IPL 2026, CSK vs KKR Highlights: Chennai beat Kolkata by 32 runs

It was a battle of spinners tonight and CSK came out on top. The fact that KKR had scoreboard pressure to deal with probably helped CSK out a lot as well. You can read Venkata Krishna B's report here, straight from the Chepauk Stadium. Thanks for joining us tonight! Ciao!

So there's your lot. Unless there is an unbelievably high number of extras and sixes in this over, this match is already done and dusted. KKR are 45 runs behind at the start of this last over. Overton finishes with three overs and 32 runs in them, no wickets. Anshul Kamboj to bowl the last over.

KKR have reached exactly 100 runs in 14 overs, which is so 2024. Their required rate has swollen to 15.50. And they are currently going at 7.14.

Powell on nine off six, Ramandeep on three off four. Jamie Overton bowled for the first time in the 14th over and almost as if to show that he was pretty annoyed that he wasn't brought on earlier, ended up hurling in some of the fastest deliveries that have been seen this season.

Required rate is 12.87. The current rate is 7.50. Rinku Singh and Rovman Powell are out there. Two big-hitters. But absolutely no hitter has been able to get the spinners away today. If CSK struggled KKR are having it even worse. Rinku is on six off seven, Powell on two off three.

Noor continues in the 13th on a hat-trick.

Rahane has been swinging away and slicing or missing them. He slices again and falls this time. Tried to inside out, and he gets caught at extra cover by Gaikwad. A good sharp catch there from the CSK skipper, he was running back and snatched it with outstretched hands.

Rahane c Gaikwad b Noor Ahmad 28 (22)

KKR 85/3 in 10.5 overs

KKR are not out of it by any stretch of imagination. But they do need a big boost pronto. CSK have opted for a timeout. Rahane on 11 off 13, Raghuvanshi on 21 off 15. CSK, though, have to do something about the fielding issues creeping in. Akeal Hosein's over in the eighth should've gone for about six runs had it not been for Dewald BRevis palming the ball over the ropes at long on off Raghuvanshi. Before that, Narine had been dropped second ball of the fourth over by captain Gaikwad at mid off.

What a powerplay this is turning out to be for CSK! Khaleel with a yorker from hell outside leg, Narine tried to send it through midwicket, takes a leading edge and caught at short third man.

Narine c Gurjapneet Singh b Ahmed 24 (17)

KKR 29/2 in 4.2 overs

How about it. Narine is the man who should have smashed a few and left, instead he has outlasted Allen. Although Narine did show in KKR's title winning season and a number of other occassions that he is no pushover with the bat. Anshul Kamboj bowls the second over, fourth ball is full outside off. Allen takes a swish at it, edged and caught at point.

Allen c Dube b Kamboj 1 (3)

KKR 12/1 in 1.4 overs

Shivam Dube finishes unbeaten on 13 off 12, Overton on seven off six. KKR have to chase down a target of 193. This is after CSK had scored 72 runs in the powerplay. Incredible work there from CSK's two stalwart spinners and Kartik Tyagi in the middle overs. Now then, a lot has gone their way after that powerplay, but the KKR batters do need to put in a shift. Starting with Ajinkya Rahane up top. Can they do it?

Well, it is all on Shivam Dube now. Kartik Tyagi with the two biggest wickets of the day, first Samson and now Brevis. Slow, back of a length delivery outside off, Brevis throws the kitchen sink at it. Takes a top edge and caught at short third man.

Brevis c Arora b Kartik Tyagi 41 (29)

CSK 171/5 in 17.3 overs

The pressure tells at last. At the other end, Brevis has been keeping it up but Sarfaraz has struggled. He goes for a big swipe across the line first ball of the 17th, it was back of a length and and angling on off stump by Narine. The off stump goes.

Sarfaraz Khan b Narine 23 (18)

CSK 162/4 in 16.1 overs

Well CSK have been caught in a vice grip in these middle overs by Narine, Chakaravarthy and Tyagi. 13 runs off Tyagi in the 12th over but started with the wicket of Samson. And now Narine keeps Sarfaraz Khan and Brevis down in the 13th over.

