1st match, CSK vs KKR, IPL 2022: KKR won by 6 wickets
After being obliged to hold the majority of the last two editions outside of India, the Indian Premier League has returned home. Furthermore, the crowds returned to the stands, transforming Wankhede Stadium's top tiers into a sea of yellow.
The crowd had more reason to cheer than dancing to the beats of popular Bollywood music thanks to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's undefeated fifty. Even yet, it was Umesh Yadav and Ajinkya Rahane who guaranteed that the Kolkata Knight Riders won the night of comebacks.
The Knight Riders halted the Chennai Super Kings innings because to Umesh's blazing spell. The impact of Umesh's double strikes up front, as well as the fine work of mystery spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy in the middle, was so great that the Super Kings were never able to get going until the final two overs. Despite Dhoni and captain Ravindra Jadeja scoring 32 runs off Shivam Mavi and Andre Russell, the reigning champions could only muster a total of 131 for five.
Rahane, who was acquired at a bargain price in the player auction after playing sparingly for the Delhi Capitals, then justified his new team's faith in him. He ensured the Knight Riders avenged last year's final setback without a hiccup with a trademark knock.
As much as Dhoni's whip off Russell in the final over of the essay, Rahane's pull off Adam Milne that rocketed into the second tier over square-leg will be remembered. Despite Rahane's six-wicket loss, captain Shreyas Iyer ensured the Knight Riders crossed the line with nine deliveries and six wickets to spare.
Umesh set the tone for the rest of the evening. Umesh made his return to his former team in style after being benched by Delhi Capitals in 2021. Umesh's pace and swing were too much for the CSK openers to handle.
Ruturaj Gaikwad edged one to Nitish Rana at first slip, while Devon Conway's IPL debut ended with a chip to mid-on in the fifth over after being harassed by Umesh throughout the innings.
Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa both looked sharp, but Uthappa was neatly stumped by Sheldon Jackson, who last played an IPL match in 2017, down the leg off Varun.
Dhoni then joined Jadeja in the middle, but a clinical Knight Riders outfit snatched both the experienced hitters. The duo eschewed playing the big shots in order to extend the innings. The Knight Riders, on the other hand, were so impressive that they didn't allow Dhoni and Jadeja hit alternately.
