IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets — in pictures

A fluent 129-run stand between openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (pictured) (75 off 44 balls) and senior pro Faf du Plessis (56 off 38 balls) set Chennai Super Kings on course to a thumping seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first match for both teams in New Delhi.

Gaikwad made 75 off 44 balls (12x4) while du Plessis (pictured) scored 56 off 38 balls (6x4, 1x6) as CSK chased down 171/3 put up by SRH with nine balls to spare.

It looks a completely transformed Chennai team this season from last year in the UAE as the three-time champions have displaced Royal Challengers Bangalore at the top of the table again. They kept things under control to rein in Sunrisers to a total of 171 for three - barely a par score on a new-look wicket.

The Orange Army continues to languish at the bottom of the table while the two half-centuries from their captain David Warner and Manish Pandey not proving to be enough to contain a rampant CSK batting.

SRH struggled to get wickets, as their pace trio of Sandeep Sharma (pictured), Khaleel Ahmed and Siddarth Kaul couldn't get any assistance from the placid pitch. The three conceded 92 runs in 11.3 overs as the CSK openers made merry.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan (pictured) took 3/36 in his four overs but he was far from miserly on a pitch that helped strokeplay.

Suresh Raina of Chennai Super Kings hits a boundary.

Rashid Khan (right) of Sunrisers Hyderabad celebrates the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad of Chennai Super Kings.

Jagadeesha Suchith of Sunrisers Hyderabad bowls.

Ravindra Jadeja of Chennai Super Kings bowls.

Kane Williamson of Sunrisers Hyderabad hits a boundary.

David Warner and Manish Pandey of Sunrisers Hyderabad run between the wickets.

Lungi Ngidi of Chennai Super Kings bowls.

David Warner of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot.

Manish Pandey of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot.

Moeen Ali of Chennai Super Kings bowls.