CSK 121/3 in 13 overs

Just 30 runs in the four overs since the end of the powerplay. Kartik Tyagi bowls the 10th over, just the one run off his first four balls. He started off with a full delivery and then followed up with three short ones. The fifth was short too and Samson was expecting that. He sends it over backward point for a six. Takes a single last ball and he is on 40 off 26, Brevis on 13 off 11.

Well, he has done his job, one might argue. Vaibhav Arora sends back Mhatre last ball of the sixth over after being hit for a hat-trick of fours at the beginning of it.

Mhatre c Ramandeep Singh b Arora 38 (17)

CSK 72/2 in 6 overs

Pulled... straight into the hands of the midwicket fielder. Roy gives CSK the early breakthrough they were looking for. Second ball of the third over was full outside off, Gaikwad goes for the sweep, seems to have to adjust a bit on seeing its not short enough. Cramped for space as well. Easy catch for the fielder. Gaikwad is stuck in no-man's land at the moment.

Gaikwad c Powell b Roy 7 (6)

CSK 25/1 in 2.2 overs

All right Sanju Samson is out there with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad at the other end opening the batting for CSK. Vaibhav Arora starts the bowling attack for CSK.

Ajinkya Rahane: "Looking to bowl first. I think the last game was really good for us. Unfortunately, the result didn't go our way. But I thought the kind of cricket we played, guys are getting that confidence from the last game. It's all about starting fresh. It's important when things are not going your way, it's important to have that belief, stay positive and having those small, small moments in T20 format is really important. So, now looking forward to this game, we'll start off really well with the ball and then look to chase down the target. Yes, absolutely. The kind of knock Mukul played the other night was fantastic. I mean, it's going to happen in this format. As I said, it's all about belief. You know, guys are working really hard. For us, what matters is, putting those hard yards out, focusing on the controllables as players and, you know, having that belief in each and every individual. As I said, the combination looked really good for us in the last game. So, yeah, thinking about this game and just wanted to be in the moment. (after a mega auction, it's tough) I mean, it is challenging after the mega auction to find the right balance and obviously the players are going through the injuries, players are unavailable. Tonight, just one change for us. Varun Chakaravarthy is fit. He's come in in place of Navdeep Saini."

Ruturaj Gaikwad: "Yes, we would have bowled first as well. But as I said, you know, past few games here, the wicket hasn't changed much throughout the course of the game. So not much of a difference. Definitely putting a big total on the scoreboard first innings would be challenging, but as I said, you know, it looks a really good surface. (on the last game) Yes, as I said, even in the post-match as well, I felt the bowling was really good defending 210, you know, against a strong DC side. Gave us a lot of confidence and you know, even the fielding unit was charged up. We saved few runs and that is how I think collectively we did really well. Really exciting today as well. We got a job to do and everyone is feeling confident. (talking about the team balance) Yes, I think we are slowly getting it right. Brevis coming back and Jamie giving that crucial overs in the between as well. So I think we are slowly, slowly getting the right combination and it is just about delivering each and every game and staying consistent. We are going with the same team."

Ajinkya Rahane has won the toss and Kolkata Knight Riders are bowling first.

He came into this season on the back of a good performance last year and moreover, as the man who led India to victory in the U19 World Cup. Mhatre has lived up to the hype thus far. He has scored 133 runs in 4 matches at a strike rate of 160.24.

Sanju Samson's century dominated the headline but so good was Jamie Overton with the ball in that match against Delhi Capitals that there was a good argument to have over the player of the match award to him at the end of it. It didn't happen of course but the Englishman was quite extraordinary on the day, leading the effort in keeping DC's scoring rate down and wrecking their middle order. He finished with figures of 4-0-18-4.

That's what former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh felt. Gaikwad has been the rare shining light for CSK whenever they have done poorly in the last few seasons and was top scorer when they last won the title as well. However, he hasn't quite hit the races this year. “Right now, too many things are running in his mind. It’s important he comes in as only a batter when he walks out to bat," said Ramesh. READ MORE.

Dhoni was seen at the nets before this match and had a few throwdowns as well. However, he is far from being fit enough to play, or in CSK's next game really. But then, do the CSK faithful really want Dhoni to play that desperately. While his effect off the field is undeniable will the team really be helped by his return on the field? That is what Sandeep Dwivedi explored in his column earlier this month. READ HERE.