There we have it then. After much anticipation and build-up, the 17th edition of the IPL is off and running.

Mustafizur Rahman | Player of the Match

Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK Captain: Total control I would say, right from the start (apart) from 2-3 overs. Would’ve loved 10-15 runs less but I think they played really well towards the end. I feel that was a big turning point to get Maxwell and Faf out. We got three quick wickets and it helped us control the next overs, that was the real turning point. I’ve always enjoyed it (captaincy), never felt it as an additional pressure. I had experience on how to handle it, never felt any pressure, obviously had Mahi (MS Dhoni) bhai as well. I think everyone in our squad are natural strokeplayers, I think even Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) is playing really positively. Everyone knows their roles and which bowlers to take on. Role clarity really helps. Two-three things to work on, everyone batted well but I think if someone from the top 3 batted till the 15th over it would’ve been even easier.

Shivam Dube vs RCB in the IPL
46(32), Mumbai WS, 2021
95*(46), Mumbai DYP, 2022
52(27), Bengaluru, 2023
34*(28), Chennai, 2024
Total: 227 off 133, Avg: 113.50.50, SR: 170.67 4s/6s: 16/16

RCB in IPL season openers
2008: Lost to KKR by 140 runs
2017: Lost to SRH by 35 runs
2019: Lost to CSK by 7 wickets
2021: Won vs MI by 2 wickets
2024: Lost to CSK by 6 wickets

CSK vs RCB at Chepauk
Won by CSK: 8
Won by RCB: 1 (2008)

Most wins against a team in the IPL
23 - MI vs KKR
21 - CSK vs RCB
21 - KKR vs PBKS
20 - MI vs CSK
19 - CSK vs DC

Highest aggregate in an IPL game with no individual 50-plus score
349 - CSK vs RCB, Chennai, 2024
343 - GL vs RPS, Rajkot, 2017
343 - KKR vs CSK, Abu Dhabi, 2021
342 - PBKS vs RR, Mohali, 2014
337 - SRH vs KKR, Hyderabad, 2023

Rachin Ravindra: I think it was a pretty complete performance, we held our composure together towards the end, great hands from Jinx and Rutu as well. I wouldn't call myself a starter, I worked for around 3-4 days to get into the transition from red to white-ball. It was good, the training wicket was different, I wasn't sure if I was hitting well. Got a bit lucky at the start, but that helped me settle and get over my nervous energy. It's easier to settle into an environment when you know you have a couple of boys with whom you have hung around for a while.

Rachin Ravindra: I think it was a pretty complete performance, we held our composure together towards the end, great hands from Jinx and Rutu as well. I wouldn't call myself a starter, I worked for around 3-4 days to get into the transition from red to white-ball. It was good, the training wicket was different, I wasn't sure if I was hitting well. Got a bit lucky at the start, but that helped me settle and get over my nervous energy. It's easier to settle into an environment when you know you have a couple of boys with whom you have hung around for a while.

Faf du Plessis | RCB Captain: Always when you play, you get a bit of dip after the six overs. Chennai are a very good team in the middle overs, they squeeze you with their spinners. Maybe we were about 15-20 runs short, the pitch wasn’t as bad as we played in the first 10 overs. They were always ahead in the chase, we tried to squeeze and get a couple of wickets, but in the end we didn’t have enough runs. On this pitch, it is always better to bat first. Last year, the record was very skewed towards teams that batted first. The ball started to grip a bit with our spinners. Really good for Dinesh to set up his season, especially for someone who hasn’t played a lot of cricket. Anuj has shown some great promise for us, he showed great composure for a young guy and great power through the backend.

CSK give their fans a win upon returning to their fortress. The packed house might not have had a chance to see their Thala out with the bat but they would've gotten what they bargained for. These are two fan-bases that love having a go at each other and the yellow-army take all the spoils tonight.

23:54 Local Time, 18:24 GMT, 23:54 IST: The defending champions, under a new captain but very much following the same ethos, are off to a winning start. They extend their superb home record against RCB and it's now 8-1 in CSK's favor.

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, leg byes, FOUR, that'll do well enough for CSK! They get their 2024 campaign off to a winning start! Fired in full and at the boots, was just a touch down leg, Shivam Dube looked to flick it and missed, brushed his boot and went down fine to the fine-leg ropes

RCB review. They've got nothing going for themselves here, just a review in desperation

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, FOUR, to fine leg

One hit away now

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, SIX, to deep mid-wicket

Alzarri Joseph to Shivam Dube, no run, banged in short on middle, Shivam Dube looks to take it on and misses, just went over the gloves, called one for the over