11:55 pm: That’s it from us for tonight. Just the second loss for Chennai, just the second win for Mumbai and the table looks all the more interesting now. Join us on Sunday for the double-header.

11:52 pm: Post-match presentation

Rohit Sharma, winning captain and player of the match: “Very much [alive]. Told my boys we don’t have to do anything drastic. We getting close, just were unable to apply finishing touches. Today was perfect in all three departments. When you look back, except the Sunrisers game, we didn’t really play poorly. Need to carry the momentum forward now. Going forward, this is a combination we would like to continue with. There’s a positive atmosphere in the dressing room. It was a hard decision to keep Pollard out. He understood it. Not dismissing him completely.”

MS Dhoni: “There are matches in the league stage where a defeat makes you learn a lot. Choice of deliveries can improve when it comes to our bowling. If you keep winning, you don’t know what areas you have to work on... We were short today, 10-15 runs. MI bowled really well. Their spinners did well better than ours. [Defeats] make you humble, it’s quite early in the tournament. We’ll have to figure out how to improve in these situations.”

End of the match: Mumbai Indians 170/2 after 19.4 overs, win by 8 wickets

The equation makes it sound easy but MI made it tough for themselves before ultimately cruising in the last couple of overs.

After 19 overs, MI 165/2 - need 5 off the last 6 balls

Take a bow, Rohit Sharma. FOUR BOUNDARIES IN ONE OVER! Manipulates Shardul Thakur masterfully, getting all four boundaries behind the wicket. Two over third man, two through fine leg. And its a 50 for Rohit as well.

Tahir with the final over...

19th over: Shardul Thakur gets the nod, interestingly. Going against the “give your best bowler the 19th over in a run-chase” theory. Bravo to bowl 20th, but will it be too late?

After 18 overs, 148/2 - need 22 off 12 balls

Is that the over that wins it for Mumbai?

Good start to the over for MI as Watson bowls a wide and then sends a ball full outside offstump, Rohit drives it wide off deep cover - poor fielding effort by Tahir. Dhoni must have shook his head silently, we imagine. Pandya then sends the fourth ball soaring over wide long-on for six. A length ball from Watto and that’s bread and butter for Hardik who didn’t have to middle it even.

After 17 overs, MI 133/2 - great over by Bravo

Well, well. Mumbai decide to promote Hardik for this run-chase, but surely they were better off sending Krunal Pandya, who is in better form and to keep the left-right combo? Just 5 from Bravo’s over, as his variation of pace does the job. Need 37 off 18 balls.

After 16.1 overs, MI 128/2 - Lewis gone

Bravo gets Lewis. The West Indian was just not able to get going today for the most part. And CSK strike with the first ball after the break. Game truly on.

STAT ALERT: Mumbai death overs scoring rate of 8.04 is the lowest among all teams.They need to score at 10.5 now. Interesting finish coming up.

After 16 overs, MI 128/1 - 42 needed from 24 balls

OH, great over from Shardul Thakur and suddenly pressure back on Mumbai. Just 5 runs from it as both Lewis and Sharma struggle for timing.

Not often we, as fans and watchers of the game, could say this - but this is a crucial strategic timeout from Mumbai’s perspective. Do both batsmen start attacking now? Does Lewis take the onus? Who do they target?

After 15 overs, MI 123/1 - need 47 off 30 balls

Given the kind of mood Rohit is in, if CSK want to win this, they need to send the MI skipper back in the dugout. Doesn’t seem likely for now, as he gets another boundary off Bravo. Given the boundary came early in the over, Lewis and Rohit play the rest of the over out without taking a risk. Good run chase, this.

After 14 overs, MI 114/1 - need *56 off 36 balls

Rohit Sharma gets a move on and how! First ball off Watson’s third over is full and on off stump, Rohit sees mid-off inside the circle, lofts it over the boundary line with a one-handed drive. Fourth ball of the over, a ridiculously good sweep over short fine leg for another six. Finishes the over with a single. 13 from it and MI will be mighty pleased with that.

