At a packed Eden Gardens under the electric Kolkata night sky, Chennai Super Kings survived a night of chaos, comebacks, and clutch moments to pull off a dramatic 2-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders. In a match that danced on a knife’s edge, CSK chased down 180 with just two balls left, turning what looked like a collapse into a gritty heist, powered by audacity, calm heads, and a dash of Dhoni-fuelled nerve.
Chaos in the Powerplay: CSK’s Top-Order Collapse
KKR, having opted to bat first, posted a competitive 179/6, anchored by captain Ajinkya Rahane’s fluent 48 (33) and a blistering cameo by Andre Russell, who thumped 38 off just 21. However, it was Noor Ahmad, the left-arm Afghan spinner, who turned the game on its head. Noor spun a web around the Knight Riders’ middle order, finishing with 4/31 in 4 overs, dismissing Narine, Raghuvanshi, Russell, and Rinku in a sensational spell that ultimately earned him the Player of the Match award.
KKR’s innings had multiple momentum bursts, 67/1 in the Powerplay, a strong 50-run stand between Rahane and Narine, and some late fireworks by Russell and Pandey (36 off 28*). But Noor’s strikes at key moments kept the total within CSK’s reach.
Urvil, Brevis, Dube & Dhoni: A Gritty, Unlikely Chase
The CSK innings got off to a nightmare start, with both Ayush Mhatre and Devon Conway dismissed for ducks within the first two overs. At 25/2, the chase looked shaky until debutant Urvil Patel stormed in like a flashfire. With a fearless counterattack, he smashed 31 off just 11 balls, including 4 sixes, reviving CSK’s innings at a blistering strike rate of 281.81.
Then entered Dewald Brevis, whose blend of composure and controlled aggression added steel to the chase. His 52 off 25 deliveries, laced with 4 fours and 4 sixes, injected belief back into the CSK dugout. The turning point was Brevis smashing 30 runs in Vaibhav’s over. He found a dependable ally in Shivam Dube (45 off 40), and together they forged a 67-run stand, crafting a strong middle-overs surge that set up the endgame.
But just as the finish line loomed, the chase wobbled. Brevis fell at 127, Dube at 170, and Noor Ahmad at 172, threatening to unravel all the progress. That’s when MS Dhoni, calm as ever, took charge. With Eden Gardens pulsing with tension, Dhoni absorbed the pressure, anchoring the innings with a vital, unbeaten 17 off 18, a knock that may not grab headlines, but carried immense value in the moment. With 8 to win off 1 over and Russell bowling, Dhoni hit a six off the first ball.
When Anshul Kamboj stepped up. CSK needed 1 to win off 3 balls and played a calm lofted shot over mid on to win the match, clinching a thrilling victory and sealing two crucial points for Chennai.
KKR’s Playoff Equation: Must-Win Games and a Race Against NRR
With 11 points from 12 games, Kolkata Knight Riders’ path to the IPL 2025 playoffs is narrow but alive. To stay in contention, they must win both of their remaining matches—against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru—which would take them to 15 points. However, 15 alone may not guarantee qualification; KKR will also need a healthy net run rate, meaning at least one dominant victory. They’ll be closely watching results elsewhere too, hoping that at least two among the Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Capitals fail to reach or surpass 16 points. Since KKR faces RCB in their final match, it could become a virtual knockout for the fourth spot.
Talking Points:
- Noor Ahmad’s Brilliance: A deserving Player of the Match, Noor turned the game with 4/31, including the crucial wickets of Narine, Russell, and Rinku Singh, and is now 2nd in the purple cap list
- Brevis and Dube’s Match-Defining Partnership: The duo’s 67-run stand turned the tide after early blows. Brevis, in particular, showed he’s much more than a T20 slogger.
- Urvil Patel’s Powerplay Punch: His 31 off 11 was the spark CSK desperately needed after a disastrous start.
- Dhoni’s Ice-Cold Finish: Composure under pressure: vintage Dhoni. He didn’t need to clear the ropes—just steer the chase with surgical calm.
- KKR’s Bowling Missteps: Varun Chakravarthy’s 2/18 gave KKR hope, but Vaibhav Arora’s 3/48 came at a high cost. Russell, usually trusted at the death, failed to close.
Is the battle for the final playoff spot truly a knockout race, or can the drama unfold with more twists and turns before the season’s end?
