KKR vs CSK Highlights: Chennai dent Kolkata's play-off hopes with 2-wicket win

Right then, yet another fascinating contest in the 2025 IPL comes to an enthralling end. With just a handful of games remaining in the league stage, we will start to see a couple of more teams bow out and a couple of them seal a top-four berth. Next up, it is another crunch clash between two teams that are in the top 5 currently, as Punjab Kings welcome Delhi Capitals at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. That game will be played on Thursday, 8 May at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can tune in a lot sooner to our build-up. Cheers!

Noor Ahmad is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his four-fer! Noor says it was a super win and is really happy with his own bowling and also applauds Brevis for the way he played. Adds that he never had his focus on being the top wicket-taker and just wanted to contribute to the team. On his favorite wicket this evening, he says that the nick from Raghuvanshi was his favorite. Ends by saying that he just tries to keep his length correct at all times.

MS Dhoni, the captain of CSK, is down for a chat. He says these newly signed players are currently part of the team right now and they have the opportunity to test them. He says they want to see the approach and the mindset of the batters in the middle of a game. He feels it’s not about just being technically correct batter, but it’s more about being aware of the bowler's game plan and things like that. Adds that the game plan today was simple to play out their spinners as the required run rate was not too high, and thanks to Brevis, they had the luxury to bat out some overs. And he also feels given this venue has small boundary dimensions, it’s not that hard to clear it. He says Dube did a good job as he got 3-4 hits and it was also important for me to understand that he was the last designated batter, so he didn’t want to play any rash shots. Also mentions that he appreciates the love and affection he has received over the period of his career and he mentions it’s important to understand he is 43 now and he has played for a long time. He ends by saying that he will see if his body can see itself through and if he can return next year

The Presentation ceremony...

Dewald Brevis, CSK's half-centurion, is down for a chat. He says he is grateful as he used his opportunity well. He says it was an interesting innings, as a few wickets fell quickly. He says, given the conditions, they had to adjust accordingly and go along. He adds it is important to play out the good balls and target the bad ones. He mentions it's important to keep enjoying it and to keep playing the way I am playing and it’s about being true to yourself. He says the more he plays, the more he will figure his way out. He says the fans are incredible, the Cricket is great, it’s high level. He says sitting at home made him very hungry and he trusted in god’s plan and the process and he is grateful to have been able to contribute to a win.

The captain of KKR, Ajinkya Rahane, admits it is tough to be on the losing side. He feels they fall 10–15 runs short and that a total around 185–190 would have been ideal on this surface. Rahane points out that in this format, one big over can shift the momentum, and credits Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube for taking their chances, which paid off. He has no complaints about the effort, praising the bowlers for trying their best. Looking ahead, Rahane says the focus is on winning the remaining two games and seeing where that takes them.

Earlier in the game, Ajinkya Rahane opted to bat first on a deck that seemed to be slowing down and KKR had also won their previous two games batting first. However, that opening combination didn't work out yet again and the skipper, Ajinkya Rahane had to step up once more. Rahane fell two runs short of a half century but a quickfire cameo from Andre Russell, followed by a solid knock from Manish Pandey, took KKR on the verge of the 180-run mark. As for CSK, Noor Ahmad was the star yet again as he picked up four wickets and Matheesha Pathirana closed out the innings really well.

KKR will feel that this game was there for the taking, especially after they got all those wickets early on. Vaibhav Arora, Moeen Ali and then Harshit Rana all picked up wickets in their first overs before Varun Chakaravarthy also got into the act and it seemed like one more wicket at that time would have sealed the deal for KKR. However, with a couple of CSK batters scoring quick runs meant that one good partnership in the middle phase was enough to break the back of a target that was always slightly under-par. KKR now have to win their remaining two games and hope that a few fixtures go their way in order to even have a chance of making it into the top four.

180 wasn't the biggest of targets to chase down and CSK did have a bit of momentum after that fine final over from Matheesha Pathirana, but they lost Ayush Mhatre for a duck in the first over. Conway too fell for a duck as debutant Urvil Patel came in and smashed four sixes in his 11-ball cameo of 31 runs. CSK lost as many as 5 wickets in the Powerplay and were just too aggressive with the strokeplay. Then came the crucial stand between Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube, with the former changing the game with a 30-run over against Vaibhav Arora. It still went down to the wire and a couple of big hits from Dube and then a telling one from MSD in that final over saw CSK over the line.

CSK ALL BUT KNOCK KKR OUT OF THE PLAYOFF RACE! A win after a string of four straight losses for CSK and just a third win of the season overall, but a big one for the future. KKR, on the other hand, ended an uncanny home season with a fourth loss from 7 matches and are now on the verge of losing their IPL crown.

19.4: Andre Russell to Anshul Kamboj, FOUR! Anshul Kamboj finishes it off! Dre Russ attempts a yorker but does not quite get it full enough, on off, Anshul Kamboj manages to get under the ball and with a clean swing of the arms, lofts it over mid on for a boundary. CSK win with 2 balls to spare!

19.3: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, Scores level! Andre Russell nails the yorker, on off, MS Dhoni digs it out towards extra cover and looks for two but Ajinkya Rahane is quick across the turf to cut it off and keeps the batters down to a single. 1 needed off 3 balls.

19.2: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, On off, very full, MS Dhoni knocks it to long off but does not take the single.

19.1: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, SIX! A gift and MS Dhoni accepts it gleefully! That should do it for CSK. Just 2 runs needed now. Andre Russell goes searching for the yorker but it comes out as a juicy low full toss, on middle, Dhoni does not miss out as he slams it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Anshul Kamboj is the new man in. However, it will be MS Dhoni on strike. Andre Russell to bowl the final over, 8 needed for CSK to win. Here we go...

18.6: Vaibhav Arora to Noor Ahmad, OUT! TAKEN! Noor Ahmad had to go for a big hit, with it being the final ball! KKR are still pretty much in it. On a back of a length, on middle, Noor Ahmad hangs back and flat bats it. Does not get any sort of elevation and hits it flat and straight to long on where Rinku Singh does the rest. CSK need 8 from the final over.

18.5: Vaibhav Arora to Noor Ahmad, Arora is not happy with the effort in the deep! Vaibhav goes full and straight, at the stumps, Noor Ahmad gets his bat down to jam it out. Squeezes it out off an inside edge to the right of deep square leg where Ramandeep Singh swoops in and gets to the ball. The throw is a loopy one and even though the keeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, collects and whips the bails, Noor is in with a dive at the batting end. Two runs taken.

Noor Ahmad is in next.

