Key Highlights:
Chennai (April 11, IST): The much-hyped CSK vs KKR fixture at Chepauk turned into a one-sided demolition as Kolkata Knight Riders crushed Chennai Super Kings by 8 wickets. The spin trio of Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Moeen Ali ripped through CSK’s fragile batting lineup, restricting the hosts to a paltry 103/9 — their lowest T20 score at home.
CSK’s Collapse: Spin Strangles Super Kings
Batting first under MS Dhoni, CSK looked unprepared for the spin-heavy onslaught. The Chepauk pitch, which offered turn and variable bounce, became a nightmare for batters.
Spin Bowling Impact:
- Sunil Narine: 4-0-14-3 (including Dhoni and Jadeja)
- Varun Chakravarthy: 4-0-16-2
- Moeen Ali: 4-1-23-2
The combined spin figures? 12-1-53-7. Not only did KKR squeeze the run flow, but they also ensured consistent wickets to break Chennai’s back.
Chennai’s Batting Timeline: Wickets Tumble
- 31/2 in Powerplay: Conway (12) and Rachin (4) fell early
- 59/3: Vijay Shankar’s slog finds Moeen
- 65/4: Rahul Tripathi bowled by Narine
- 75/8: Jadeja (0), Hooda (0), Dhoni (1) fall in quick succession
- 103/9 (20 overs): CSK crawl to three digits
Only Shivam Dube (31* off 29) showed resistance, but even he picked up a suspected leg injury late in the innings.
Match Fact: This was CSK’s lowest total at Chepauk, and they hit just 3 boundaries after the eighth over.
CSK vs KKR – Umpiring Controversy: Dhoni Dismissal Adds Drama
In the 16th over, MS Dhoni was given lbw to Narine. Though UltraEdge showed a tiny spike, third umpire Vinod Seshan upheld the on-field call. An incensed Stephen Fleming, CSK’s head coach, was seen heading out of the dugout — a rare show of dissent from the usually composed Chennai camp.
KKR’s Clinical Chase: Narine Shines with the Bat Too
Chasing 104, KKR began explosively:
- Sunil Narine: 44 off 18 (5 fours, 2 sixes)
- Quinton de Kock: 23 off 16
- Ajinkya Rahane (20)* and Rinku Singh (15)* finished the chase by the 11th over.
KKR won with 58 balls to spare, recording one of the most dominant away wins in IPL history.
Bowling Summary (CSK):
- Anshul Kamboj: 2-0-19-1 (got de Kock)
- Noor Ahmad: 1.2-0-10-1 (removed Narine)
- Ashwin and Jadeja went wicketless; the rest barely troubled KKR’s chase.
Match Flow Highlights:
- Powerplay Scores:
- CSK: 31/2
- KKR: 50/1
- Strategic Timeouts:
- CSK: 56/2 in 9 overs
- KKR: 92/2 in 9 overs
- Impact Players Used:
- CSK: Hooda for Tripathi (failed)
- KKR: Raghuvanshi, Powell, Roy (unused)
What’s Next for CSK?
- Injury concerns: Pathirana missed out, Dube limped off
- Batting failure: Multiple collapses in last 3 matches
- Gaikwad ruled out: Leadership and top-order void
- Dhoni under pressure: Tactics questioned, including Hooda as Impact pick
The CSK vs KKR clash was a lesson in execution and adaptability. While KKR stuck to their strengths — using spin to perfection — CSK unravelled under pressure. With just over half the season left, Chennai’s playoff hopes now hang in the balance.
If MS Dhoni and co. don’t turn things around soon, Chepauk might stop being their fortress — and start becoming a graveyard for lost campaigns.
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