After 13 overs, MI 101/1 - need 69 off 42 balls

Was turning out to be a great over from Bravo, with just 4 runs from the first five balls but Lewis makes it up (kinda) with a four through cover. Power hitting.

Still less than the required rate, but MI will take that.

After 12 overs MI 93/1 - need 77 off 48 balls

Six singles off Harbhajan’s over as he fires in quick and full repeatedly.

Time for DJ Bravo.

After 11 overs, MI 87/1:

Is that Lewis’ guilt taking over? Slams Tahir for two sixes in one over. First, a clean hit over wide long off early in the over and a mishit that just carries comfortably over long on, off the sixth ball. Things back under MI’s control.

Meanwhile, it’s Rohit at No 3 today for Mumbai.

After 10 overs, MI 72/1 - Bhajji strikes!

Well, well. Things get interesting now. The in-form Suryakumar Yadav (perhaps under pressure from Lewis’ struggles at the other end) is caught brilliantly in the deep by Ravindra Jadeja, taking a running, sliding catch.

Ravindra Jadeja is in this team purely for his fielding, is he? (All the more so given the number of times Dhoni has slyly taken dig at his side’s fielding in this IPL)

MI need 99 from 60 balls.

After 9 overs, MI 65/0 - need 105 runs from 11 overs

Tahir comes on to bowl and tries to make the most of the pressure Lewis is under. He plays 7 dot balls on the trot (4 in Bhajji’s over, 3 here in Tahir’s) and then tries to go for a big release shot over cover, misses it completely but does enough to put Dhoni off as he misses to gather completely. Four byes. Tahir then gifts Lewis a full toss off the last ball, duly dispatched straight down as the pressure is released.

After 8 overs, MI 56/0

Tight couple of overs post-powerplay for CSK. Watson comes on to bowl his second, concedes four runs.

Good over from Harbhajan at the other end, as Lewis continues to remain patient. Four dot balls from Bhajji to the West Indies player, thanks mostly to good fielding from Raina at short cover.

Hint of pressure building on Mumbai?

After 6 overs, MI 50/0 - end of powerplay

Wow, what a shot by Suryakumar Yadav! Remember how we spoke about him as “a batsman who is very good at scoring behind the wicket” - and he proves it again, with an audacious bottom-handed, pick-up-and-scoop over fine leg for a big six.

26 balls of the powerplay faced by Suryakumar, just 10 by Lewis, wonder if that is by design? Solid start for Mumbai this, the in-form batsman has taken the responsibility.

After 5 overs, MI 41/0:

Harbhajan concedes 6 from the five balls he bowled, as Mumbai continue to keep up the rate of scoring one boundary minimum every over. Suryakumar again, gives room and cuts through point.

After 4.1 overs, MI 35/0 - Chahar’s done for the day

Injuries have been regular for this CSK squad this year so far and it’s Deepak Chahar’s turn to pick one, pulls up after bowling one ball in his third over. His hamstring perhaps? Has walked off the pitch.

Harbhajan to complete the over...

After 4 overs, MI 34/0:

This is a calculated start by MI. Not going hard, yet the openers have scored at least one boundary in the four overs so far. Suryakumar gets his 4th with a punch through point off Shane Watson. Good sensible batting after that, as the Mumbaikar works the gaps to get a couple of doubles, finishes the over with a single. He’s doing the bulk of the scoring.

After 3 overs, MI 25/0

It’s the consequence of the era we live in that to say “a batsman is very good at scoring behind the wicket” but Suryakumar Yadav is one of those guys. Loves using the pace and manipulating the field behind the keeper and he does that to good effect in that Chahar over. Beats Harbhajan Singh at long leg with a glance, scoops one over Tahir at short third man for two boundaries.

After 2 overs, MI 14/0:

Another 7-run over after a great start from Shardul Thakur. Hardly giving any room to work with for Evin Lewis but the last ball is on his pads and this is helped away for four runs.

