Devdutt Padikkal, Bravo starts with a loopy ball, on middle. This one kept dipping into the batter. Devdutt Padikkal does well to keep it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja gives this one a bit of flight and bowls it on the middle stump line. Kohli strides out to defend. 6 from Jadeja's first.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, A tad bit short and Padikkal rocks back to cut it to deep point for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter again and on middle. Padikkal keeps it out to covers.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, Flatter one, outside off. Padikkal cuts it off the back foot but straight to point.
Ravindra Jadeja is brought into the attack. He replaces Shardul Thakur.
Ravindra Jadeja to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Tossed up, full and on off. Devdutt Padikkal hits this one back over the bowler's head and the ball races into the fence.
Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli, Jadeja starts with a fullish ball on the pads. Kohli nudges it past square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Back of a length, outside off, Kohli taps it down in front of the keeper. He looks at his partner who shows interest in a run and they go for it. MS Dhoni has a shy at the striker's end but misses. 55/0 at the end of the Powerplay!
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller on leg, an off cutter, Devdutt Padikkal flicks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Short again, down the leg side, Devdutt Padikkal tries to work it away but gets into a little bit of tangle. Misses. Called a wide!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Shortish and outside off, Virat taps it down to the right side of short third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, ! Bang! Hazlewood goes short and delivers it on middle, Kohli steps back to make room and plays a hammer-pull to fetch a boundary at mid-wicket. 50 up!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood bends his back to dig in a short ball, Virat Kohli gives the charge but mistimes his pull shot towards short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Fractionally short and outside off, Devdutt Padikkal hangs on the back foot and guides it down to deep backward point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, On a good length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal stands back and plays it down to cover-point for one. 10 from the over, Bangalore have got off to a flying start!
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Angling in from a length around off, Virat closes the face of the bat and helps it towards mid-wicket for a sharp single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli has sent this packing. Thakur pitches it up and around off, Virat Kohli latches onto it and cracks it all the way over wide long on for a maximum. What a shot!
Shardul Thakur to Devdutt Padikkal, Shardul Thakur delivers it full and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it defensively through cover-point for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Slower one, short in length and close to off, Kohli quietly dabs it in the direction of third man for a single.
Shardul Thakur to Virat Kohli, Thakur begins with a dot ball. Short in length and outside off, Virat Kohli skips down the track to flat-bat it over the off side but it takes the inner edge, beats the stumps and rolls towards the keeper. MS Dhoni collects it.
Here comes the first bowling change. Shardul Thakur comes into the attack.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on middle, it's clipped through backward square leg for a single. Bangalore have raced to 36/0 in 4 overs.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking to go after every delivery here. A touch short and around off, Kohli hangs on the back foot to pull it but it takes the bottom half of his blade and rolls back to the bowler.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Again it's shortish and around leg, Devdutt Padikkal tucks it behind square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length, on middle, Padikkal plays a mistimed pull shot to short mid-wicket.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, ! This one has gone all the distance. Josh Hazlewood bowls it on a length and in the slot for the batsman, Devdutt Padikkal shows a lovely extension of his arms and dispatches it behind the bowler's head for a biggie. Glorious.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Good bounce and carry. On a length and around off, it lands on the seam and zips through. Devdutt leaves it and Dhoni collects it in front of his face.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, A muted appeal for an lbw, not given. A length ball is angled in around off, Kohli walks forward with the intention of flicking it. Misses and is hit on the pads. The ball deflects to point. A dot ball to end another expensive over from Deepak Chahar.Â
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Kohli is on fire. Hits his third boundary of the innings. Chahar delivers the slower one, on a length around off, Virat Kohli shimmies down the track and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar goes length and serves it on off, Padikkal drops it with gentle hands towards covers and picks up a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Bang! Poor length and punished. Short and wide outside off, Devdutt Padikkal picks the length in a trice, goes on the back foot and whacks it to the sweeper cover fence.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Chahar serves it on a fuller length, around off, Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and shows a straight bat in defense.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, On a length and outside off, Kohli waits and runs it down to third man for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Slightly short and on middle, Virat stays back and uses the angle of the bowler. He tucks it behind square leg and retains strike with a single. A good over from Josh!
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Play and a miss! Short in length and outside off, Kohli tries to slam it through the line but misses.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Kohli is looking in some mood. Uses his feet to a length ball outside off and smashes it through covers. It's cut off in the deep and they take a couple of runs. The ball slowed down, maybe Moeen got some hand on it inside the ring.
