Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings players greet each other after the match.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings players greet each other after the match. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI
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Dubai: The wait and the speculation are finally over. Four-time champions Mumbai Indians are taking on Chennai Super Kings, three-time winners, in what is billed as the 'El Clasico' of the IPL to set the ball rolling for the 13th edition at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Two talismanic captains, Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will be looking for an early win to kickstart their campaign in what is a replay of last year’s final.  The tournament will be played behind closed doors - as of now - with an eye towards the safety of the fans and players.

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Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians bowls during the match.
Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians bowls during the match. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI
Ambati Rayudu of the Chennai Superkings in action.
Ambati Rayudu of the Chennai Super Kings in action. Image Credit: Pankaj Nangia/Sportzpics for BCCI
Faf du Plessis of Chennai Super Kings plays a shot.
Faf du Plessis of Chennai Super Kings plays a shot. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI

Mumbai total is good enough to win

Mumbai Indians’ score of 162 should be good enough to win. But credit to Chennai Super Kings for restricting them. When Mumbai initially threatened to take charge of the match, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni marshalled his bowlers adroitly to stem the flow of runs. Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja struck at crucial times and that allowed the pacemen to come back into match. Two of the three catches by Faf du Plessis were absolute blinders

It’s not easy to score runs. The wicket looks a bit slow and spinners are difficult to get away for runs. That would put pressure on batsmen to attack the pacers and that could spell trouble. That’s what Chennai Super Kings did. The onus now is on Mumbai bowlers

Chennai skipper MS Dhoni was pretty happy at the innings break as champs Mumbai were held to 162-9.
Chennai skipper MS Dhoni was pretty happy at the innings break as champs Mumbai were held to 162-9.
Lungisani Ngidi (left) and Ravindra Jadeja of Chennai Super Kings celebrate the wicket of James Pattinson of Mumbai Indians.
Lungisani Ngidi (left) and Ravindra Jadeja of Chennai Super Kings celebrate the wicket of James Pattinson of Mumbai Indians. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI
Deepak Chahar of the Chennai Superkings during match 1 of season 13 of the Dream 11 Indian Premier League (IPL) between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Superkings held at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on the 19th September 2020.
Deepak Chahar went in hunt of an early wicket for Chennai.
CSK were celebrating as De Kock departed on 33 after Sharma was removed on 12.
CSK were celebrating as De Kock departed on 33 after Sharma was removed on 12.
Chennai's Piyush Chawla was doing his bit to keep the score down against Mumbai in Abu Dhabi.
Chennai's Piyush Chawla was doing his bit to keep the score down.
Chennai Superkings and Mumbai Indians players stand and clap as they thank you the front line heroes before the start of the match 1 of season 13 of the Dream 11 Indian Premier League (IPL) between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Superkings held at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on the 19th September 2020. Photo by: Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for BCCI
There was applause all round as defending IPL champions Mumbai Indians and 2019 beaten finalists Chennai Super Kings got IPL 13 under way in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Quinton de Kock in action
Quinton de Kock in action. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI
Rohit Sharma plays a shot
Rohit Sharma plays a shot. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI
A view of ground at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi as the match progressing.
A view of ground at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi as the match progressing. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI
MS Dhoni captain of Chennai Superkings and Rohit Sharma captain of Mumbai Indians during the toss.
MS Dhoni captain of Chennai Superkings and Rohit Sharma captain of Mumbai Indians during the toss. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI
General view of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi before the start of the match.
General view of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi before the start of the match. Image Credit: Vipin Pawar/Sportzpics for BCCI

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