CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 18 runs, reflecting these contrasts. KKR's fortunes did not improve despite a change of venue, as they suffered their third loss on the trot.
CSK climbed to the top of the point rankings. All three yellow jersey players, Faf du Plessis, Deepak Chahar, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, will remember this evening for their outstanding performances.
CSK ripped apart KKR's attack, amassing 220/3, with Du Plessis proving he still has a ton to give with an unbeaten 95 off 60 balls. Chahar struck with vengeance on the other side of the innings break, taking 4/29. Faf du Plessis took the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers to the cleaners in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Du Plessis's main partner was fellow opener Gaikwad, who scored a timely and classy 64 to prove that he is ready to be counted among India's best bench players.
In KKR colors, Eoin Morgan, Prasidh Krishna, and Shubman Gill may want to forget about Wednesday easily. With six sixes each, Andre Russell (22-ball 54) and Pat Cummins (34-ball 66*) raised hopes of a KKR miracle. However, too much was being asked of them, even though Dinesh Kartik (24-ball 40) played an active supporting role.
The emergence of Cummins as a batsman will be a positive for KKR in this match. He may be the all-rounder they were looking for further down the line.
KKR were finally bowled out for 202 in the 20th over, a remarkable comeback considering they had been reduced to 31/5 in the sixth over.