CSK vs KKR

11:55 PM local time and IST: CSK move up to number 8 in the points table with back-to-back wins and join four more teams with 4 points in what is a cluster in the middle of the table, above MI and KKR who were once again not up to the mark and are yet to register a win having played five games now. Tomorrow, it is number 3 vs number 7 as defending champs RCB host LSG at the Chinnaswamy. Make sure you join us, for now this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Pradeep and the entire team. Cheers!

Noor Ahmad is the Player of the Match for his spell of 3/21, here is what he had to say: First of all happy to contribute to the team's win. It was pretty humid so I was just trying to keep my fingers dry to hit the right areas

Really happy with the pitch, the ball was not coming on to the bat. It gives a lot of confidence, for sure. Want to keep putting efforts into contributing for the team

Changing the pace up is something you want to do for every wicket, above 90(kph) was good tonight

Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK captain): Feeling good. Again we defended a good score. Felt it was a par score, the wicket drastically changed after the first 7-8 overs. It started spinning and stopping. We were first looking at 210-220 but then looked more for 180-190. From there on, it was very important to have a good powerplay with the ball and then just needed to carry it on

(on their bowling) Slowly, it is starting to come together. Everyone knows their role, which overs to bowl and the lengths to bowl. Adjusting to what the team needs, we are getting better slowly which is a positive sign

(Noor and Akeal's performance) We wanted to use Veer but Akeal coming in the second innings, more of a powerplay bowler but he still bowled really well. Went under the radar but bowled really well

(things to improve) We dropped pretty much everything that came our way, took just 1 or 2 catches. It was pretty humid today, a lot of sweat which is not an excuse but as long as we are putting in the efforts there are no issues

(on his batting form) First of all, to be back on the winning side feels good. It was in my mind while batting as well but I am feeling really positive in my mind. As long as the other guys are covering up, it is fine, feel that a big knock is just round the corner

Akeal Hosein [Chennai Super Kings]: "(On assessing the pitch and conditions) It was great to see a proper cricket wicket—something in it for everyone rather than a flat belter. There was assistance for the spinners, and overall, it was about understanding what the surface had to offer and adapting accordingly.(On his bowling approach) The focus was on varying pace and length while consistently targeting the stumps. Using natural variations—mixing seam and pace-off deliveries—helped create uncertainty, especially with some balls skidding on and others holding up. The key was to keep the batters guessing and force them to play against the conditions.(On bowling in tandem with Noor) It’s always satisfying to bowl alongside another spinner who’s also contributing. Noor has been working really hard, and it’s great to see him get rewarded with wickets and regain confidence.(On the competitiveness of the total) A score in the range of 170 to 190 makes for a proper contest. It wasn’t a surface where you could just walk in and play freely—you had to earn your runs. That’s what made it a quality game of cricket."

Ajinkya Rahane [Kolkata Knight Riders captain]: "(On the team’s bowling performance) I thought we did a really good job with the ball. To restrict them to 190 after they scored around 70 in the powerplay was an excellent effort from the bowling unit.(On the batting struggles) With the bat, we just couldn’t build momentum. The powerplay was crucial—we only managed around 35–37 runs, which put us behind. The middle overs were challenging against spin, and ideally, we needed one batter to stay till the end and finish the chase.(On team combination and approach going forward) The combination we’ve been playing looks balanced, but results haven’t gone our way. It’s important for us to stay positive, keep our heads up, and focus on the present. At the same time, we’ll sit together, reassess, and see if any changes are needed.(On Kartik Tyagi’s performance) Full credit to him. He’s been working really hard and is showing great improvement. The pace he’s bowling at is impressive, and it’s good to see his progress game by game.(On the spinners’ impact) I thought the spinners from both sides bowled really well. It wasn’t easy for batters to clear the boundary unless the ball was very full. Overall, it was a good effort, and now it’s about maintaining belief and moving forward positively."

11:30 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Chennai Super Kings (192/5 in 20 overs) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (160/7 in 20 overs) by 32 runs

Sanju Samson 48(32) | Noor Ahmad 3/21(4)
Ramandeep Singh 35(23) | Kartik Tyagi 2/35(4)

CSK are back doing CSK things! Back-to-back wins at the Anbuden for the 5-time champs and the whistles are blowing as loud as they can. On the other hand, KKR go down once more and that too without really giving a fight and that is a big concern for them now, they are yet to win a game this season having played 5 games and time is slipping away like sand out of their hands

193 was not a big total by any stretch, not something that could not be chased down but KKR were just not up to the mark with the bat. They decided to go the tried and tested way by throwing Narine up to open the batting but it was something that did not work as he consumed way too many dot balls, kept swinging and missing and made 24 off 17, more so it pushed Rahane down to 3 and the KKR skipper really struggled post the powerplay consuming 22 balls for 28 runs before he got out

Three 20s in the batting order, two 30s lower down the order from Ramandeep and Powell but that was no way near enough, the asking rate just got out their hand towards the end and they were never able to get the big hits away. No batter was really able to get going for KKR and inspite of the fact that CSK dropped 3 catches they were not able to make use of it. Tells you that they are lacking in confidence as a side big time and it showed in their performance with the bat

Take nothing away from the CSK bowlers, you could see that they came out with a plan on their home turf and now for the second time in a row have defended a score successfully with relative ease. Kamboj removed Finn Allen very early, Khaleel got the better of Narine within the powerplay in which KKR only managed to score 36

Spin took control in the middle overs for CSK, like the good old days at Chepauk and the performance of Noor Ahmad (3/21) would please them to bits. Akeal Hosein was economical too, picked up a wicket as well and all in all it was a complete performance from CSK

19.6 Anshul Kamboj to Rovman Powell, THAT IS THAT! Comprehensive victory for CSK, they make it two in two and are gaining some momentum here as they climb up the ladder on the points table with this win. Full outside the off-stump, Powell has a big swing and a miss. Powell reviews that decision for a wide.

Replay comes up, blue line moves as Powell moved across and the ball goes inside the tramline.

19.5 Anshul Kamboj to Rovman Powell, SIX! BAM! Full toss into the thigh pad, Powell helps it all the way over deep backward square-leg for a maximum.

19.3 Anshul Kamboj to Ramandeep Singh, OUT! REVERSE SCOOPS IT STRAIGHT TO SARFARAZ AND GONE! Excellent catch from Sarfaraz at short third-man, anticipated and then dives low to his left, plucks it. Low full toss, Ramandeep couldn't have found the man better and perishes.

19.1 Anshul Kamboj to Ramandeep Singh, FOUR! Boundary to start the final over. Full and wide, Ramandeep squeezes it through backward point and races away to pick out the ropes.