CSK vs RCB | Player Ratings - Harbhajan Singh and MS Dhoni star in CSK's seven-wicket win

CSK vs RCB | Player Ratings - Harbhajan Singh and MS Dhoni star in CSK's seven-wicket win

no photo

|

Twitter

The World is alright. CSK continue to win and RCB, well, are doing stuff they have always done ever so brilliantly - struggling. While that was a familiar narrative, the combination of Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir after MS Dhoni's decision at the toss, made everyone sit up for the season opener.

Ambati Rayudu (6/10) : Looking at the way he bats - there was no confidence whatsoever and a home-made technique that falters against both spin and pace - it just goes on to prove that CSK are in for a difficult ride. Not the kind of confidence you would carry to the future matches. But he did contribute 28 runs at a time when RCB were hoping to make a comeback.

Shane Watson (3/10) : Watson may have been a slow starter, but he makes up for it with timely hit after that, but the big man had an off day today. Fresh from a man of the series performance in the Pakistan Super League, Watson ended up playing out 10 deliveries for a duck. Anyway, the target was small, and it is fair enough for him to take his own time to settle down. 

Suresh Raina (5/10) : The “Chinna Thala” crossed the 5000-run barrier in the IPL, becoming the first cricketer to do so, but the slowness of the surface got into him. However, he countered the spinners gamely, making sure there was no RCB-like collapse for them. Of course, he was patchy, but then again, was not under-confident like Rayudu.  

MS Dhoni (7/10) : Didn’t get to bat today, but man, how good was MS Dhoni as a skipper? Just wonder, trusting the pitch so much in the first game of the season, and then going with one less overseas player, it requires enough calculation and Dhoni had clearly got that right. Full marks to him for that.

Kedar Jadhav (6/10) : There must be some memories of the last year’s opening match act for the Maharashtra boy, and he made sure that he was there till the end to experience the joy for the second time. In a 13-run innings, Jadhav didn’t have much to show as the result was almost a given, and I am going with a par point of 6 for him.

Ravindra Jadeja (8/10) : Mitchell Santner was touted as an upgrade on Ravindra Jadeja, but the latter has always been a CSK hero and it is never easy to downgrade him. He was brilliant on the field as usual and his two off 15 added to Harbhajan Singh-Imran Tahir combination. It would put the team management in a happy space and for a change, Jadeja was trying to bowl an attacking length instead of trying to contain runs.

Dwayne Bravo (7/10) : Bowled one delivery, wrapped up the proceedings and then went back to the dressing room. This is the kind of swagger one pacer wants all the time, and well, Bravo would be happy that he has at least started things on a confident note.

Deepak Chahar (7.5/10) : The Rajasthan pacer was one of the reasons behind the CSK getting off to a good start with the help of back-from-the-dead acts by their batsmen. Almost every time, he gave the team insurance with the new ball and this year, he started from where he left off as he conceded just 17 runs in four overs. Dhoni would be happy for putting his trust on his punt from the last year.

Shardul Thakur (6/10) : How often does it happen that a proper bowler doesn’t get to bowl a single over in a game? Well, Shardul Thakur would answer the question in affirmative as he had to move from mid-off to extra cover regularly, waiting for MS Dhoni to call his name for an over. Then again, why would you mind not bowling under the sweltering heat of Chennai?

Harbhajan Singh (9/10) : If the reverse ageing was true, then Harbhajan Singh would be one of its first ambassadors. Being the most experienced spinner in the “Dad’s Army”, Harbhajan knew that spinning the ball in two directions was going to be difficult for the batsmen and he did exactly that. A complete performance if there is one.

Imran Tahir (8.5/10) : After Harbhajan gave the impetus by taking the top-order down in a go, Imran Tahir made sure there was no way out of the maze for the Bangalore-based franchise. His three wickets were as good as it could get and in a way, put up a template for the tournament ahead. A handy performance to make the CSK fans go crazy for him in times to come this summer. 

Get updates! Follow us on

Open all