Chennai, Apr 11 (UNI) Sunil Narine’s masterful spell of 4-1-13-3 dismantled Chennai Super Kings’ middle order as Kolkata Knight Riders restricted the five-time champions to a modest 103/9 in their 20 overs in Match 25 of the Indian Premier League 2025 at MA Chidambaram on Friday.
It was a vintage Narine performance that turned the tide in KKR’s favour after a promising powerplay from CSK. The mystery spinner sent back Rahul Tripathi (16), Ravindra Jadeja (0), and MS Dhoni (1) in a clinical display of control and deception, triggering a collapse that saw CSK lose six wickets for just 16 runs between overs 9.4 and 15.3.
Chennai’s innings had begun with promise. Devon Conway struck two crisp boundaries before falling leg-before to Moeen Ali for 12. But the early momentum faded quickly. Rachin Ravindra’s scratchy stay ended on 4, caught by Ajinkya Rahane off Harshit Rana, and CSK soon found themselves 16 for 2.
Vijay Shankar (29 off 21) briefly revived hopes with an enterprising knock, striking two fours and a six, but his dismissal to Varun Chakaravarthy in the 10th over opened the floodgates.
Narine then struck in successive overs—clean bowling Tripathi and removing Jadeja with a turning delivery that kissed the edge to Quinton de Kock. When Dhoni fell lbw attempting a flick, it left Chepauk fans, who had travelled in numbers, stunned into silence.
Varun (2/22) and Rana (2/16) shared the spoils with Narine, and Vaibhav Arora (1/31) chipped in with the wicket of Noor Ahmad while also being involved in three catches.
Only Shivam Dube (31* off 29) managed to hold firm amid the ruins. He struck three late boundaries in an otherwise dismal CSK collapse, including a pulled four off Rana and two driven boundaries off Arora, the final one ending the innings on a rare positive note—drilled powerfully wide of long-off, drawing parallels to MS Dhoni’s famous straight drives.
There were brief flashes of fight—Tripathi’s late cut for four, Shankar lofting Varun for a straight boundary and slog-sweeping Moeen for six—but none lasted long enough to threaten KKR’s discipline with the ball. Fielding was sharp too, with Arora and Varun taking difficult catches under pressure.
From 59/2 in the 10th over, CSK spiralled to 79/9 by the 17th, and despite Dube’s efforts, failed to bat out their 20 overs, finishing at 103 for 9.
KKR will now need just 104 to notch up another win, with the momentum firmly with them after a dominant bowling performance led by the ever-reliable Narine.
UNI BDN RN