After 1 over, MI 7/0:

No Rohit still as Mumbai stick with Suryakumar and Lewis. Steady first over from Chahar, concedes 7 runs though, thanks to a lovely back-foot punch by Suryakumar for four.

09:54 pm: That’s perhaps the longest we have seen Dhoni talk in the team huddle. Quite animated too. Consensus seems to be that CSK short here.

Evin Lewis, Suryakumar Yadav are opening again. Chahar with the new ball.

Innings break: Mumbai have done well to pull CSK back after a solid start, but their problems have predominantly with the bat. Can they turn it around? Join us in a short while for the run-chase.

END OF CSK’S INNINGS - 169/5 after 20 overs:

A good start to the final over from Hardik Pandya, conceding just three singles off the first three balls. Billings tries to muscle one over long on off the fourth ball, can only find the fielder. Raina applies a good finishing touch though, gets a couple off the fifth ball and a six off the final delivery!

Momentum with CSK or MI? We have a sneaky feeling both teams would be fairly happy at this stage, anybody’s game.

Suresh Raina finishes on 75 off 47 balls, what an innings.

After 19 overs, CSK 158/4:

Bumrah’s struggles continue at the death, Raina picks up a full ball, goes deep in the crease and hits it wide of long on for a six. 11 from that over as Bumrah recovers decently. 180 seems far off now.

“Raina reminds me of Michael Bevan, finds ways to make runs when the team needs him,” says Michael Clarke.

After 18 overs, CSK 147/4 - Two wickets in one over!

McClenaghan, take a bow. The man has come in for plenty of criticism for his death bowling this year, but perhaps turns the game around with that one over. Just as Dhoni was teeing off, he gets him and Bravo in the space of three balls. Bravo goes for a golden duck, skying a short of length ball to point.

After 17.1 over, CSK 143/3 - Dhoni gone

Oh dear, what a delivery to get dismissed. Dhoni hits a full toss straight to deep cover. The width off that ball does the trick perhaps, it was touch-and-go in terms of the height too. A quick referral shows McClenaghan is fine, gets the prized wicket.

After 17 overs, CSK 143/2 - 50 for Raina

Bumrah is back and his death bowling struggles continue. 12 runs from the over, and it’s Raina’s turn to get the boundaries (given Dhoni struggles to hit him usually). Great batsmanship, clever tactics. Both boundaries down the leg-side and Raina gets his second fifty of the IPL.

After 16 overs, CSK 131/2:

Oh, Dhoni you master manipulator. Despite his struggles against Markande in the first match, he knows he has to go big here. Chennai plunder 14 from that over and Dhoni has just raced to 25 off *18 balls. First ball of the over, dances down the track, the spinner fires it wide outside off, Dhoni just reaches out and swats it over cover with his bottom hand. Then a massive six over midwicket as the youngster tries to go full. Almost a helicopter shot. Almost.

After 15 overs, CSK 117/2:

Dhoni is at it now. Manipulating Hardik Pandya with all his experience. Stays deep in the crease, expecting a full ball - duly dispatches it brute force over mid-off. Expects a short-ish ball next up, gets it and pulls it through midwicket for back-to-back boundaries.

Dhoni getting a move on. CSK getting a move on.

After 14 overs, CSK 106/2:

CSK have the best death overs scoring rate in IPL 2018 – 12.64. An acceleration is around the corner, but not in that Krunal Pandya over. Just 6 runs from it. Raina moves into the 40s.

(Incidentally, Mumbai Indians sit at the other end of the spectrum; their death overs scoring rate of 8.04 is the lowest among all teams.)

After 13 overs, CSK 100/2:

100 up for the men in yellow in the 13th over, but MI have pulled things back very well. Good move (pre-meditated for sure) to bring Bumrah back into the attack, given his great record against MSD and the reward for Mumbai? Just a single from it. Dhoni often speaks about targetting specific opposition bowlers, and it’s fair to say he played it safe against Bumrah there.