18.4: Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! A ray of hope for KKR! Rinku Singh holds onto a pressure catch. This was there to be hit, in the slot, around off, Shivam Dube winds up to go over long off and ends up getting more height than distance on it. Rinku at long off settles under the skier and completes a safe catch while tumbling backwards. Dube falls for 45 (40) with CSK still needing 10 runs.

18.3: Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, SIX! In the arc and thumped into the stands! Vaibhav Arora shifts from his wide yorker plan. Serves it closer to the off stump. On a length, Shivam Dube whacks it over wide long on for a biggie.

18.3: Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, Wide! Arora sticks to the wide yorker ploy from around the wicket, Shivam Dube reaches out and throws his hands at the delivery but misses. KKR go for the review again. This time, no part of the ball is within the tramline. It will stay as a wide.

18.2: Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, Vaibhav Arora goes for the wide yorker but the ball goes just beyond the tramline. Shivam Dube lets it be. Ajinkya Rahane asks the keeper and sends it upstairs in the hope of overturning the wide call. A tiny portion of the ball is within the guideline. The decision is overturned. DOT!

18.1: Vaibhav Arora to MS Dhoni, At 125 kph, on a back of a length, around off, MS Dhoni stays leg side of the ball and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Vaibhav Arora to bowl the crucial penultimate over. Remember, he went for 30 in his previous over. Can he redeem himself?

17.6: Andre Russell to Shivam Dube, A dot to end the over! Just 4 runs off the over. Good stuff from Andre Russell. Low full toss, on middle, Shivam Dube whips it firmly but can't get it past Ajinkya Rahane at mid-wicket. CSK need 18 runs from 12 balls.

17.5: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, On off, MS Dhoni takes it on the full and works it to long off for another single.

17.4: Andre Russell to Shivam Dube, An attempted yorker that comes out as a low full toss, on middle, Shivam Dube knocks it to long on for a run.

17.3: Andre Russell to Shivam Dube, Dube will feel that he missed out here! A juicy low full toss, angling across, Shivam Dube firms the drive but picks out the man at extra cover.

17.2: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, Low full toss, on off, MS Dhoni opts to ease it along the ground to long on for one more.

17.1: Andre Russell to Shivam Dube, Andre Russell executes the yorker right in the blockhole, on middle, Shivam Dube squeezes it out on the off side and takes a single.

16.6: Harshit Rana to MS Dhoni, Full and attacking the stumps, MS Dhoni is a bit late on the drive and gets an inside edge onto the left boot. 11 runs off the over, more than what the required rate is for CSK at the moment. They now need 22 runs in 3 overs.

16.5: Harshit Rana to Shivam Dube, At pace now, low full toss, on middle, Shivam Dube wrists it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

16.4: Harshit Rana to Shivam Dube, SIX Clean strike! Rana goes with the off-pace delivery but gets the length wrong. Right in the slot, on off, Shivam Dube stays deep in the crease, winds up and pummels it over long on for a six.

16.3: Harshit Rana to MS Dhoni, There's that off-cutter from Rana, on the fuller side, around off, MS Dhoni waits on it and guides it to the left of backward point for one more.

16.3: Harshit Rana to MS Dhoni, Wide! Banged in short but this slips beyond the tramline on off. MS Dhoni reaches out but fails to lay any bat on it. Rana checks with the keeper and Gurbaz is not quite sure. KKR do not go for the review.

16.2: Harshit Rana to Shivam Dube, Bowled from wide of the crease on the around-the-wicket angle, on a length, on middle, Dube clips it to the left of long on and looks for two but Angkrish Raghuvanshi is quick to get to the ball and keeps the batters down to one.

16.1: Harshit Rana to MS Dhoni, Full and straight, honing in at the stumps, MS Dhoni presents a straight bat and drives it to long off for a single.

15.6: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, Pitched up, on off, MS Dhoni presses forward and plays it to long off for a single.

15.5: Andre Russell to Shivam Dube, Full and on the pads, flicked through mid-wicket for one by Dube.

15.4: Andre Russell to Shivam Dube, FOUR! Nicely done! Banged in short by Dre Russ, on middle, Shivam Dube swivels and rolls his wrists over the ball. Plays the pull in a controlled fashion to the right of deep backward square leg for a boundary.

15.3: Andre Russell to Shivam Dube, Excellent effort! Andre Russell gets the yorker in, on off, Shivam Dube glides it away with an open bat face to the non-dominant right side of Anukul Roy at backward point. Roy does well to put the dive in and make the stop.

15.2: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, Takes pace off and goes into the wicket, around off, MS Dhoni pats it in front of extra cover for a single.

15.1: Andre Russell to MS Dhoni, Dre Russ beats the bat straight away! On a length, outside off, MS Dhoni does not move his feet at all and just goes for the drive with his hands. Gets beaten on the inside edge.

Strategic Break! Right then, 40 needed off 30 balls and 9 out of 10 times, you would bet your money on the batting side. However, CSK are 6 down and KKR will know that one more wicket before it's too late and this game could end up being a very close one. Can MSD use all of his experience to take his side home? Or will KKR's bowlers manage to pinch a couple of crucial points for their side? Let's find out... With that said, Andre Russell comes in to bowl his first over of the game.

14.6: Harshit Rana to Shivam Dube, Good comeback from Rana! Nails the yorker at pace at the base of the off stump, Shivam Dube stays leg side of the ball and jams it out on the off side.

14.5: Harshit Rana to Shivam Dube, SIX! Dube goes big! Rana comes from around the wicket, on off, on a length and lands the off-cutter, Shivam Dube gives himself a bit of room and tonks it over long off for a biggie.

14.4: Harshit Rana to MS Dhoni, Slower one and the length is full, on off, MSD pushes it to long off and crosses over.

14.3: Harshit Rana to MS Dhoni, On off, on a short of a length, MS Dhoni steers it straight to backward point.

14.2: Harshit Rana to Shivam Dube, Another off-pace delivery, on a good length, outside off, eased to deep cover for one.

14.1: Harshit Rana to Shivam Dube, Starts with an off-cutter from around the wicket, on a length, on off, Shivam Dube is a bit early on the drive and plays it to cover.

Harshit Rana (2-0-24-2) is back on.

13.6: Sunil Narine to MS Dhoni, Quicker shorter, outside off, MS Dhoni goes for the cut, but gets beaten. Perhaps it was the carrom ball.

13.5: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, From round the wicket, shorter length on off, Shivam Dube works it along the ground to long on for a single.

13.4: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, A touch quicker, shorter, off break on leg, Shivam Dube looks to flick it and gets hit on the pads.

13.3: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Full and turning on off, Shivam Dube blocks it off the front foot to short cover. Dot ball.

13.2: Sunil Narine to MS Dhoni, Full and turning on leg, MS Dhoni prods forward in defense as the ball takes the inside  edge and rolls along the ground to deep backward square leg. Single taken.