Josh Hazlewood to Devdutt Padikkal, Around off, on a fuller length, Devdutt Padikkal defends it from the lower half of his blade and it rolls near the stumps. Kohli quickly calls his partner through for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, The batsman goes back in his crease and guides it to third man for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Devdutt Padikkal also opens his account with a boundary. Chahar overpitches this time, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and crunches his drive through covers for a boundary, third in the over. Expensive start from Chahar.
Josh Hazlewood to Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood speeds in and delivers it a bit short around off, Virat Kohli steps down the track to hit it across the line but it takes the inner edge and rolls off his pads to the off side. The skipper wants a run but Devdutt Padikkal is not interested.
Who will bowl from the other end? Josh Hazlewood it is.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Better line and length from Deepak Chahar! Delivers it close to off on a fuller length, a bit of inward movement. Devdutt Padikkal covers the line and makes a brave leave.
Deepak Chahar to Devdutt Padikkal, Hurls across a length ball, in the channel outside off, Devdutt Padikkal watches it go to the keeper.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, Length ball, outside off and there's away movement on this occasion. Kohli guides it to third man for a run.
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Runs straightaway for Virat Kohli and Bangalore. On the pads and flicked away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
The game is set to begin. The Chennai players are seen to be in a huddle near the fence. Getting some final words from the skipper MS Dhoni. They spread out to their respective fielding positions. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal walk out to bat for Bangalore. Deepak Chahar to start with the ball. Here we go...
Deepak Chahar to Virat Kohli, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Virat Kohli. Deepak Chahar once again looks to swing it but there's no swing and Kohli clips it beautifully over mid-wicket and the ball races away to the fence.
Bangalore (Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), Srikar Bharat (WK), AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Navdeep Saini (In for Sachin Baby), Tim David (On Debut) (In for Kyle Jamieson), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. He says that the wicket looks nice and hard. Mentions the pitch wonât change too much. Adds that even they wouldâve bowled first but also says they will look forward to adding some extra runs on the board. Mentions that Sachin Baby makes way for Navdeep Saini. Also, Kyle Jamieson goes out and Tim David will make his debut for the side.
MS Dhoni, the captain of Chennai, says that they will bowl first because there are a few wet patches that have mostly dried up and there could be dew later on. Adds that they are playing the same XI and it was a fine performance with the bat in the latter half of the innings in the last game and it was a complete team effort. About Gaikwad, he mentions that Gaikwad isn't flashy but can play aerial shots when needed and his confidence shows and hopes that Gaikwad can continue like this.
Chennai (Unchanged Playing XI) -Â Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.
All good now. Toss time in Sharjah! Captain Cool vs Captain Fire. Both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are in the middle. The latter has the coin and he gives it a good toss. MSD calls it correctly and CHENNAI ELECT TO FIELD!
Hello and welcome to everyone for yet another dose of T20 cricket. We've witnessed action in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since resumption and so far it won't be wrong to say that the bowlers have enjoyed the proceedings more than the batters. It all can change in this game though. A batting paradise of Sharjah is all set to host this Chennai versus Bangalore battle and if you know the history of this venue, expect nothing less than a high-scoring humdinger.
It was a wake-up call for Bangalore in Virat Kohli's words after their humiliating defeat in the last match. There is still no need for them to press the panic button as they are placed in the top 4 however they would like to return to winning ways and also improve their current NRR.Â
No such issues for Chennai. A win will take them to the first spot again due to their better NRR than Delhi. Historically also, Chennai have dominated this head-to-head battle with a 17-9 scoreline. They have won 9 out of the last 11 encounters against Bangalore but the last five clashes have been more even with the Red Brigade winning two of them. Â
Latest - Toss to take place at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Play to start 15 minutes after that.
Update 5.44 pm local (1.44 pm GMT) - There will be an inspection at 5:55 pm local time. Both the captains are in the middle with MS Dhoni having a conversation with Virat Kohli.
Last meeting - It was the Ravindra Jadeja show! He smashed a 28-ball 62* and that included 37 off Harshal Patel's over. Not to forget his 3-fer that helped Chennai in demolishing Bangalore. What's in store for this evening?
Update 5.30 pm local (1.30 pm GMT) - Toss has been delayed by 10 minutes. Reason - Dust storm in Sharjah! The Indian fans or basically all the fans of this beautiful game will be remembering Sachin Tendulkar's epic knock in 1998. That was sensational.
Pitch report - Kevin Pietersen is near the surface. He mentions that the pitch is patchy. Adds that he was expecting sheen on the deck but it is absent. KP reckons that the captain winning the toss should look to bowl first just to get a measure of the pitch.
... MATCH DAY ...