IPL 2020: Mumbai-Chennai rivalry gets intense, Kolhapur fans fight it out in a poster war

Despite IPL 2020 being moved to UAE, Indian fans have t lost ir zeal and enthusiasm in celebrating grand festival back home. tournament got underway on Saturday with arch-rivals Mumbai and Chennai locking horns in Abu Dhabi. As MS Dhoni's men faced Rohit Sharma's champions, ir fan armies back home battled it out as well just as race to title begun. 

Fans of teams in Maharashtra's Kolhapur upped rivalry, as y fought it out through a poster war. While it is alleged that Chennai fans put up a poster of Thala Dhoni first, Mumbai fans weren't left behind as y put up a poster of ir skipper - Rohit Sharma - just next to former Indian skipper's poster. MS Dhoni's poster carried caption of 'Saaheb' (sic.) which is equivalent to Thala in Marathi langu. 

However, Mumbai fans took a dig at ir counterparts as y put up Rohit Sharma's poster with caption - "Don't be jealous, equalize" (sic.) Mumbai army was referring to record of winning IPL. Mumbai has a better record having clinched silverware 4 times while Chennai has won it 3 times. However, it was MS Dhoni-led side that trumped Mumbai in season opener on Saturday. 

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Chennai defeat Mumbai in season opener 

MS Dhoni-led Chennai beat Rohit Sharma's Mumbai in curtain-raiser of Dream11 IPL 2020 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. After being put into bat, by Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, four-time champions got off to a brisk start. Faf du Plessis took three outstanding catches in deep and brought Chennai right back into contest. Even Chennai bowlers came back well at backend of innings as y accounted for Mumbai's big-hitters and title-holders were restricted to 162/3 in ir 20 overs. 

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In reply, former champions were off to a disastrous start as y lost wickets of openers. However, Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis h or ideas as y ensured that 'Yellow Army' did t face any furr hiccups in ir run chase. Faf me four-time champions pay for ir sloppy fielding by scoring his 13th IPL half-century and helping Chennai get past finish line by five wickets with four balls to spare.

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