Sunil Narine Fires KKR to Big Win Over CSK at Chepauk: In a stunning display of dominance, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) crushed the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 8 wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, handing the hosts a humiliating defeat in front of their home crowd. CSK’s batting lineup collapsed spectacularly, managing just 103 runs—their lowest-ever total at Chepauk—before KKR chased down the target with ease in just 10.1 overs.
Opting to bat first after losing four consecutive chases, CSK hoped for a strong start. However, their innings never gained momentum as KKR’s bowlers wreaked havoc from the outset. Devon Conway (12) fell early to Moeen Ali, trapped LBW on an umpire’s call. Rachin Ravindra (4) followed soon after, miscuing a shot off Harshit Rana.
The middle order crumbled under pressure. Sunil Narine (3/15) was the chief destroyer, dismissing key players including Rahul Tripathi (16), Ravindra Jadeja (0), and even CSK’s new captain, MS Dhoni (1). Varun Chakravarthy also contributed, removing Vijay Shankar (29), the only batter who showed some resistance. Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 31 off 29 balls helped CSK avoid complete embarrassment, but a paltry total of 103 was never going to be enough.
KKR’s openers, Quinton de Kock (23 off 16) and Sunil Narine (44 off 18), launched an all-out assault from the first over. Narine, in particular, was unstoppable, smashing five sixes in his explosive knock. Though Anshul Kamboj dismissed de Kock and Noor Ahmad removed Narine, the damage was already done. Rinku Singh (10*) finished the game in style with a six off Jadeja, sealing the victory in just 61 balls.
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Key Takeaways
- CSK’s Batting Woes: The home team’s lack of intent and poor shot selection led to their downfall.
- KKR’s Bowling Brilliance: Narine, Chakravarthy, and Rana stifled CSK with disciplined bowling.
- Powerplay Domination: KKR’s aggressive start (57/0 in 4 overs) killed the contest early.
This emphatic win propels KKR higher in the standings while raising serious questions about CSK’s form. With Chepauk’s fortress breached, Chennai will need a quick turnaround to keep their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, KKR’s all-round dominance makes them strong contenders as the tournament progresses.
Brief Scores:
CSK: 103/9 (Shivam Dube 31*, Sunil Narine 3/15)
KKR: 104/2 in 10.1 overs (Sunil Narine 44, Quinton de Kock 23)
Result: KKR won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: Sunil Narine
