New Delhi, Delhi, India

Chennai skipper MS Dhoni on Saturday won the toss and elected to bowl first against Mumbai in the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) opener. 

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Chennai is making a return to the cash-rich tournament after a gap of two years and Dhoni once again will be leading the side.

'We will bowl first. There will be some dew later on, it's a good batting surface. It feels nice to be back in yellow, but we can't be emotional. Starting well is important. Wood, Tahir, Bravo and Watson are the four overseas players today," Dhoni said after winning the toss

Meanwhile, Mumbai's Rohit Sharma will defend the trophy and said he is happy to bat first against two-time champions.

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"Happy to bat first, we were bowling as well. Fresh wicket, should be plenty of runs on offer. We have prepared very well, we have come together as a group. It's time to perform, " Rohit Said.

"What we have done in the past doesn't matter a lot, we will have to start afresh. CSK play well as a team, we have got four bowlers, two genuine all-rounders in the Pandya brothers, " the Mumbai skipper added.

"McClenaghan, Bumrah and Mustafizur are our pace options, Mayank Markande is the new guy in our team, heard good things about him," he concluded.

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Meanwhile, Yellow Brigade's Faf du Plessis and blue jersey's Pat Cummins will miss the first match due to injury and exertion respectively.

Mumbai are arguably one of the most successful franchises of the IPL.  It is the only team to have lifted the trophy thrice.

Mumbai (Playing XI): 

Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Mayank Markande, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mustafizur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah

Chennai (Playing XI):

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni(w/c), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir, Mark Wood