For a town that loves its scripts, even Chennai wouldn’t have expected such a topsy-turvy one for their first IPL game in 1095 days.
When Ravindra Jadeja hit that monstrous six over long on, a sea of yellow erupted in Chennai’ the crowd had been repaid for their belief, and Chennai was in party mood.
With 203 to chase, it was always going to be difficult for CSK, but the openers helped them get off to blistering start and that set the tone for the middle order.
After Rayudu and Watson were sent back, the onus was on Dhoni and Raina to take they yellow brigade home. The duo consolidated in the middle, but Raina was struggling with cramps and an apparent calf injury and Dhoni was struggling to rotate the strike.
Dhoni, however, got into the mood after hitting Kuldeep for a couple of boundaries and Billings who had joined him in the middle started moving like a gazelle on the crease, striking the ball brilliantly.
Billings took the game deep and after he got dismissed the onus was on Jadeja and Bravo to take the game through.
With 17 needed off the final over, Vinay Kumar started off in the worst possible way dishing out a no-ball which went for a six.
This is how Twitter reacted:
And again! I have heard noise before but not this. #CSK
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 10, 2018
Jadeja slams a monstrous maximum to seal CSK’s #Homecoming encounter#CSKvKKR #IPL #IPL18 #CSK #KKR https://t.co/mA9Q05HIj4
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 10, 2018
Yet another exiciting finish to the game for @ChennaiIPL. Credit must go to @sambillings for his brave half century. #WhistlePodu all the way! #CSKvKKR
— R P Singh (@rpsingh) April 10, 2018
Snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat…CSK is making a habit of it. Win-the-Toss-Field-Win-The-Game…trend continues. Unbelievable. #CSKvKKR #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 10, 2018
Vinay Kumar in this IPL thus far
1st over vs RCB—14
20th over vs RCB—16
1st over vs CSK—16
20th over vs CSK—19
#CSKvKKR #IPL— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 10, 2018
Vinay Kumar’s death bowling skills –#IPL #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/33oDdWDhTe
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 10, 2018
When Vinay Kumar took his mask off in the dressing room… #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/n4G2kaorub
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 10, 2018
2 Minutes Of Silence For People Who Were Criticising MS Dhoni’s Decision To Send Sir Ravindra Jadeja Ahead Of Dwayne Bravo. 💛😂🙏#CSKvsKKR #CSKvKKR #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/gnpr0aFLUV
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) April 10, 2018
Over 400 runs. Chasing 200 + runs. Last over finish. What more advertisement for cricket and for the IPL. People who witnessed it LIVE have more reasons to remember this match for a long time. @ChennaiIPL on a roll. Amazing victory 👏#CSKvKKR
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 10, 2018
Bravo the other night & Billings tonight. Story of CSK’s IPL so far.#CSKvKKR
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 10, 2018
#CSKvKKR another exciting finish for CSK !! Superb Win
— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) April 10, 2018
*Dhoni comes to bat for #CSKvKKR*
Required rate: 10 RPO*Dhoni continues to take singles*
Required rate: 15 RPOSam Billings: pic.twitter.com/0B198epwLB
— Legion (@legion__group) April 10, 2018
மெட்ராஸ்ல இருக்குது கிண்டி
நீ ஓட்றதோ பெட்றோல் போட்ட வண்டி
நீ அடிக்கிற பந்து பொயிற்மாடா என்ன தாண்டி@chennaiipl கூட ஆடுனா உனக்கு அல்லு கேரெண்டீ
போயிறுவியா என் ஏரியாவ தாண்டி
செம மேட்ச் மாமா @ShaneRWatson33@sambillings @RayuduAmbati#sillakidumma pic.twitter.com/AVdEURbwPG— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 10, 2018
What an intense match!!! Super thrilling & always kept me on the edge of my seat! Excellent innings by @sambillings! Brilliant sixer by @imjadeja! A well deserved victory in the den! @ChennaiIPL seems to be back with a bang! #CSKvKKR
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) April 10, 2018
Over 400 runs scored & the Chennai crowd deserved it,having waited for almost 3 years. Russell’s hitting was of the highest class but in the end Sam Billings batted wonderfully under pressure and Chennai have now won both games from a difficult situation. Congratulations #CSKvKKR
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) April 10, 2018
