IPL History: CSK's 3 most memorable wins against MI

#1. At Mumbai in 2018

Bravo reserved his best against Mumbai

This was the opening match of last year’s IPL. CSK was making a comeback into IPL after serving their ban of 2 years. They have retained their core of the team in IPL auction 2018. The crowd at Wankhede stadium was delighted to watch the yellow brigades back in action.

After being asked to bat first, Mumbai made 169 in 20 overs. In reply, CSK were first reduced to 84 for 6 and then Kedar Jadhav had to retire hurt. CSK’s only hope was Dwayne Bravo. He was batting on 7 when the sixth wicket fell. CSK needed 82 in 7 overs with effectively 3 wickets in hand.

Bravo threw caution to the wind and launched into Mumbai’s bowling attack. He had understood the situation perfectly and he had decided to go down fighting. But he got no support from the other end as both Harbhajan Singh and Mark Wood got out cheaply.

CSK needed 48 off 21 balls when last man Imran Tahir joined Bravo. Now it was all up to Bravo but at that stage, it looked like the match was beyond CSK’s reach. With nothing to lose, Bravo went on the rampage hoisting 2 sixes and one four in the 18th over bowled by McClenaghan. Now 27 were needed off 2 overs.

The death over specialist Bumrah bowled the all-important 19th over. The first ball was a full toss which Bravo gleefully lofted over long-off. The second ball too was a full toss which Bravo promptly deposited over mid-wicket. Bumrah lost his length for the third time in the over and saw the ball sail over mid-wicket.

Now 7 needed off 7 balls. All Bravo had to do was to take a single and keep the strike. But Bravo went for the glory shot and was caught at extra-cover for 68 off 30 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 227. Bravo’s heroics prompted Kedar Jadhav to come back to the batting crease with 7 needed in the last over.

The first 3 balls bowled by Mustafizur Rahman were all dot balls as Jadhav could not be fluent in his stroke making as his movements were restricted by the injury. But Rahman bowled a faster one on the off-stump positioning the fine-leg inside the circle. Jadhav used the pace of the ball to scoop it over fine-leg for a six.

Jadhav finished off in style, cracking the next ball through covers. CSK made their return to IPL after 2 years with an incredible win, courtesy of Dwayne Bravo’s extraordinary innings.

Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on IPL 2019 live scores, purple cap, points table, schedule, news, orange cap and fantasy tips.