Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings: 3 things we learnt at Wankhede as Lions finish batting

Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja struck vital half-centuries while 17-year-old debutant Ayush Mhatre impressed with some big hits to take Chennai Super Kings to 176/5 in their Indian Premier League match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.

Forced to bat as early as in the seventh over, Jadeja (53 not out off 35 balls, 4x4s, 2x6s) hit his maiden fifty of the season alike Dube (50 off 32 balls, 2x4s, 4x6) to lift CSK after the five-time champions appeared to have lost their way. 

As Mumbai Indians resume their chase, here are five things that learnt from the first half of the game at the Wankhede Stadium:

1. Ayush Mhatre can sure bat! Mumbai prodigy Mhatre gave CSK the impetus early on with a 15-ball 32, studded with four boundaries and two sixes, to make an impact in his maiden outing but MI got things under control with some disciplined bowling.

The youngster hit the second ball he faced past the non-striker for a four. He flicked the third delivery for a six over deep mid-wicket and pulled the fourth powerfully into the stands for another maximum off Ashwani Kumar. The show ended in the seventh over when Deepak Chahar dug in a leg-cutter. Mhatre went hard at it but ended up giving a regulation catch to Mitchell Santner at long-on.

2. Shivam Dube can certainly take on any bowling lie-up: Mumbai Indians had done well until the 13th over with CSK crawling to 92 for three, but Dube took charge thereafter. After smacking Hardik Pandya for a six over midwicket, Dube smashed Trent Boult (0/43) for a four and a six over fine leg to collect 15 runs off his third over even as the MI pacer erred with his line and length. 

Dube and Jadeja punished left-armer Ashwini Kumar for 24 runs in an over, including three sixes and a four. Dube perished against Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) in the following over but not before completing an important half-century off 32 balls, having put on 79 runs for the fourth wicket with his senior colleague.

3. Time to replace Rachin Ravindra: The New Zealand opener is having a difficult season. He is too slow for a T20 opener. Perhaps he got the skill to accelerate after a slow start but he hardly survives the initial overs to make amendments for wasting the powerplay overs.

Young Dewald Brevis has arrived and the likes of Young Dewald Brevis has arrived and the likes of Vansh Bedi and Andre Siddarth are waiting in the fringes for a chance to come by.