Chennai Super Kings (CSK) managed to put on 192-5 in 20 overs. CSK’s batters performed in unison; the likes of Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre & Dewald Brevis got decent starts. KKR‘s bowlers had a topsy-turvy outing on a batting paradise wicket
Sanju Samson & Ayush Mhatre pummel KKR in powerplay overs
Vaibhav Arora’s short ball ploy was brutally hammered by Sanju Samson in the first over as he went for three back-to-back fours. The surface was quite placid. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s (7 in 6) string of low scores continued as his slog sweep shot couldn’t clear the rope as Anukul Roy got the better of him. CSK’s score at that time was 25-1 in 2.2 overs.
Cameron Green was thrashed in the 4th over for 2 sixes and 2 fours by Ayush Mhatre as the CSK batter was ready for hard lengths. Ayush Mhatre continued his onslaught in last over of powerplay as he took on Vaibhav for three consecutive fours; Vaibhav though had the last laugh as Ayush couldn’t clear a bumper of a delivery at deep mid wicket as Ayush’s fierce cameo of 38 runs in 17 balls (*6 fours and 2 sixes) ended as CSK scored 72-2 in 6 overs as strategic time out was also taken.
KKR’s spinners pull back things in the middle overs
Sanju Samson & Dewald Brevis made sure that they kept on rotating the strike on a continuous basis. Sunil Narine was getting shape and his strategy of bowling half trackers wicket to wicket stopped the flow of boundaries. At the end of 10 overs, CSK’s score was 102-2 as both Brevis & Samson were looking ominous.
Kartik Tyagi in the 12th over, bowled Samson with an in-swinging delivery as the ball was a bit full; Samson couldn’t connect the slog. Samson scored 48 in 32 (4 fours and 3 sixes), CSK’s score was 111-3 in 11.2 overs at that time. Sarfaraz Khan was also troubled by Sunil Narine (13th over), but in the 14th over, Sarfaraz & Brevis took on Varun Chakravarthy & scored 15 runs in that over. CSK’s score as 136-3 in 14 overs, as KKR had made a mini comeback in the match as well as stratrgic time out was also taken.
CSK end on a high note, but KKR also fight back
Vaibhav Arora’s short ball ploy didn’t work in the 16th over; the majority of fielders were placed behind the stumps, but Brevis & Sarfaraz were deep in the crease as they smashed lusty sixes. Narine got rewarded with his disciplined bowling as he bowled Sarfaraz (23 runs in 18 balls) in the 17th over.
The departure of Sarfaraz brought another wicket for KKR as Kartik Tyagi’s wide line & length outfoxed Brevis (41 in 29), who frustrated him. CSK’s score was 171-5 in 17.3 overs. Shivam Dube & Jamie Overton tried hard to clear the fence consistently, but couldn’t as KKR’s bowlers were somewhat clinical in the death overs. KKR, though, conceded 15 extras, which had 11 wides in it as the over-rate wasn’t that great.
Who’s winning, KKR or CSK
193 is not a very threatening target for KKR, given the surface is a belter. CSK would feel that they were 15-20 runs short as 200 runs gives the team a psychological advantage. The surface, though, assisted them in turning for spinners. CSK will be hoping that Noor Ahmad can spin a web. All eyes will be on Rahane to take the team off to a flyer as they are yet to win a match in IPL 2026.
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