IPL4 Match 1 - CSK defeat KKR

CSK defeated KKR in the first match of IPL4 by 2 runs.

The captaincy of MS Dhoni came into the fore once again during the chase. His confidence on the spinners in his side (Ravichandran Ashwin and Suraj Randiv) was so much that he took on Yusuf Pathan with them. Yusuf went after one but could not repeat his heroics of the previous editions of IPL. Finally, he fell to a run-out by who else, MSD himself. One could have understood if MSD went for his pace bowlers against Pathan but to challenge his bowlers to restrain (and dismiss) the Baroda Bomber was an inspiring one. Just imagine the confidence of both after the match - it will be sky-high. That is what MSD is made of.

In the last over also, Dhoni coached his young import, Tim Southee, to bowl exactly where he wanted him to. The lad had replaced Doug Bollinger in the squad and showed that he was no less capable. What an over in such high pressure!

The (R-B) score shows how the match changed sides throughout the match - the first part thanks to the opening partnership being advantageous to KKR. Then, the spinners restricted the batsmen by taking critical wickets before Manoj Tiwary's hits reduced the difference once again. But, that proved not enough for Shahrukh Khan's team.

CSK looked very much like the Defending Champions they are - putting in a strong performance without their main players pulling their weight so much. KKR looked much better than the previous editions and promise to do better - with their star-cast, it looks very much on the cards.