Picture : IPL / X
Defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders made Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s return as CSK captain a horrendous as they routed the men in yellow in Tata IPL 2025 encounter by 8 wicket in Chennai.
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders Skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to field first . And CSK were were in trouble right from the start. The Kiwi opening duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway found runs hard to come by as KKR bowled a tight line and length.
The frustration showed and Conway was out soon first for 12 . Ravindra followed for 4 . Rahul Tripathi ( 16), Vijay Shankar was dropped first by Sunil Narine and Venkatesh Iyer yet could not carry on . Shankar made 29 ( 21 balls, 2 fours, 1 six).
CSK batting fell like pack of cards and and a horrendous way for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to return as Captain . Ravichandran Ashwin ( 1), Ravindra Jadeja out off form ( 0) , Deepak Hooda ( 0). Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni coming in at 8 flopped too and was out for 1 . Noor Ahmad ( 1) . Shivam Dube not out 31 ( 29 balls 3 fours) and Anshul Kamboj not out 3 ensured CSK reached somehow 103/ 9 in their 20 overs. It was pathetic batting display from the five time winners. It shocked the large fans too .
KKR barring some drop catches were brilliant on the field with their bowling and Rahane with his apt field placing bowling changes
KKR Bowling : Vaibhav Arora 1/ 31 ( 4 Overs ) , Moeen Ali 1/ 20 ( 4 overs) , Harshit Rana 2/ 16 ( 4 overs) , Varun Chakaravarthy 2/ 22 ( 4 overs) , Sunil Narine 3/ 13 ( 3 overs)
In reply KKR were in a hurry knowing fully well run- rates would come into the picture as the tournament progresses . KKR lost Quinton de Kock for 23 ( 16 balls 3 sixes ) with total at 46/ 1 in 4. 1 overs.
Sunil Narine showed the intent straight away and blasted a quick 44 ( 18 balls , 2 fours, 5 sixes) before he was out . Narine delivered a fine all – round show barring one drop catch he was flawless.
Clinical with the ball, fiery with the bat 🫡 🔥
A superb all-round performance earns Sunil Narine the Player of the Match award 🔝
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/gPLIYGimQn#TATAIPL | #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/ofafkXbOUO
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2025
KKR were in cruise control . Skipper Ajinkya Rahane not out 20( 17 balls 1 four, 1 six) and Rinku Singh not out 15 ( 12 balls , 1 four, 1 six) saw KKR home by 8 wickets and 59 balls to spare. It was thumping win as KKR finished at 107/ 2 in 10. 1 overs)
KKR except some drop catches did everything right . CSK on the other hand looked disinterested and the team lacking in confidence . The body language of players said it all what is going wrong with them this season.
CSK batting as one to forget the bowling had nothing to defend. Khaleel Ahmed 0/ 40 ( 3 overs) ,Anshul Kamboj 1/ 19 ( 2 overs) , Ravichandran Ashwin 0/ 30 ( 3 overs) , Noor Ahmad 1/ 8 ( 2 overs) , Ravindar Jadeja 0.1 / 9
Match: IPL 2025, 25th Match
Venue: Chennai | Date: April 11, 2025