13.1: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Full on middle, Shivam Dube eases the drive to long off for a single.

12.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to MS Dhoni, Overpitched on middle, MS Dhoni stays back and pushes it with minimal footwork to short cover. A dot to end the over. Superb over from KKR's point of view. They needed it badly.

12.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Short length googly, outside off, Shivam Dube goes for the pull but gets it off the toe end of the bat as he ends up playing it along the ground to long on. Single taken.

12.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Short length leg break turning into the left hander, outside off, Shivam Dube punches it straight to short cover. Dot ball.

12.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Slower and shorter on middle, Shivam Dube blocks it off the back foot, back to the bowler. Dot ball.

12.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to MS Dhoni, Slower and shorter on off, MS Dhoni punches it off the back foot to the left of backward point for a single.

The CSK skipper, MS Dhoni, is the new batter in. A short leg in place as well.

12.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, OUT! CAUGHT! Big break for Kolkata Knight Riders! Varun Chakaravarthy bowls this one from round the wicket. This is a leg break, fuller in length, turning away, Dewald Brevis goes for the lofted hit over long on but couldn't get under it and hence couldn't get the elevation. He ends up giving a simple catch to Rinku Singh at long on.

Varun Chakaravarthy is brought back to finish his spell.

11.6: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Short on middle, Dewald Brevis pushes it off the back foot to the left of backward point for a single.

11.5: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Tosses it up, full and at the stumps, Shivam Dube pushes it past the bowler for a single.

11.4: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Pushed through, short and on off, Dube cuts it straight to backward point.

11.3: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Turning away, on a nagging length, steered to backward point.

11.2: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, On off, on the shorter side, Dewald Brevis pushes it to the right of point for another single.

11.1: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, On the pads, on a nagging length, nudged through square leg for a single.

10.6: Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, Four! Make it 30 off the over! Back of a length, slower delivery, outside off, Dewald Brevis slaps this one along the ground past short cover for four. What an over for Chennai Super Kings! That will also be a maiden IPL FIFTY for Dewald Brevis!

10.5: Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, SIX! 26 already of the over and there's still one ball to go! Dare I say, another full toss from Vaibhav Arora, outside off, Dewald Brevis just swings through the line, and hits this one over the bowler's head for a six. That was a one handed six as Dewald Brevis took his hand off as he completed the bat swing.

10.4: Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, SIX! This is carnage from Dewald Brevis! Vaibhav Arora isn't helping his cause, though. Another full toss on off, Dewald Brevis lofts this one over the bowler's head for a six.

10.3: Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, FOUR! Drilled down the ground! Full toss on off, Dewald Brevis hammers this one down the ground past the bowler and the ball goes to the boundary like a tracer bullet. No chance for long off.

10.2: Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, FOUR! Full and sliding down leg, Dewald Brevis flicks this along the ground towards the vacant deep fine leg region for four.

10.1: Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, SIX! Just over long off! Full on off, Dewald Brevis swings through the line and lofts this one just over the jumping long off fielder at the boundary. Oh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has misjudged it! The ball has actually gone through his hands.

9.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Full and outside off, Shivam Dube leans into the drive as he plays it to the right of deep extra cover. Two runs taken.

9.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Slower and shorter, turning down leg, Shivam looks to flick it but can’t get any bat on it. Appeal for caught behind and not given. Dube reviews for wide and we are going upstairs. Third umpire on screen. Nothing on UltraEdge as the ball goes past the bat and the thigh. The decision is overturned to WIDE!

Wide not given and Shivam Dube has taken the review. Flat line on UltraEdge and the on-field call has been overturned to a wide.

9.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, From round the wicket, flatter and quicker on middle, Dewald Brevis makes some room and cuts it along the ground to deep extra cover for a single.

9.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Slower and shorter, just outside off, Dewald Brevis cuts it towards backward point. Another dot.

9.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Again quicker and shorter on middle, Dewald Brevis makes some room and punches this one to backward point. Dot ball.

9.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Quicker, shorter on off, Dewald Brevis looks to cut it, but gets an under edge that bounces over the stumps. Wicket-keeper collects it.

9.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Tossed up, just outside off, Shivam Dube looks to go aerial, but the ball hits the inside half of the bat and goes rolling down the ground to long on. Single taken.

8.6: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, A touch fuller, off break turning on middle, Dewald Brevis makes some room and drives this one through covers. The long off fielder runs to his left and cuts it off near the boundary. Two runs taken.

8.5: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Slwoer through the air, turning into the right hander, on off. Dewald Brevis punches it to short cover. Dot ball.

8.4: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Short length off break on middle leg, Dewald Brevis pushes it off the back foot to short mid-wicket.

8.3: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, SIX! Swung away! Short on off, Dewald Brevis picks it up early and rocks on the back foot and pulls this one over the deep mid-wicket region for six.

8.2: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Slower through the air, short in length, on off. This one stays a bit low. Shivam Dube gets down a bit and swings through the line, as the ball goes along the ground to long on. Single taken.

8.1: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Short on off, Shivam Dube drives it off the back foot to short cover. Dot ball.

STRATEGIC BREAK! It’s been an action-packed first 8 overs of CSK’s chase. The visitors have gone hard with the bat but have paid the price, losing wickets at regular intervals. With the required rate still under control, they now need a steady partnership to anchor the innings. At the same time, they can’t allow KKR’s spinners to dictate terms in the middle phase. A crucial passage of play awaits.

7.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Short length leg break, outside off, Shivam Dube punches it off the back foot to the left of short cover and takes a single.

7.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Overpitched on off, quicker delivery, Dewald Brevis drives this on the bounce to the bowler, who misfields it as the ball deflects of his hands and goes rolling along the ground to long off. Single taken.

7.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Tossed up leg break on off, Dewald Brevis takes the aerial route as he lofts this one to the right of deep point. The fielder cuts it off near the boundary. Two runs taken.

7.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Short length leg break on off, Dewald Brevis guides it off the back foot to backward point fielder.

7.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Slower through the air, shorter and turning away on middle, Shivam Dube pushes it to the right of short mid-wicket and calls for a quick single.

7.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Full on middle, Shivam Dube flicks it to short mid-wicket. Dot ball.

6.6: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, FOUR!  Fuller on middle. Dewald Brevis plays the slog sweep in the gap between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg, as the ball goes on two bounces to the fence. The man from deep mid-wicket did try to get to the ball, but the ball eventually evaded him.

6.5: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Short and turning into the right hander, on leg, Dewald Brevis looks to flick it but the ball hits his front leg and rolls into the ground.

6.4: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Short and again turning away, well outside off, Shivam Dube cuts it to the left of deep extra cover for a single.

