IPL 2019: CSK Win Inaugural Match against RCB

THE 12th Edition of the Indian Premier League popularly called IPL has commenced with the defending champions Chennai Super Kings defeating The Royal Challenger Bangalore by 7 wickets.RCB were bundled out for a mere 70 runs in 17.1 overs CSK achieved the target in 17.4 overs at Chepauk stadium amid dissatisfaction earlier expressed by rival captains Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli over slowness of the track.Harbhjan Singh and   Imran Tahir took three wickets each for CSK led by  Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The finale is on Sunday, 12 May, 2019 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium , .A total of eight teams as in the previous years are participating in the Twenty20 .Sixty 60 matches will be played. Skipping inaugural function, The BCCI on Saturday contributed Rs 20 crore, the budget earmarked for the IPL opening ceremony, to the funds of the Armed forces and CRPF. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has cancelled any glitzy opening ceremony in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in which 44 CRPF personnel were killed by a suicide bomber.”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,” a BCCI release said. CoA Chairman, Vinod Rai said, “As a federation, we felt it was best not to hold a regular IPL opening ceremony. Instead, we decided to contribute the amount towards a cause that is so important and close to everyone’s heart.”Rai’s CoA colleague Diana Edulji said, “This comes as a welcome move and as a mark of respect to the ones who lost their lives in the terror attack. The BCCI has always been sensitive towards issues of national interest and will continue to make contributions whenever the need arises.”Recently appointed COA Member Lieutenant General Ravindra Thodge   hailing  the decision said “The national interest is of utmost importance to us. We understand the sentiments of the people and the families that have been affected by the Pulwama attack and martyred in operations in J&K, Northeast and anti Naxal operations or otherwise during the course of their Duty.”We respect and admire our Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces. This move was our way of showing solidarity and making a contribution in whatever capacity possible.”