After 12 overs CSK 99/2:

A breakthrough that MI were getting desperate for and it’s Krunal Pandya again. A few dot balls are like gold dust in this format, and Rayudu wants to go big after that over by McClenaghan. Sweeps, and finds Cutting in the deep. What an over, just two runs and a wicket.

Dhoni walks out to massive cheers, as is the norm.

Rayudu c Cutting b Krunal : 45 off 36 balls

After 11 overs, CSK 97/1:

A good over for Mumbai just as Chennai were threatening to pull away. Starts off poorly for McClenaghan, who strays on Raina’s pads, and is glanced with ease for a four. Just two more singles after that in the over.

Mumbai could do with a wicket or two here...

After 10 overs, CSK 91/1:

And the run-rate goes above 9, with another big over for the men in yellow. Raina treated Markande with the respect the youngster has earned so far, but that was just the first over seemingly. A trademark sweep straight down the ground for four, followed by a lofted on drive for six.

31 off 17 balls so far for the man who goes by the moniker ‘Chinna Thala’.

Meanwhile, crowd goes “SACHINNN, SACHINNNN!” the moment the master blaster comes on screen. Some things never change...

After 9 overs, CSK 77/1:

Ben Cutting into the attack and Rayudu welcomes him with a six over long on. Looked like a slower ball, Rayudu (Who is perhaps seeing the cricket ball like a football at this stage) picks it up early, lofts it over wide long-on. Great use of the wrists there. Raina gets a boundary to his name, taking advantage of mid-off being up, lofting it past the fielder. 14 from that over.

That’s also the 50-run partnership for the pair.

After 8 overs, CSK 63/1

It all started with his three-wicket haul in the opener against Chennai and Mayank Markande is back bowling against the men in yellow. How will he go the second time around? Will Chennai have done their homework this time? Just three singles from his first over, great start by the youngster.

After 7 overs, CSK 60/1:

Another good over for Chennai. Krunal from the other end, and Raina starts the first post-powerplay over with a cut past point for four. Played it late, placed it perfectly. Finishes the over with a good looking whip through midwicket for a couple.

Raina is the only Chennai frontline batsman not to get a MoTM award so far - can he change that today? Off to a good start. And we have a strategic timeout. MI need it more than CSK at this stage. Rayudu and Raina are looking good.

End of powerplay - CSK 51/1:

Hardik Pandya continues for the defending champions. Starts the over well, with just two runs from the first four balls. Fifth ball, a clever (educated) edge to third man for four. Sixth ball, sends a knuckle delivery soaring down the ground for six. Great finish to the powerplay for Chennai after a sedate start.

After 5 overs, 39/1 - Watson gone but big over for Chennai

Krunal comes in and strikes right away. The ball bounced on Watson and he went across the line. The top edge was well caught by Markande - well, just about. Almost lets it through his arms. But this is also the over Chennai’s innings gets some momentum finally. A six each from Rayudu and Raina. The right-hander steps down the track and caresses a lofted on-drive all the way while Raina gets off the mark with a signature slog sweep.

A mixed first over for the elder Pandya.

After 4 overs, CSK 24/0:

Hardik Pandya comes into bowl and it’s another sedate over, just 6 runs off of it. Rayudu gets one boundary by throwing his bat at the wide-ish delivery, beating the gully fielder. Rayudu tries a couple of heaves, doesn’t connect.

Not the ideal powerplay this for Chennai.

After 3 overs, CSK 18/0:

Watson, who hit a century in the previous match at this venue after being dropped in the first over, gets going with a powerful off drive off McClenaghan that beats mid-on for four. 8 runs from the Kiwi’s second pacer as well.

Pune doesn’t boast of a very high average first innings score - a shade under 160 in IPL. The pitch usually is two-paced, but there is good bounce and carry here early on for the pacers.

After 2 overs, CSK 10/0:

Jasprit Bumrah into the attack and what a good over that is. Starts off with four dot balls, and almost had the big wicket of Rayudu there. Gets extra bounce from short of good length, Rayudu tries to dab it to fine leg but gets a leading edge and it falls just short of the bowler. Two singles to finish the over.