6.3: Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, FOUR! Hammered! Short and turning away, well outside off, Shivam Dube stands tall and slaps this one over short cover for a boundary.

The wind has really picked up and there is a slight hold-up. We are good to go now.

6.2: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, A touch full, slower through the air, on off, Dewald Brevis pushes it off the back foot to short cover and takes a single.

6.1: Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Short and quick, turning into the right hander, on leg, Dewald Brevis punches it with fast hands past the short cover fielder. The deep extra cover fielder cuts it off near the boundary. Two runs taken.

It will be spin from both ends as Sunil Narine comes on from the other end.

5.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Another dot to end and CSK are 62/5 after the Powerplay! Fractionally short on middle, angling away, Shivam Dube looks to play off the back foot but almost gets played on himself.

5.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Nice and full around off, driven on the up but straight to mid off.

5.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Miscued but fairly safe! Nagging length on off, angling in, Dewald Brevis leans on to play the lofted shot but gets it off the inner half of the blade and well short of long on for a single.

5.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Shivam Dube, Drop and run! Nagging length around off, Shivam Dube leans forward and just bunts it out in front of covers for a quick single.

CSK's Impact sub, Shivam Dube, comes out to the middle. Matheesha Pathirana has been subbed out.

5.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ravindra Jadeja, OUT! PLAYED ON! CSK lose half their side inside the Powerplay! Varun Chakaravarthy brings out the googly, bowling it flat and across off. The line is fairly tight and the length isn't short at all. Ravindra Jadeja just backs away to play a cute cut shot fine but ends up chopping it back onto the stumps. Jadeja looked good but has to depart for 19 (10) and CSK are 60/5 and in a huge spot of bother.

5.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ravindra Jadeja, FOUR! It's just wickets or boundaries at the moment! Fuller length on off and middle, Ravindra Jadeja takes a step forward and lofts it back over the bowler's head in a controlled fashion for a boundary.

Dewald Brevis walks out to bat. A change in bowling as Varun Chakaravarthy comes into the attack.

4.6: Harshit Rana to Ravichandran Ashwin, OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the fielder and KKR get their fourth wicket. Harshit Rana bowls this one on a good length but bowls it wide of the off stump line. Ravichandran Ashwin casually leans on to drive it through covers but ends up pushing it uppishly and straight towards point. Angkrish Raghuvanshi takes a fairly regulation catch around his chest and Ashwin can't believe it either. Rana with two and KKR just keep picking up wickets.

4.5: Harshit Rana to Ravindra Jadeja, Slightly slower and on a good length around leg, nudged away to the right of short fine leg for a single.

4.4: Harshit Rana to Ravindra Jadeja, Banged in short and over leg, Ravindra Jadeja goes for the pull but gets it off the gloves and wide of the fielder at short fine leg. There is another fielder in the deep and it will be a couple of runs.

4.3: Harshit Rana to Ravindra Jadeja, FOUR! Nicely played and up comes the 50 for CSK! Slower ball, on a length and angled well across off. Jadeja waits back well and goes after the width, slicing it wide of short third for a boundary.

4.2: Harshit Rana to Ravindra Jadeja, SIX! CSK don't care about the wickets it seems! Slightly back of a length and angled into the batter, Ravindra Jadeja decides to come down the pitch and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

4.1: Harshit Rana to Ravindra Jadeja, Perfect length, on a tight line on off, Ravindra Jadeja looks to play it late with an angled bat but gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball rolls towards slip.

3.6: Moeen Ali to Ravindra Jadeja, Bowled flat and pushed in towards the pads, Jadeja manages to turn it 'round the corner for a quick single.

3.5: Moeen Ali to Ravindra Jadeja, Back of a length, on middle and leg, Jadeja hops back and pats it down on the deck.

3.4: Moeen Ali to Ravichandran Ashwin, Slows it up, keeping the length short and turns it into the pads, Ashwin gets inside the line and clips it behind square leg for one.

3.3: Moeen Ali to Ravichandran Ashwin, On the shorter side and outside off, Ashwin caresses it off the back foot and gets it through the gap at covers for a couple of runs.

3.2: Moeen Ali to Ravindra Jadeja, Nagging length on off, a hint of turn again, Jadeja waits back and pushes it towards mid on for an easy single.

3.1: Moeen Ali to Ravichandran Ashwin, On a length and turning into the batter, Ashwin stays back and nudges it away through wide mid-wicket for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja makes his way out to the centre.

2.6: Harshit Rana to Urvil Patel, OUT! CAUGHT! Oh, what a sharp catch and Urvil Patel cannot believe it! Harshit Rana bowls this one quick and in the channel outside off, pitches it on that in-between length. The ball isn't short or wide enough but Patel just throws his hands at it. The ball takes the outside edge and flies flat to the left of short third where Varun Chakaravarthy snaffles it to his left in a jiffy. Rana is delighted as Patel's fiery cameo has to end for 31 off just 11 balls. CSK 3 down now for just 37!

2.5: Harshit Rana to Urvil Patel, SIX! That is a top, top shot! Hard-length delivery, pitching on off and darting back in. Urvil Patel stays back and rises back up before clobbering it just wide of long on for a biggie. Fourth six already for Patel.

2.4: Harshit Rana to Ravichandran Ashwin, Good length, angled into the pads, Ashwin fails to flick it away and gets it off the pads to short fine leg. They do get the leg bye though.

2.3: Harshit Rana to Ravichandran Ashwin, FOUR! Classy shot! A bit too short and too wide, Ravichandran Ashwin presses back and extends the arms before punching it square and behind point for a boundary. That one raced away to the fence.

2.2: Harshit Rana to Urvil Patel, High on the bat but will land safely! On a hard length again, over middle, Urvil Patel goes for the pull but miscues it just over mid-wicket. Ramandeep Singh from deep square leg sprints in but the ball falls well short. Just a single.

2.1: Harshit Rana to Urvil Patel, Back of a length and outside off, this one slips through quickly. Patel looks to cut but misses.

1.6: Moeen Ali to Ravichandran Ashwin, An early review lost by CSK! Nicely tossed up, on a length and turning in sharply as well. Ravichandran Ashwin takes a step in towards the off side but the ball beats him on the inside edge and goes down leg. No wide called but Ashwin reviews it. The third umpire checks the replays and feels that if Ashwin hadn't moved, the ball would have hit his body. NO WIDE!

Ravichandran Ashwin is in at number 4.

1.5: Moeen Ali to Devon Conway, OUT! TIMBER! Moeen Ali does get a wicket after all the bashing! Around the wicket to the left-hander, tossing it up and getting it to drift as well. Lovely seam position as this is floated up on middle, slightly fuller as well. Devon Conway is drawn forward but gets beaten in the flight and the ball drifts in to crash into the leg stump. Conway too departs for a two-ball duck and CSK are now 25/2!

1.4: Moeen Ali to Urvil Patel, Quicker one, on a length, turning in sharply towards the pads. Patel miscues the pull but gets it over square leg for a single.

1.3: Moeen Ali to Urvil Patel, SIX! Moeen enticing the youngster and Urvil Patel is showing no mercy to the veteran. Flighted ball, around middle, Patel holds his shape and swings it away in front of deep mid-wicket for yet another biggie.

1.2: Moeen Ali to Urvil Patel, FOUR! Overcorrection with the quick and short one, bowled outside off, Patel stays put and slaps the ball up and over wide mid off for a boundary. Patel on a roll!

1.1: Moeen Ali to Urvil Patel, SIX! In the slot and dispatched! Tossed up, full and around off, drifting back in. Urvil Patel sits down on one knee and slogs sweeps it away over deep mid-wicket for a clean six.

It will be spin from the other end in the form of Moeen Ali.

0.6: Vaibhav Arora to Devon Conway, Pitched-up delivery on off, swinging away, Conway leans on and plays a lovely cover drive, straight to short covers. CSK 8/1 after the first over!

0.5: Vaibhav Arora to Urvil Patel, Falls just short! Shorter in length and at the batter, Patel leans back to pull but mistimes it flat and on the bounce to Ajinkya Rahane at mid-wicket. A slight fumble there and Patel gets the single.

0.5: Vaibhav Arora to Urvil Patel, Wide! Similar line and length, this time drifting down the leg side. Wided.

0.4: Vaibhav Arora to Urvil Patel, SIX! That is some way to kick off your IPL career! Length ball on the pads, Urvil Patel nonchalantly picks it up off the legs and flicks it over the square leg fence for a biggie.

0.3: Vaibhav Arora to Urvil Patel, Beaten! Quicker and a bit short outside off, Urvil Patel goes chasing after it but fails to lay a bat on it.

Urvil Patel walks out to bat on his IPL debut.

0.2: Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, OUT! CAUGHT! A nothing shot from Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Arora strikes in the first over of the chase. Vaibhav pulls the length back slightly and angles it back in from outside off. Mhatre stays leg side of the ball but doesn't move his feet as he tries to smash it over the off side. Ends up mistiming it badly and lobbing it straight to Harshit Rana at cover-point and he makes no mistake. Mhatre out for a two-ball duck.

0.1: Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, Good line and length to begin with! On a hard length and around off, no swing on offer, Ayush Mhatre stands tall and punches it nicely down towards cover.

We are all set for CSK's reply to commence. The two umpires and players have made their way out to the centre. Harshit Rana comes on as Kolkata's impact sub, replacing Manish Pandey. A new opening pair for Chennai as Ayush Mhatre walks out to open the innings alongside Devon Conway. Vaibhav Arora will open the attack for the home side. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Right then, the game is finely balanced with both sides backing themselves at this stage. On a surface that has offered grip and turn, KKR will rely on their quality spin attack, with 12 overs of spin available unless they opt for a fourth option. For CSK, the key will be to capitalise on the Powerplay, the phase where batting looked most comfortable when KKR were batting.

Manish Pandey is in for a chat. He says that maybe he could have got 10 runs more from his side, but reckons that Russell and Rinku did well to get the boundaries, and they do have the bowlers to defend it. Adds that his idea was to just stay there till the end. Mentions that the pacers are doing well and the spinners are doing the job in the middle phase as well, and hopefully, it will be a good game.

After choosing to bat first, the Knight Riders lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early, but brisk knocks from Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane helped them post 67 runs in the Powerplay. However, the middle overs saw CSK’s spin trio take control, exploiting the conditions well to stem the flow of runs and build pressure. Rahane, dropped on 15, couldn’t capitalise on the chance and fell soon after. Andre Russell provided a much-needed injection of impetus, especially with Manish Pandey struggling for fluency. Pandey managed to find a few boundaries late in the innings, helping KKR reach a competitive 179.

Excellent final over from CSK to close out an innings that ebbed and flowed throughout. The Powerplay belonged to KKR before CSK clawed their way back during the middle overs through spin. KKR then upped the ante with 64 runs in the five overs leading up to the final over, but with just 6 coming off the last, CSK managed to limit them under 180.

19.6: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, What an over! Just six singles off it and KKR fail to reach the 180-run mark! Full and straight now, quicker too, Manish Pandey hangs back and makes room to power it away but can't get under it. The ball goes straight to mid off and it will be just a single. KKR finish with 179/6 on the board!

19.5: Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, A loopy full toss now, on middle and leg, around the hips but dips as well. Ramandeep can only flic it down to fine leg for a single.

19.4: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full toss on the pads, a bit slower and deceiving the batter. Pandey helps it down to fine leg for one more. Matheesha Pathirana finishing off strongly here for CSK.

19.3: Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, Can we call that a dropped catch? Very, very difficult to snaffle that one. An inswinging yorker on leg stump, at almost 148 clicks, Ramandeep Singh gets inside the line and flicks it off the leading edge and wide of the keeper. MS Dhoni springs to his left ad tts a bit of glove on it as the ball goes to fine leg for just one more.

19.2: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Another full and straight one, tailing into the leg pole, Pandey makes room but fails to get under it and drills it straight to mid off for only a run.

19.1: Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, Slingy delivery, bowled full and outside off, just tailing in, Ramandeep Singh goes way deep in his crease and hammers it along the turf to long on for a single.

18.6: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Fuller in length, sliding on from middle and leg, Pandey plays it back to the bowler.

18.5: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, FOUR! Right in the gap! A bit too short from Noor, bowling it slightly outside off as well. Manish Pandey has enough room to free the arms and pull it in between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

18.5: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Wide! Quick and full, spilled well down the leg side for a wide.

18.4: Noor Ahmad to Ramandeep Singh, Dragged length on middle, turning away, Ramandeep Singh waits and taps it to point for a single.

Ramandeep Singh is in next.

18.3: Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, OUT! CAUGHT! Excellent judgment in the deep from the youngster! A long hop from Noor Ahmad, on middle and leg, there to be put away. Rinku Singh hangs back and then pulls it flat towards deep backward square leg. Ayush Mhatre over there takes the catch to his right but it nearly pops out before Ayush manages to regain his composure and snatch it on the second attempt, all whilst keeping his balance to stay inside the ropes as well.

Taken on the second attempt by Ayush Mhatre! Has he managed to keep his foot away from the fence? Yes, the replays confirm that he has successfully done so.

18.2: Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, Close but not close enough! On a dragged length, turning across the left-hander as well. Rinku Singh with another attempt at the reverse sweep but he misses. The ball goes off the pads to the leg side and Manish Pandey is already halfway down the track. Rinku sends him back as the throw comes in at the bowler's end and the bails are whipped off. Pandey makes it back though.

18.1: Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, FOUR! Top shot! Floated up around off and angling in, Rinku Singh sets up for the reverse sweep early and nails it over short third for a boundary.

17.6: Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, Oh, that's slipped out of the hand, but the batter is taken by surprise as well. Slower one, looking for the yorker, but turns out to be a chest height full toss that dips on the batter. Rinku Singh just dabs it through backward point for a single.

17.5: Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, A wide yorker now, flirting with the tramline and Rinku leaves it alone. No wide called, but Rinku does review it. The third umpire is called in and replays show that some part of the ball is within the guideline and it will be a dot ball.

17.4: Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, FOUR! Streaky! Full toss on off, slanting across, Rinku Singh does open the face of the blade but ends up gliding it more off the outside edge and past the keeper into the third man fence.

17.3: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full and wide outside off, there to be hit, Pandey creams the drive straight to extra cover though. Just a single.

17.2: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, SIX! Dismissive from Pandey! Pre-empts the yorker and clears the front leg, does Pandey and gets it where he wants it, right on the leg stump. Pandey then whacks it high and over cow corner for a biggie.

17.1: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Banged into the deck, Pandey makes room and hits it flat over the bowler's head for a couple of runs.

Rinku Singh walks out to bat.

16.6: Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, OUT! CAUGHT! Noor Ahmad gets the last laugh and sends Andre Russell packing. A bit of a half tracker this from Noor, sitting up around off. Russell looks to climb into the bounce and hammer it flat over long off but doesn't get the required timing. Dewald Brevis sprints in from the deep and dives forward to take an excellent catch as Russell departs for a fiery knock of 38 off just 21 balls.

16.5: Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, SIX! BANG! Bowled flatter and on off, a bit fuller too, Andre Russell manages to swing across the line and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. He is on a roll here!

16.4: Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, Top delivery! Good length on off and middle, this one, darts across Russell gets squared up and beaten past the outside edge.

16.3: Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, FOUR! Uh, oh! Devon Conway has been completely undone by the spin there. Full and around off, Russell stays deep and slices it away and over wide long off. The ball pitches and curves away from the incoming fielder who gets bamboozled and concedes a boundary.

16.2: Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, BEATEN! Nagging length, on off, sliding across the right-hander, Russell looks to block but is well beaten.

16.1: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Looped-up delivery, tossed up around leg, Manish Pandey looks to shovel it fine but gets it off the pads and for just a leg bye.

15.6: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Gets it full enough this time, outside off, Pandey can only dig it out in front of point for a single. A couple of productive overs for KKR after the break!

15.5: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full and straight, not quite in the blockhole, Manish Pandey clears the front leg and drills it straight back past the bowler. The fielder from long on tidies up to his left and keeps it down to two runs.

15.4: Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Goes full and tries to attack the pads but ends up bowling a dipping full toss. Russell is taken aback and can't get it away. The ball hits the pads and rolls down to fine leg for a leg bye.

15.3: Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, FOUR! Gets a hold of that one as well! Slower one, bowled a bit short and well outside off. Russell tries to make room but adjusts well to reach and power the ball over covers for a boundary.

15.2: Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, SIX! As flat as it can get! Another slower one, a bit into the pitch and over middle, Russell picks it up, waits well and pulls it flat in front of square leg for a biggie.

15.1: Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Well bowled! Sees the batter backing away and Pathirana brings out a slower bumper, over middle and gets it around head height. Russell leaves it in hopes of a wide which is not given.

STRATEGIC BREAK! CSK have done well to pull things back after being put under pressure in the Powerplay. Led largely by their spin trio, the last 9 overs have gone for just 57 runs. KKR will hope to build on the momentum from the previous 15-run over and finish strong on a surface that has offered grip and turn. MS Dhoni still has the option of turning to three overs of spin from the final five, should he choose to use them.

14.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, An arm ball now, around off and darting back in, Pandey hops back and jams it out behind point.

14.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, On the fuller side and straighter too, flicked away through mid-wicket for a single.

14.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, SIX! Oh, Russell has shifted gears and how! Length ball at the stumps, Russell sets up deep in the crease and wallops it away high and handsome over long on for a biggie. That was nowhere close to the middle of the bat.

14.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, FOUR! A valiant effort in the deep from Noor Ahmad but it will be a boundary. This is bowled a bit short and angled into the batter, Russell hangs back and manages to swing it away through the leg side. Noor runs around to his right from deep mid-wicket and dives in but the replays show that his hand was in contact with the ropes when he pulled the ball back in.

14.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, FOUR! Edged away! Another flat delivery, around off and middle, Andre Russell swings hard across the line but gets an outside edge over the slip fielder and the ball rolls away into the deep third fence.

14.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Quicker one, darted in towards the off stump line, Russell blocks it off.

13.6: Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Another yorker on middle leg, Andre Russell clears his front leg and drills this one down the ground to long on for a single.

13.5: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Slower yorker on middle, Manish Pandey pushes it past the bowler to mid on region, for a single.

13.4: Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Another yorker on leg, Andre Russell somehow manages to bring his bat down in time. The ball goes into the leg side and batters run a single.

13.3: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Pinpoint yorker on leg, Manish Pandey manages to dig it out as he flicks it deep mid-wicket for a single.

13.2: Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Length ball on leg, Andre Russell whips it to the left of deep fine leg for a single.

13.1: Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Length ball on middle, Manish Pandey pushes it off the back foot, past the bowler and takes a single.

12.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Short and turning away, from the right hander, outside off, in the channel of uncertainty, Andre Russell pokes at it and gets beaten on the outside edge.

12.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell,  Quicker one, perhaps the arm ball, shorter in length on leg, Andre Russell pushes it to the right of the bowler. Dot ball.

12.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, A touch slower and shorter, turning away, outside off, Andre Russell pokes at it as the ball goes past his outside edge.

12.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Full on middle, Andre Russell blocks it back to the bowler.

Andre Russell is in next.

12.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, OUT! CAUGHT! Quicker and fuller on middle leg, Ajinkya Rahane goes for the reverse sweep but doesn't middle it whatsoever as he gives a simple catch to Devon Conway at point. Ravindra Jadeja has his first of the game. Jadeja overtakes Dwayne Bravo for most wickets for CSK in IPL with 141 wickets.

12.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Quicker and a touch fuller on leg, Ajinkya Rahane pushes it to the right of the bowler and sets off for a quick single. Ravindra Jadeja is quick to run across the turf as he cuts it off and fires a throw at the bowler's end, but misses the stumps. The batters run one more on the overthrow. Lucky for Ajinkya Rahane, as he took on the quick arm of Ravindra Jadeja.

11.6: Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Just short! Overpitched, on middle, Manish Pandey goes for the lofted drive but doesn't get it off the middle of the bat as the ball lands just short of Ayush Mhatre at long on, who dived in front but couldn't get there. Two runs taken.

11.5: Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Full on middle, Manish Pandey blocks it off the front foot, back to the bowler.

11.4: Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on middle, Ajinkya Rahane goes for the sweep as the ball hits his front pad and goes towards short fine leg. Batters sneak in a leg bye.

11.3: Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower through the air, on off, turning away, carrom ball again. Ajinkya Rahane looks to play the ramp but can't get any bat as the ball hits his body.

11.2: Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Short length carrom ball on middle, Manish Pandey pushes it into the leg side and takes a quick single as MS Dhoni cuts it off.

11.1: Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Short on off, Manish Pandey pushes it back to the bowler. That was the carrom ball from Ravichandran Ashwin!

10.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Full on off, Manish Pandey taps it off the front foot to point and sets off for a quick single.

10.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Short on off, Ajinkya Rahane stays back and pats it to point for a single.

10.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Spin for Ravindra Jadeja as Ajinkya Rahane is beaten all ends up on that one! A touch full, turning away on off, Ajinkya Rahane looks to play the flick as the ball turns sharply and goes past his outside edge.

10.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Full on off, Manish Pandey drives this off the front foot to long off for a single.

10.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Overpitched on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

10.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Slower through the air, a touch fuller, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane makes some room and goes inside out as he lofts this one over covers for a six.

9.6: Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short and just outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it in front of square to deep extra cover. Single taken.

9.5: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Full on middle, Manish Pandey plays the lofted shot which goes on the bounce to long on. Single taken.

9.4: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Overpitched on middle, Manish Pandey plays the flick shot to the left of short fine leg. The deep square leg fielder runs to his right and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

9.3: Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it to long on for a single.

9.2: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, A touch shorter length googly, just outside off, Manish Pandey stays back and cuts it towards deep extra cover for a single.

9.1: Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short length googly on off, Ajinkya Rahane pushes it to the right of the bowler and takes a quick single.

Strategic Break! Pretty even-stevens after the first 9 overs, one would reckon. However, KKR did get off to a fine start, losing just one wicket in the Powerplay and they scored close to 70 runs as well. That one over from Noor Ahmad has halted KKR's progress and now the CSK spinners will look to pounce and suffocate the KKR batters. A lot rides on Ajinkya Rahane if KKR are to navigate through this phase and be in a position of promise. Let's see how the next few overs play out.

8.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Short on middle, Ajinkya Rahane works it off the back foot towards deep square leg for a single to keep the strike.

8.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Quicker, fuller, on off, Manish Pandey pushes it off the front foot to the left of short cover for a single.

8.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower through the air, fuller on off, Ajinkya Rahane just pushes the ball into the leg side and sets off for a quick single.

8.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Short on leg stump, Manish Pandey works it behind square to deep backward square leg for a single.

8.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, A touch short on off, Manish Pandey is quick to shift his weight on the back foot and play the cut shot, which goes to the left of deep extra cover. Two runs taken.

8.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on off, Ajinkya Rahane drives this off the front foot to deep extra cover for a single.

7.6: Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower through the air, fuller, googly, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

7.5: Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Full and outside off, Manish Pandey leans into the cover drive and as the ball takes the outside edge and rolls towards short third man. Single taken.

Manish Pandey walks in to bat at number 5.

7.4: Noor Ahmad to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, OUT! CAUGHT! Noor Ahmad is on a roll! Full tossed up googly turning away from the right hander, Angkrish Raghuvanshi leans forward as he pokes at it off the front foot. The ball takes the outside edge and MS Dhoni, the wicket-keeper, takes the catch. It is a healthy deflection and the ball sticks in the webbing.

7.3: Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short length googly well outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it off the back foot to deep extra cover for a single.

7.2: Noor Ahmad to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full on middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi plays the paddle sweep to the right of short fine leg for a single.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi is the new batter in.

7.1: Noor Ahmad to Sunil Narine, OUT! STUMPED! Narine has committed a bit of a brain fade here. Full ball on middle from Noor Ahmad. Sunil Narine skips down the track to go big over long on. The ball beats his bat, hits his back leg and rolls behind him close to the stumps. MS Dhoni is aware of it, as he quickly collects the ball with Narine well out of the crease and effects the stumping.

Noor Ahmad to have a bowl now.

6.6: Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on off, Ajinkya Rahane plays the push drive to point. Dot ball. Just two runs of that over!

6.5: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Very full, at the toes, clipped through mid-wicket for a single.

6.4: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Pushed across the left-hander, on a nagging length, Sunil Narine lets it be thinking it is a wide but the umpire is happy with it.

6.3: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Pushed through, on the shorter side, Sunil Narine backs away to whip it away but misses and the ball goes through his legs. Nicely collected by MSD.

6.2: Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, On middle and leg, a bit quicker, Ajinkya Rahane glances it towards deep fine leg for one.

6.1: Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Beaten! This keeps straight and does not turn, around off, on a nagging length, Ajinkya Rahane defends inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

5.6: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, Another well-executed yorker, on off, Ajinkya Rahane digs it out in front of cover for a run. 17 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, KKR are 67/1.

5.5: Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, Nails the yorker, on middle, Sunil Narine jams it out on the off side and crosses over.

5.4: Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Easy pickings! 15 runs off the over already. On the pads, too straight from Anshul Kamboj, Sunil Narine just helps it off the pads towards deep fine leg for four more.

5.3: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, On a length, on off, knocked towards mid on for a single.

5.2: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Good use of the feet! At the stumps, on a length, Ajinkya Rahane skips down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball. Goes over cover with a high elbow for a boundary.

5.1: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Innovative and mighty effective! On a length, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane walks across his stumps and executes the scoop to perfection. Clears the deep fine leg fence for a six.

Anshul Kamboj to continue...

4.6: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, And again! Ravichandran Ashwin keeps it short and slows it down, around off, Sunil Narine waits back to hit it with the spin on the off side but misses.

4.5: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Turn for Ashwin! Short and turning away from the left-hander, Sunil Narine backs away for the cut but gets beaten all ends up.

4.4: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, SIX! Not quite from the middle but enough to sail over the fence! On a short of a length, outside off, Sunil Narine just waits back and pumps it over mid off for a six.

4.3: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Short and on off, Sunil Narine slaps it towards cover where Devon Conway almost overruns the ball but recovers well to make the stop.

4.2: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Two in two for Sunil Narine! Fractionally short, enough for Sunil Narine though as he waits on the back foot and pulls it over square leg for four more.

4.1: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Ravichandran Ashwin is greeted with a boundary! Full and on the pads, Sunil Narine clears his front leg quickly and whips it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

3.6: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, DROPPED! Matheesha Pathirana shells a steepler! Anshul Kamboj hurls it on a length, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane plays the pick-up shot and skies it up towards deep backward square leg where Pathirana never really managed to settle under it. Puts in a dive ahead but fails to cling on as the ball brushes his fingertips and drops on the ground. Two runs taken.

3.5: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, An agricultural heave from Ajinkya Rahane, something you do not associate with the KKR skipper but he gets away with it. Near the tramline on off, on a short of a good length, Rahane swings and looks to drag it away on the leg side but misses.

3.4: Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, Gets the yorker in at the base of the middle stump, Sunil Narine just about manages to get his bat down in time. It gets squeezed off an inside edge behind on the leg side for one.

3.3: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, On off, on a nagging length, nudged away to deep square leg for a single by Ajinkya.

3.2: Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, Kamboj goes full this time, on middle and leg, Sunil Narine gets his front leg out of the way and tries to access the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and Sunil gets called through by Rahane for a quick single as the ball rolls away on the off side.

3.1: Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Anshul Kamboj bashes the hard length, over middle, Sunil Narine lifts his front leg and swivels a bit for the pull. Gets a top edge that flies over the keeper for a boundary.

2.6: Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! More height than distance but Ajinkya Rahane does enough to find the fence! On a length, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane plays the pick-up shot with no one in the deep square of the wicket on the leg side. The ball lands in the vacant deep square leg region and trickles into the fence.

2.5: Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, Takes pace off slightly and makes the batter reach for it. Ajinkya Rahane cuts it straight to backward point.

2.4: Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Up and over! Khaleel Ahmed switches to over the wicket and delivers it a bit too full, on middle and leg, Ajinkya Rahane just extends his hands into the shot and whips it over wide mid on for a boundary.

2.3: Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, On off, on a length, pushed off the front foot to cover.

2.2: Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, A loud shout for LBW but turned down! Seemed to have pitched outside the line on this around-the-wicket angle. Ahmed goes full and attacks the stumps, Sunil Narine clears his front leg to swat it away. The ball sneaks under the bat to hit him on the back leg. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls away on the off side.

2.1: Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, On middle and leg, on a length, Sunil Narine clears his front leg and swings to get it away on the leg side. Gets it off the toe end towards mid on.

2.1: Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, Wide! Sprayed down leg from around the wicket, on the fuller side, Sunil Narine misses the tickle.

1.6: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, At the hips, on a short of a length, Ajinkya Rahane helps it down towards deep fine leg where Matheesha Pathirana sprints and slides to his right to cut it off. Two runs taken.

1.5: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, On a back of a length, on off, Ajinkya Rahane rides the bounce and stabs it down the deck.

1.4: Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Edged away! Seaming away, on a good length, around off, Ajinkya Rahane plants his front foot ahed and tries to cover the line by presenting a straight bat. Gets an outside edge that races past first slip to his right for a boundary.

KKR skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, walks out to bat. Talking about skippers, big news is coming in from the Indian national team as Rohit Sharma, the current Indian Test captain, has announced his retirement from Test cricket!

1.3: Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! TAKEN! Anshul Kamboj wins the battle against Rahmanullah Gurbaz! A soft dismissal to be really honest. Slanting into the pads, on a length, Gurbaz looks to work it away on the leg side off his pads and ends up hitting it straight into the hands of mid-wicket. Noor Ahmad is there on the edge of the ring and takes it around his neck.

1.2: Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, In the channel on off, on a good length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz skips down the track and flashes at the delivery but misses.

1.1: Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! BANG! That has gone many a mile! Anshul Kamboj starts with a length delivery, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets it in his arc and swings across the line. Deposits it way back into the stands over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Anshul Kamboj.

0.6: Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On a hard length, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets on top of the bounce and punches it to the left of extra cover for a single.

0.5: Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Trifecta of plays and misses! On a back of a length, angling across the batter, Gurbaz pokes at the delivery and sees the ball zip past the outside edge.

0.4: Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Top nut! Pitched up, leaving the right-hander, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is rooted to the crease and tries to play it down the ground with a straight bat. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

0.3: Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Big swing and a miss! Going across the right-hander, on a good length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz puts the dancing shoes on and swings for the hills but connects with thin air.

0.2: Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Drags the length back and tightens the line, does Khaleel, on a short of a length, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz hangs back to defend. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

0.1: Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Rahmanullah Gurbaz and KKR are on their way! Khaleel Ahmed steams in from over the wicket and serves it at 133.8 kph, on off, a hint of shape back in, on a length, Gurbaz presses forward and times the drive through covers for a boundary.

Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings and it is now time to play. The bell is rung by the KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla and Dwayne Bravo as the umpires and the players of CSK make their way out to the middle. It will be the pairing of Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz to open the innings for KKR. Khaleel Ahmed has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

Just a few minutes to go before the match begins. However, the Indian National Anthem will be played first and the two teams line up around the boundary ropes.

Impact subs nominated by CSK - Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Ramakrishna Ghosh.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI) - Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway (In for Sam Curran), Urvil Patel (In for Shaik Rasheed), Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni (C/WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.

Impact subs nominated by KKR - Anrich Nortje, Mayank Markande, Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy and Luvnith Sisodia.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Manish Pandey (In for Venkatesh Iyer), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.

The captain of the Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni, says he has played a lot of cricket here, ranging from U-16, U-19, club-level cricket, as well as many zonal games and hence it really feels like a home to him. States that they are looking to prepare for the next season and are trying to find answers rather than just trying to win the rest of the games. Mentions that they are looking to find the right combinations in terms of batting positions and trying to work out bowling solutions, keeping the future in mind. States that the opportunity to try new players comes in either when the team has qualified with four games to go or at times when the team is out of the competition with four games to go. He says they have a couple of changes as Shaik Rasheed and Sam Curran miss out for Urvil Patel and Devon Conway.

Ajinkya Rahane, the skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders, says that they will bat first. Adds that it looks like a very good wicket, and they have won batting first in the last two games as well. Mentions that it is all about taking one game at a time and giving their best, and the guys are looking forward to this game. On losing close games, Rahane says that it happens in this format, and they managed to win a close game last time around. Informs that they have one change with Venkatesh Iyer missing out as he has stitches on his hand, and Manish Pandey comes in for him.

TOSS - Kolkata Knight Riders win the flip of the coin and they will BAT first.