Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 25th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

The CSK lion looks jaded, weak and weary. Its mane a bit disheveled, its legs and arms fatigued, almost as though incapable of hunting anymore. The mighty king of this IPL jungle, the fabled hunter of this competition is being hunted this season. This fearsome lair of the lion is seeming like a free-for-all this year, as new predators are pouncing in the IPL. A performance akin to champions from KKR. They sensed the frailties of their opponents and went in for the kill. That’s enough animal allegories for the evening, time to log off. This is Saurabh Shankar signing off on behalf of Akshay Maanay, Siva and Harish.

Sunil Narine: (On if this was the perfect game) Almost, next time hopefully I can get a catch as well (referring to the dropped catch of Shankar). (On if he looks at data) I just try to focus on my strengths, try to execute on what I can do without focusing too much on the batters. (On how he adjusts to so many franchise tournaments) You get accustomed, you try and adapt as soon as possible. You see how things are in the powerplay, and then try to execute the plans. (On his batting approach) It is very simple, it is about trying to give the team flying starts. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Ajinkya Rahane: We had our plans. I have played here last two years, so has Moeen. DJ knows the conditions as well. The wicket is a bit sticky, the ball stops on you a bit. Credit goes to the spinners, our plans worked well today. Long way to go in the tournament, don't want to share too much of those plans. (On Moeen's inclusion) In the end, it looked spot-on. (On the surface) I thought the wicket would play together, it looked like a 170 type of wicket. But can't take any credit away from the bowlers. Moeen played well - never easy to play just one game and then miss out, and then come back in. So did Sunny and Varun. Sunny went for runs in the last game, but came back strong. So did Vaibhav and Harshit. All in all a good bowling performance. (On his batting) I'm enjoying my batting, really worked hard last 2-3 years and coming of well. Just want to stay in the moment and keep it really simple. (Was NRR on the minds) Initially no, but after 6 overs we thought if we could finish the game early, it would be good for us. (On the road ahead) Sometimes you play good cricket but lose, last game was tough for us, losing by 4 runs. Lots of learnings for us, we would like to win now though., Don't want a win loss, win loss kind of season. All about staying positive.

Moeen Ali: It was nice and having two left-handers helped my case. Just trying to keep it as tight as I can and pick up a couple of wickets, tonight I picked up one, it is nice and Rinku's dive for me to stop that four was big for my confidence. Try not to bowl too quickly, just give time to spin and sometimes it skids, sometimes it spins, I like to keep the shape on the ball and try to spin it. They (Narine and Varun) are amazing spinners, they have been for a while now, especially Sunil, if I can bowl a couple of overs up top and set them up in the middle where they are quite hard to hit, I am learning from them and trying to keep up. It (the pitch) was a little bit tacky, you don't need to spin every ball, just one to put the doubt in the batter's mind.

MS Dhoni: It has been quite a few nights that has not gone our way. The challenge has been there, we have to accept the challenge. Today I felt we did not have enough runs on the board. It has been the case over there, when we bowled in the 2nd innings it stopped a bit, today it did in the first innings. When you lose too many wickets, there is pressure and with quality spinners it is difficult. We never got any partnerships and bit more partnerships, application and we would be fine. (on getting just 31 in the powerplay) What is important is to see the conditions, couple of games we have done decently well, back your strengths and play the shots you can play. Not match to someone's else play. Our openers are good openers, play authentic cricket shots, they don't slog or look to hit across the line. It is important not to get desperate seeing the scorecard. If we start looking for 60 with our lineup it will be very difficult for us. Get partnerships going, maybe capitalise in the middle and later overs and if we lose wickets, the middle order has to do their job differently. And the slog will be delayed for quite a while.

Stats by Shashikant Singh

Fastest 100-plus target chased in the IPL
9.4 overs - RCB vs KKR, Bengaluru, 2015 (T: 112)
9.4 overs - SRH vs LSG, Hyderabad, 2024 (T: 166)
10.1 overs - KKR vs CSK, Chennai, 2025 (T: 104)*
*The RCB vs KKR was a rain-shortened game

This is the biggest defeat margin for CSK in terms of balls remaining in IPL

For the first time, CSK have lost five consecutive games in their IPL history, and this is also the first time CSK have lost three games in a row at Chepauk in a season.

22:28 Local Time, 16:58 GMT, 22:28 IST: Not the homecoming MS Dhoni would have expected on his return to captaincy. His team have been thoroughly outplayed by the reigning IPL champions, who looked the part today. The KKR spinners had CSK in a knot, as their innings took a nosedive after Vijay Shankar’s wicket. Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora chipped in with wickets as well, as CSK stuttered to 103/9. In reply, Narine got a first ball six and then Quinton de Kock smacked Anshul Kamboj for a maximum and followed that up with two more against Khaleel Ahmed. He was dismissed by Kamboj shortly after, but that was one of the few moments of joy for the CSK players tonight. Rahane replaced de Kock and got going with a classy on-drive, and then a nonchalant flick over square-leg for six. Ravi Ashwin was expensive once again and Narine made merry of this meagre target. Noor Ahmad struck first ball to deny Narine a fifty, but Rinku Singh walked out to finish the game for Kolkata. A thumping win for KKR who win with nearly ten overs to spare. Stick around for the presentations.

Jadeja to Rinku Singh, SIX, out of here!! It is Rinku who finishes it off in style this time, with the familiar sound of Ravi Shastri on commentary. But this six is greeted to stunned silence from the stadium. A full delivery that was darted onto the stumps, Rinku clears the front leg and smokes it over deep square leg. KKR win by 8 wickets.

Jadeja to Rinku Singh, no ball, 2 runs, flat delivery onto leg stump, slapped across the line towards the right of deep mid-wicket. Oops, Jadeja has also overstepped

Ravindra Jadeja, Left arm orthodox, comes into the attack

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, 1 run, flat delivery outside off, cut towards sweeper cover

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, no run, flat delivery that fizzes through outside off, another swing and a miss

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, FOUR, fired through onto the stumps, Rinku clears the front leg for another big heave. Gets a thickish inside edge that scrapes through for a boundary towards square leg

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, no run, floats it up and gets it to turn away. A big swing and a miss for Rinku, almost loses his balance playing that heave

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, no run, short of length and spins away from leg stump. Defended back to the bowler

Noor Ahmad to Rahane, 1 run, flat delivery onto off, slapped across the line powerfully towards long-on

Time-out. Just about completing the formalities here for KKR. They are cruising towards the finish line. Just a matter of how many more overs.