Chennai, 15 April (H.S.):
In IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) put up a dominant all‑round show at their home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, and defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 32 runs. With this win, Chennai recorded their second consecutive home victory, while KKR suffered their fourth defeat of the season.
Batting first after losing the toss, CSK posted 192 for 5 in their 20 overs. Sanju Samson anchored the innings with a crucial 48‑run knock. Ayush Mhatre gave the innings an explosive start, slamming 38 runs off 17 deliveries, while Dewald Brevis contributed 41 with the bat. However, Chennai’s scoring rate slowed slightly in the death overs.
Chasing 193 to win, KKR got off to a poor start. Finn Allen was dismissed early, while Sunil Narine scored 24 before returning to the pavilion. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to steady the innings, but a flurry of wickets after the 10th over broke the backbone of the chase.
Chennai’s bowlers, especially their spinners, controlled the match almost single‑handedly. Noor Ahmed emerged as the chief destroyer, taking 3 for 23 and dismissing Rahane, Cameron Green, and Rinku Singh. Anshul Kambhoj picked up two wickets, while Khaleel Ahmed and Akil Hussain claimed one each.
At one stage, KKR slumped to 90 for 6, and the game was effectively over. Rovman Powell and Ramandeep Singh stitched a 63‑run partnership that delayed the inevitable, but they could not carry the chase across the line.
In the end, Kolkata finished on 160 for 7 in their 20 overs, falling 32 runs short of the target. The defeat has further dented KKR’s position on the points table, while CSK’s emphatic performance signals a strong comeback in the tournament.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
