Spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s 3-20 and a bludgeoning 61 by Ajinkya Rahane guided the Chennai Super Kings to an emphatic seven-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

Rahane made an impactful debut for Chennai with the fastest fifty this IPL season in 19 balls as the four-time winners achieved their victory target of 158 in 18.1 overs in Mumbai.

Coming in after the fall of Devon Conway for a duck, Rahane tore into the Mumbai attack, which was without Jofra Archer after the England pace bowler was rested due to discomfort in his elbow.

Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma said Archer, who returned to the team in the previous match after missing last season, not playing was “just a precaution”.

Rohit said the five-time champions need to be more “brave” in their upcoming matches.

Chennai’s England stars Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali missed out due to injuries and South Africans Dwaine Pretorius and Sisanda Magala made the team.

Ravindra Jadeja made an impression with his left-arm spin as he took the key wickets of Ishan Kishan (32), Cameron Green, out for 12 after an excellent caught and bowled, and Tilak Varma (22) to keep Mumbai to 157-8.

Jadeja, who was named Man of the Match, was ably supported by New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who returned figures of 2-28.

Tim David’s late cameo of 31 boosted Mumbai’s total but was still not enough to challenge the Chennai batting.

Rahane, who was signed by Chennai for his base price of $61,094 in the December auction, smashed seven fours and three sixes.

Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad made an unbeaten 40 to move to the top of the batting charts with 189 runs this season as he jumped over Buttler (152) and Warner (158).

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© Agence France-Presse