IPL 2019: Chennai beat Banagalore by 7 wickets

Its time to stretegic time out. 

Chennai are 68/3 after 16 overs. 

They just need 3 more runs to win the opening match of Indian Premier League 2019. 

After 8 overs, Chennai are 33/1. 

Shane Watson out!

Chahal to Watson, bowled. 

Watson departs on duck. 

Next batsman is Suresh Raina. 

Can Bangalore team defend the 70-run target?

The previous defended lowest total was 117. 

Quick Facts

Chennai won their last six matches against Bangalore. 

At Chepak, Chennai have 6-1 lead against Bangalore. 

Chennai have won 12 out of their last 13 Indian Premier League clashes at Chidambaram Stadium. 

With the wicket of Parthiv Patel, Virat-led team all-out after scoring 70 runs. 

It is the sixth lowest score in the history of Indian Premier League. 

Chennai vs Bangalore

Umesh Yadav out!

Yadav scored 1 run. 

Bangalore 70/9 after 17 overs. 

Yuzi departs!

Tahir to Chahal, catch out by harbhajan Singh. 

Chahal scored 4 runs. 

Navdeep Saini takes a walk back to the pavilion.

He scored 2 runs. 

Tahir convinced MSD to take the review when on-field umpire refused to give out. 

And a smart decision. 

Bangalore is in too much pressure now. 

Spinners are showing their game here at MA Chidambaram stadium. 

Jadeja to Colin de Grandhomme, catch out by wicketkeeper Dhoni. 

Grandhomme scored 4 runs. 

Next batsman is Navdeep Saini. 

Shivam Dube out!

A wicket just after the break.

Imran Tahir to Dube, easy catch out by Shane Watson. 

After 9 overs, Bangalore are 45/4

It's time for the strategic time out. 

Bangalore definitely need some change in their strategies.  

Another wicket goes...

It is Harbhajan again. 

Bhajji to Shimron Hetmyer, run out. 

Hetmyer departs on duck. 

It's his hattrick!

Harbhajan is on roll. The crowd at Chidambaram stadium is at their feet. 

Hit machine, AB de Villiers goes back to pavilion. 

Bhajji to ABD, catch out by Jadeja. 

AB scored 9 runs.  

It's Bhajji again!

Harbhajan to Moeen Ali, caught and bowled. 

Ali scored 9 runs for the team. 

Kohli scored 6 runs off 12 balls. 

Next batsman is Moeen Ali. 

Harbhajan gets rid of skipper Virat Kohli, Moeen Ali and AB de Villiers. 

Bangalore are 33 for 2 with 14 overs left.

Players have come to the crease. 

Virat Kohli along with Parthiv Patel, will open for Bangalore. 

Deepak Chahar opens the bowling attack. 

Watch: Virat Kohli's warms up ahead of the match. 

Chennai vs Bangalore

Here is the playing XI

Chennai: Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir

Bangalore: Parthiv Patel(w), Virat Kohli(c), Moeen Ali, AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Colin de Grandhomme, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini

Chennai vs Bangalore

No Opening Ceremony

India's cricket board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), contributed the entire budget earmarked for the Indian Premier League's opening ceremony to the funds of the Indian armed forces and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 

The BCCI has contributed a sum of Rs 20 crore. 

Official BCCI release said, "It was unanimously decided that a sum of Rs 11 crore be contributed to the Indian Army, Rs 7 crore to the CRPF and Rs 1 crore each to the Navy and Air Force respectively." 

The Committee of Administrators (CoA), running the BCCI had said that the opening ceremony will be cancelled in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. 

MS Dhoni opts to bowl first in the opening match of Indian Premier League 2019 playing against Bangalore at Chennai's Chidambaram Stadium. 

Virat Kohli's young team is craving maiden success as it has failed in previous seasons despite reaching the finals on three occasions. 

And unlikely them, the three-time title winner CSK will start their hunt from the first game itself. 

When we see both the teams, both have batsmen who can turn a match on its head in a matter of two-three overs. So the outcome of the game will depend on which team bowls better and holds its nerve.