RCB and DC are up and running in their respective IPL 2021 campaign. While RCB had to wait till the last ball of the match against MI to clinch thewin, DC had no such worries as they clinched a comfortable win over CSK. Tomorrow KKR and SRH start their journeys in this year's IPL as they lock horns atM. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Join us for the coverage of that match, for now, it is time to say goodnight!
Shikhar Dhawan wins the Player of the Match award for hitting 85 from 54 balls and taking 3 catches.
Shikhar Dhawan, Man of the Match:I really enjoyed my batting. Was enjoying the way I was hitting the ball. Prithvi was batting well as well. He carried on with his form from Vijay Hazare. It was important to get off to a good start because we were chasing a big total. I have to innovate a few shots and I enjoy taking up challenges. I was playing the ball close to the body. The wicket was a little sticky. I knew my game plan. It is tremendous to watch Prithvi. He played some effortless. So good and so happy for him as he didn't have a good IPL last time around. I liked the Moeen Ali catch the most.
Rishabh Pant, DC captain: In the middle phase, I was under some pressure. But we did well towards the end. It was very special walking out for the toss with Dhoni. He has been my go-to man. I have learned a lot from him. We were thinking as to what we will do without Nortje and Rabada and I thought we had to do with the options we have. No, there was no effort for the NRR. Prithvi and Shikhar did well for us in the PowerPlay. They kept it simple and looked for boundaries.
MS Dhoni, CSK captain:A lot depended on dew, and that factor played on our mind from the start and that's why we wanted to get as many runs as possible. The batters did a good job to reach 188, because it was tacky until dew settled in 50 minutes later. We could have bowled slightly better, and if batters are hitting you over the fields, that's fair enough. The execution of the bowlers was poor and there were boundary balls that they bowled, but the bowlers will have learned and they will apply that in future games. The opposition has half an hour in a 7:30 start, when the pitch is really tacky and the ball stops a bit, so we need to get 15-20 runs extra to be stage. If we get dew consistently, then 200 will be a must on a pitch like this. The bowlers bowled a great line when it was stopping and seaming a bit, and the openers got really good balls in which they got out and that can happen in a game like this.