It hasn't been the campaign we'd imagined. This hurts and we know it. But this is when our boys need you the most, Paltan. It's your support that has been a constant through ups and down, and let's pledge to stand firmly by our Men in Blue and Gold. We have a real quick turnaround now as we head back home with just a day's gap to take on the Lucknow Super Giants. Let's B.E.L.I.E.V.E. ✊💙

11:12pm IST: A disappointing evening. Another game that had flashes of brilliance, but on the whole, a match that we didn't quite have a hold of. At the ten-over mark in CSK's chase, both teams were exactly at the same point. And that is where the major difference was, as Mumbai Indians lost their way a bit while finishing the innings with the bat. Naman Dhir's fifty, Ryan Rickelton's flashy start, SKY's quickfire blitz, there were positives. Even Jasprit Bumrah's new ball spell had good fire. It wasn't to be. 😞

JAS IS BACK. Can he pull a rabbit out of the hat?🎩

10:40pm IST: Let's B.E.L.I.E.V.E. The asking rate isn't too steep for the CSK batters, who seem happy to take this deep with safe cricket. We need wickets, and now. Both Ghazanfar and Raghu have done well here to stitch in some quiet overs, let's populate the Ws now.. 🙏

Raghu Sharma #AalaRe! A Blue and Gold debut for our man from Punjab. Gheun taak, Raghu! 

10:05pm IST: 🪄GHAZANFAR 🤌 😵‍💫 He's claws back after a Ruturay-Urvil partnership threatens to cut loose. Urvil Patel b AM Ghazanfar 24(12) | CSK: 64/2 (6 overs). 

IT COMES, five balls later. Once again, BOOM gets Samson edging, and Rickelton snaps it up. Phew, Jacks 😅 CSK: 13/1 (2 overs). 💥👊

No, no, noooooo!!! It was just what we needed. Alas, it doesn't stick. Sanju Samson edges off Jazzy BOOM, but Will Jacks isn't able to hold on at slip. Hota hai, tension nahi. Aayega wicket! 

9:30pm IST: Let's bring this home. Let's bring out the wild MI Spirit of defending low totals! 

******

159 it is! Naman anchors with a proper fifty. Rickelton counter-attacks. SKY smashes. HP tries. This is quite a slow pitch, and it wasn't the smoothest of innings for our batters. But without a lot of dew expected, the track is only likely to get slower. Onto our bowlers now.. 🫡

9:00pm IST: Nah, it isn't to be from Naman. He Suplas a six as soon as he gets his fifty, but then Jamie Overton gets rid off him, through a brilliant catch from Sarfaraz Khan as well. MI: 135/5 (17 overs). Over to HP and Robin Minz now.. 

Naman भाऊ ला नमन 🙏 A solid fifty off 34 balls, loading up for the final flourish in the last four overs. Peak. Gritty. Batting. 

8:25pm IST: Ahh, the ultimate blog curse😤. Just when he was looking sooooo good, SKY falls to a proper slapped cut, but alas, one that finds the fielder. 😔 MI: 100/3 (11 overs) | Surya: 21(12). 

8:20pm IST: एकच वादा सूर्य दादा 🫡 He's having a party out there, smashing bowlers around for fun. Aane do, aane do!!

37 runs | 24 balls | 5 sixes -- Ryan Rickelton, what a solid counter-punch 👏 

Powerplay ✅
First two overs - 5/1 | Next four overs - 52/0 🔥

..And now Naman Dhir joins the fun. Just a solid front food smack over long-on! And we are off and running in typical MI fashion! 

7:45pm IST: RYANO, RYANO, RYANO!! Fresh from a century, he simply tees off with back-to-back sixes to reverse the pressure immediately. Woahhhhh!!!! Quite the UNO Reverse move..💪🔥

😔 Arghhhh. This wasn't the start we were after :(. Will Jacks, who batted delightfully the other night, falls early after a watchful start .. MI: 1/1 (1.2 overs) | Jacks: 1 (5). Fikar not, we have a long batting lineup tonight!

7:25pm IST: बोला गणपती बाप्पा मोरिया!! 🙏🔊 We really need it tonight.. 😊

7:00pm IST: Quite the auspicious start👏 We've won the toss and HAVE OPTED TO BAT FIRST 🪙 Captain HP, let's carry on this good luck! 🫡

6:50pm IST: It's a hot, sultry evening in Chennai. Much like this game itself. Hot. Spicy. Epic! We are minutes away from the toss. Paltan, Kya boltii publicc? Batting ki bowling? 🤔

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"The guys will come out fighting even harder"

Here's the preview 

6:40pm IST: Kasa kay, Paltan 💙! Pata hai, we need a major mood upliftment. And what better than the El Clasico 😊! A game that has everything riding for us. A game that has enough for us to avenge given the disappointment at the Wankhede in the reverse fixture. A game with everything to play for. Bring it on, Chepauk! 💪