CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings launched their Indian Premier League title defense with a clinical six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Virat Kohli’s comeback match on Friday.
Kohli made a quiet 21 off 20 balls in Bengaluru’s sub-par score of 173-6, and Chennai cruised to 176-4 with eight balls to spare in the opening game of the nine-week-long league.
Kohli missed international cricket for nearly two months, including India’s test series win over England, owing to the birth of his second child, and couldn’t prevent Chennai achieving an eighth consecutive win against Bengaluru at Chepauk.
After Bengaluru’s top order collapsed, Anuj Rawat (48) and Dinesh Karthik (38 not out) revived their hopes with a sixth-wicket stand of 95 off 57 balls.
Captain Faf du Plessis chose to bat and gave Bengaluru a good start in the power play when he smacked eight boundaries in his 35 before he fell to the variations of fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who took 4-29.
Mustafizur dismissed du Plessis and Rajat Patidar in his only over in the power play, then he picked up two more wickets, including Kohli, in his second over midway through the innings.
Kohli was brilliantly snapped up at deep midwicket when Ajinkya Rahane dived full length and, just before crashing into the boundary cushion, lobbed the ball back to Rachin Ravindra to complete the catch.
Bengaluru were lurching at 78-5 and Mustafizur’s figures read 4-7 off his first two overs.
Chennai’s top order was among the runs in a breezy chase. Ravindra, in his league debut, made 37 off 15 balls with three sixes and three boundaries.
Ajinkya Rahane (27) and Daryl Mitchell (22) kept up the run rate and Shivam Dube (34 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (25 not out) combined in a half-century stand to guide Chennai home.
Chennai begins IPL title defense with cruisy win as Kohli out for 21 in comeback game
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Chennai begins IPL title defense with cruisy win as Kohli out for 21 in comeback game
- Chennai cruised to 176-4 with eight balls to spare in the opening game of the nine-week-long league
Scotland Yard returns to action as JSCA Cup headlines weekend racing in Riyadh
RIYADH: Scotland Yard, winner of the 2025 Tuwaiq Cup, is set to make his seasonal debut when he tops a field of six runners for the Group 3 JSCA Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday.
The SR165,000 ($44,000) feature over 1,800 meters marks the return of the Nicolas Bachalard-trained six-year-old, who enjoyed a highly successful campaign last season. Ridden once again by champion jockey Adel Al-Fouraidi, the US-bred gelding won three of his four starts, highlighted by a dominant near six-length victory on Saudi Cup weekend.
Scotland Yard faces a competitive lineup, led by the Red Stable’s Wait To Excel, runner-up in recent domestic company and eighth in the Saudi Cup. The White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is represented by Electability, while Thamer Al-Daihani saddles Man Of The Night, with Ricardo Ferreira taking the ride.
Saturday’s supporting card features the SR150,000 Saeed Al-Majed Cup over 2,000 meters, where Lucas Gaitan’s Saudi Derby winner Al-Waqqad makes his third start of the season under Alexis Moreno. The four-year-old finished well back behind Scotland Yard in the Tuwaiq Cup last February but showed improved form when third behind Thundersquall and Wait To Excel in an open contest last month.
A large field of 15 has been declared for the SR130,000 Rashed bin A. Al-Zenaidy Award for three-year-olds over 1,200 meters. Attention is likely to focus on last season’s Sarawat Cup winner Karimi and Kawafill, who bids for a hat-trick after recent victories in Taif and Riyadh.
Friday’s action is headlined by the SR150,000 Ministry of Education Cup for juveniles over 1,400 meters, attracting 19 runners. The Red Stable fields Ela Al-Amam and Nayaad, with Ferreira aboard Ela Al-Amam, who remains unbeaten after two starts. The White Stable counters with Ma’aha Allah, twice runner-up from two appearances, and Taif debut winner Nasrak Allah.
The Friday card also includes three competitive turf races, beginning with a 1,200-meter open featuring Red Stable runner Zefzaf against French import Cacofonix. Zefzaf enjoyed a breakout season last year, winning three times and finishing second in the Turf Sprint Qualifier, and now takes on Cacofonix, a former European Listed winner recently acquired by the White Stable.
Cacofonix, a three-time winner from nine starts, was last seen finishing sixth in Group 3 company in August and changed hands for €460,000 ($543,000) in October. Later on the card, Maylan — who defeated Zefzaf in the Turf Sprint Qualifier — heads a full field in the 1,351-meter open, before attention turns to the 2,100-meter contest featuring Bolide Porto. The White Stable runner finished third on his recent return and previously held his own in the upgraded Group 1 Howden Neom Turf Cup.
Racing at King Abdulaziz Racecourse continues to gather momentum as the domestic season builds toward its marquee events.