After 1 over, CSK 8/0:

Watson and Rayudu opening again, McClenaghan with the new ball. And Rayudu shows what good touch he is in (and also how good this pitch is going to play) by dancing down the track off the third ball and hitting the pacer through the line for a six. 8 from the first over.

07:59 pm: Reminder that tonight is Dhoni’s 150th match in the IPL as the captain - the most, of course.

07:52 pm: A quick poll..

07:50 pm: Confirmed playing XIs...

07:48 pm: How will Mumbai’s bowling attack fare today? They have been better than the batsmen for sure, but Bumrah’s death bowling has been a concern for Mumbai, and by extension for India. He has been taken apart in the 19th over on a couple of occasions already this season, and Rohit will be hoping he comes good today - a big total to chase in a must-win game can prove detrimental to Mumbai’s cause.

7:45 pm: “No changes for CSK” - a mantra that has seen them do so well in the league in the past. Also means that there are no fresh injuries for Dhoni’s men today. The former Indian captain thrives on having a settled combination. He has also been very forthright about his team’s average age being on the higher side, and the fielding being a concern that he can’t really do anything about - but who would mind when the results have been this good.

07:35 pm: Big teams changes from Rohit Sharma... and like we had suggested on these pages, the big man Kieron Pollard has been dropped (presumably) as JP Duminy comes in. Mustafizur is out as well, Ben Cutting (an all-rounder to replace KP) takes his place.

No change for CSK.

07:30 pm: Mumbai Indians will be bowling first as Rohit Sharma calls right for the second game in a row.

Rohit Sharma: ‘The wicket should be the same for 40 overs, it will be good to have a target in front of us. I know we have lost a few games, it is important we click as individuals and as a team.’

MS Dhoni: ‘We would have bowled first too, but there was a little bit of variable bounce in the second innings last match. It’s the same pitch, that has got some rest. Should be a good track to bat on through out’

07:25 pm: While fans will be rooting for their respective teams, tonight will be a chance for MI to make sure the league remains competitive and interesting for the neutrals. Just like Delhi Daredevils last night, a win for Mumbai today, would keep things interesting as far as the playoff race goes.

07:20 pm: For Chennai Super Kings, it’s been a blockbuster return to the IPL so far. Losing just one game and winning a whole bunch of thrillers. The #WhistlePodu army has hard plenty to whistle about. Will it be more of the same tonight?

Read more about MS Dhoni’s tactical masterclass in the previous game, here:

07:15 pm: Some reading for you as we wait for toss and what not from Pune...

Tactically, the 2018 campaign has been a disaster for the Mumbai Indians and it is now that their humongous coaching staff must earn their keep. Mumbai’s task from this point is not going to be easy – they will need to win every match and hope that other results go their way.

It has happened before but for it to happen again, Mumbai need to make some major tactical changes to the way their batting works:

Read more here:

07:10 pm: Some statistics...

  • CSK have the best death overs scoring rate in IPL 2018 – 12.64. Mumbai Indians sit at the other end of the spectrum; their death overs scoring rate of 8.04 is the lowest among all teams.  
  • Mumbai Indians’ run rate in the powerplay this season is 8.38; for the rest of the innings, their scoring rate drops to 8.12.  
  • Five different players have won the Man of the Match award in CSK’s five wins this season: Dwayne Bravo, Sam Billings, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu and most recently MS Dhoni.  

07:03 pm: Technically, this is the home fixture for Chennai Super Kings but it’s Mumbai Indians who will feel close to home with the game being played in Pune (well, halfway between Mumbai and Pune. This is Chennai’s second game at their new home ground.

07:00 pm: Hello all and welcome to the live blog of Match 27 in the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League. It’s the rivalry that has been one of the defining aspects of the league. It’s the reverse fixture of the tournament-opener. It’s time for Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians.