CSK Batsmen Impactful Yet Slow

Vijay Shankar got lucky when Narine dropped his catch at mid-off. He hit two boundaries, but CSK still lacked power. As per BBC Sports, CSK has hit only three sixes in powerplays all season. The batsmen were struggling to find gaps or big shots. This weak beginning hurt their chances like Australia lost against Indian spinners.

Moeen Ali returned to KKR and made a huge difference early, which was a smart move by Ajinkya Rahane. He got Devon Conway out in the first over itself. As per Cricbuzz, his wicket-maiden was rare and game-changing. Moeen’s experience helped KKR control the powerplay phase. He ended with 1 for 18 in four overs total.

His return was significant against his old team, CSK. KKR’s choice to use him paid off nicely. According to Wikipedia, Moeen often does well against CSK. His tight bowling kept CSK’s scoring low from the start. This set up KKR’s spinners to dominate later on. Moeen’s quick impact showed his value to the team. CSK couldn’t handle his clever bowling that day.

Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard, 25th Match at Chennai, IPL, Apr 11 2025

Chennai Super Kings  (20 ovs maximum)

Batting		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Rachin Ravindra	c Rahane b Harshit Rana	4	9	20	0	0	44.44
Devon Conway	lbw b Ali	12	11	16	2	0	109.09
Rahul Tripathi	b Narine	16	22	33	1	0	72.72
Vijay Shankar	c Ali b Varun	29	21	23	2	1	138.09
Shivam Dube	not out	31	29	60	3	0	106.89
Ravichandran Ashwin	c Arora b Harshit Rana	1	7	8	0	0	14.28
Ravindra Jadeja	c †de Kock b Narine	0	2	3	0	0	0.00
Deepak Hooda	c Arora b Varun	0	4	3	0	0	0.00
MS Dhoni (c)†	lbw b Narine	1	4	7	0	0	25.00
Noor Ahmad	c Varun b Arora	1	8	8	0	0	12.50
Anshul Kamboj	not out	3	3	20	0	0	100.00
Extras	(lb 1, w 4)	5
Total	20 Ov (RR: 5.15)	103/9
Did not bat:  Khaleel Ahmed
Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Devon Conway, 3.1 ov), 2-16 (Rachin Ravindra, 4.1 ov), 3-59 (Vijay Shankar, 9.4 ov), 4-65 (Rahul Tripathi, 10.6 ov), 5-70 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 12.5 ov), 6-71 (Ravindra Jadeja, 13.3 ov), 7-72 (Deepak Hooda, 14.2 ov), 8-75 (MS Dhoni, 15.3 ov), 9-79 (Noor Ahmad, 17.2 ov) • DRS

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Vaibhav Arora	4	0	31	1	7.75	10	4	0	2	0
Moeen Ali	4	1	20	1	5.00	11	0	1	1	0
Harshit Rana	4	0	16	2	4.00	17	2	0	1	0
Varun Chakravarthy	4	0	22	2	5.50	11	2	0	0	0
Sunil Narine	4	0	13	3	3.25	12	0	0	0	0

Kolkata Knight Riders  (T: 104 runs from 20 ovs)

Batting		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Quinton de Kock †	b Kamboj	23	16	21	0	3	143.75
Sunil Narine	b Noor Ahmad	44	18	35	2	5	244.44
Ajinkya Rahane (c)	not out	20	17	25	1	1	117.64
Rinku Singh	not out	15	12	9	1	1	125.00
Extras	(lb 1, nb 2, w 2)	5
Total	10.1 Ov (RR: 10.52)	107/2
Did not bat:  Venkatesh Iyer,  Andre Russell,  Ramandeep Singh,  Vaibhav Arora,  Moeen Ali,  Harshit Rana,  Varun Chakravarthy
Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Quinton de Kock, 4.1 ov), 2-85 (Sunil Narine, 7.1 ov) • DRS

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Khaleel Ahmed	3	0	40	0	13.33	8	1	5	2	0
Anshul Kamboj	2	0	19	1	9.50	4	1	1	0	1
Ravichandran Ashwin	3	0	30	0	10.00	7	1	3	0	0
Noor Ahmad	2	0	8	1	4.00	7	1	0	0	0
Ravindra Jadeja	0.1	0	9	0	54.00	0	0	1	0	1

Key Moments – Chennai Super Kings Innings

Score Progression

Stage	Overs	Score	Wickets Lost
Powerplay	6.0	31	2
Strategic Timeout 1	9.0	56	2
Strategic Timeout 2	15.3	75	8
End of Innings	20.0	103	9

Key Events

• Reviews:
  • Over 3.1: CSK challenged a wicket decision for DP Conway (umpire’s call, struck down).
  • Over 15.3: CSK challenged a wicket decision for MS Dhoni (struck down).
  • Over 17.4: KKR challenged a wide call (struck down).
• Player Substitution:
  • Over 13.3: DJ Hooda replaced RA Tripathi.
• Milestones:
  • 50 runs: Achieved in 7.5 overs.
  • 100 runs: Achieved in 19.6 overs.

Key Moments – Kolkata Knight Riders Innings

Score Progression

Stage	Overs	Score	Wickets Lost
Powerplay	6.0	71	1
Strategic Timeout	9.0	92	2
End of Innings	10.1	107	2

Key Events

• Milestones:
  • 50 runs: Achieved in 4.3 overs.
  • 100 runs: Achieved in 10.0 overs.
• Note: No reviews or player substitutions were recorded during KKR’s innings.

Additional Information

• CSK Impact Player Subs: Matheesha Pathirana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shaik Rasheed, Jamie Overton, Deepak Hooda.
• KKR Impact Player Subs: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia.

Match Analysis

Vijay Shankar and Rahul Tripathi tried to save CSK after early losses. They made a 43-run stand for the third wicket. Vijay hit two boundaries and a six, showing some fight. Tripathi got a chance because Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured. He struggled but kept the score moving a bit. As per Aajtak Sports, this was CSK’s only steady moment. Varun Chakaravarthy got Vijay out with a tricky googly. Then Narine bowled Tripathi, ending the partnership fast. Vijay Shankar’s innings of 28 off 21 balls were the highest. Tripathi scored 22 off 25, weak against spin. Their effort gave hope but didn’t last long. CSK needed more from them to recover.

KKR’s Spin Trio Dismantles CSK

KKR’s spinners Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Moeen Ali crushed CSK’s batting. They took 6 wickets for just 35 runs in 12 overs. As per Cricbuzz, their spin attack was unstoppable that night. Varun broke the Vijay-Tripathi stand with a clever ball. Narine got Tripathi, Ashwin, and Dhoni out quickly. Moeen’s early wicket set things up perfectly. The spinners’ dominance ensured CSK couldn’t fight back.

R. Ashwin’s pinch-hitting failed, out for almost nothing. Deepak Hooda, the impact sub, scored a duck too. According to BBC Sports, CSK’s middle overs run rate was only 4.77. The turning pitch helped KKR’s spin trio shine. CSK’s batsmen had no answers to them.

Dhoni’s Dismissal: A Turning Point

MS Dhoni came to bat with CSK at 72 for 7. The Chepauk crowd cheered loudly for their hero. But Sunil Narine got him out for just 2 runs. Narine’s off-break hit Dhoni’s pads, out LBW. As per ESPN Cricinfo, Narine took three wickets in this match. Dhoni’s dismissal was symbolic of CSK’s tough day. Fans hoped he’d turn it around, but he couldn’t. According to Wikipedia, Narine often gets Dhoni out in IPL games. This moment killed CSK’s slim chances of a comeback. Dhoni faced a tough spot at No. 9 in the order. His exit left the team and fans heartbroken. KKR’s clever bowling won this key battle.

CSK’s Lowest Total at Chepauk

CSK got bowled out for 103, their lowest score at Chepauk. It beat their old low of 109 from 2019. As per Cricbuzz, no partnerships helped them build a score. Shivam Dube made 31 not out, which was the best effort. Only three batsmen reached double figures in all innings.

CSK’s total was the third-lowest ever at Chepauk. According to BBC Sports, it showed their batting collapse clearly. They scored just 29 runs in the last five overs. KKR’s bowlers kept the pressure on till the end. This was CSK’s second-lowest total in IPL history too. The team couldn’t adapt to the pitch or attack. It was a sad day for the home fans.

KKR’s Explosive PowerPlay in Chase

KKR started their chase with a bang, scoring 71 for 1. They hit seven sixes in the first six overs. As per Aajtak Sports, it’s the season’s best powerplay score. Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock smashed the CSK bowlers. Narine made 44 off 18 before getting out. CSK’s Khaleel Ahmed gave away 18 runs in one over. According to BBC Sports, KKR’s run rate was 11.83 in powerplay. That’s way more than CSK’s 5.17 earlier. The aggressive start made the chase super easy. KKR’s powerplay run rate of 11.83 was double CSK’s effort. This big opening boosted their net run rate too. CSK’s bowlers, like New Zealand against South Africa, couldn’t stop the onslaught.

Six-Hitting Contrast: CSK vs KKR

CSK hit only one six in their whole innings. KKR smashed ten sixes in just 10.1 overs. As per Cricbuzz, Dube’s six came after 63 balls for CSK. Narine and de Kock cleared the ropes easily for KKR. According to Wikipedia, KKR set a record with ten sixes in this chase. KKR’s ten sixes in the chase was the most for under 150 runs. CSK’s lack of big hits hurt them badly. Narine alone hit four sixes in his quick 44. This gap showed CSK’s weak batting intent clearly. KKR’s power made the game one-sided fast. The contrast was huge between the teams like India and Zimbabwe.

KKR’s Quick Finish and Its Implications

KKR chased 104 in 10.1 overs, winning by eight wickets. They finished with 59 balls left, a considerable margin. ESPN Cricinfo says it’s one of the fastest chases over 100. This win boosted KKR’s net run rate a lot. For CSK, it was their fifth loss in a row. According to Cricbuzz, it’s their worst streak in IPL history. The result leaves CSK at the bottom of the table. KKR moved up to the top four easily.

This quick win helped KKR’s batsmen gain confidence too. CSK’s home loss upset their fans big time. KKR’s dominance showed its strength in IPL 2025. CSK needs to fix things fast now, as they have a lot of talented players who did well for Railways in the Ranji trophy.

Conclusion

KKR outplayed CSK in this match at Chepauk Stadium. CSK’s batting flopped, scoring only 103, their lowest at home. They couldn’t hit big shots or stop KKR’s spinners like Narine. The match also highlights how CSK struggled in the powerplay again. KKR chased the score in just 10 overs, hitting lots of sixes. This win gave KKR more points and a better net run rate. For CSK, losing five games in a row is a big worry.

Dhoni’s return as captain didn’t work out this time. KKR showed they’re a top team with strong bowling and batting. CSK must find ways to improve quickly. This game teaches that T20 needs fast starts and innovative plans. CSK fans hope their team bounces back soon in IPL 2025.