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!
IPL 2026, CSK vs KKR Highlights: (BCCI/Creimas Photo)IPL 2026, CSK vs KKR Highlights: Chennai Super Kings recorded their second consecutive win with a 32-run win over the Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR are now without a win after playing five matches this season, with the only point they have coming from a washout.
CSK vs KKR Full Scorecard, IPL 2026: WATCH HERE
CSK struggled to put away the KKR spinners, but the latter found it even more difficult to do the same. Noor Ahmad picked three wickets in his four overs while Akeal Hossein is gave just 26 runs away in his four.
CSK got off to a strong start after being put to bat first by the Kolkata Knight Riders. However, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy then got them to slow things down after the powerplay. Young Kartik Tyagi joined in and finished with figures of 2/35. All of it meant that CSK have managed to get to a score of 192/5 in 20 overs.
SCROLL BELOW FOR CSK VS KKR IPL 2026 HIGHLIGHTS
Chennai Super Kings
192/5 (20.0)Kolkata Knight Riders
160/7 (20.0)Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs
Powell tries to see if he can get a wide off the last ball, reviews it. Nothing doing though and so there is your lot. Kolkata Knight Riders winless after five matches, with just one point to show thanks to a washout. Normally, teams with these kinds numbers at this stage of seasons don't go through to the playoffs and so well, it looks KKR are down and out for the season already. Powell finishes unbeaten on 31 off 22. KKR finish on 160/7.
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.
Well this isn't something that CSK wanted to see but better sense prevails here at least, unlike what was the case in the match between MI and RCB the other day. Khaleel pulls up just when he was loading up the sixth ball of the 17th over. He walks back to the top of his run up and then tries to go again but just can't. Unlike what happened in that MI vs RCB game, where Rasikh Salam was given a 10 minute long treatment after pulling up and then a couple more treatment break in an over that went on for about 20 minutes, here Khaleel just walks off. Gurjapneet bowls the last ball and Ramandeep smashes it through cover for four.
KKR 131/6 in 17 overs, need 62 to win from 18 balls.
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.
It's not a hat-trick but CSK and Noor won't care. Noor tosses up the fifth ball outside off, Rinku goes for it, he had no choice really. Long on doesn't have to move an inch for that catch.
Rinku Singh c Dube b Noor Ahmad 6 (12)
KKR 90/6 in 12.5 overs
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.
Oh it just gets worse and worse for the Australian. Noor will be on a hat-trick next time bowls. Back of a length delivery outside off, fizzing in the air. It spins in with the angle and doesn't rise at all, goes right beneath Green and takes the stumps.
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
How about that. Akeal Hosein had another catch dropped off his bowling second ball of the 10th over, this time Rahane had hit it straight up in the air, Sarfaraz came running in from deep midwicket, wasn't a difficult catch but he put it down. The batters took a single and then Raghuvanshi tries to go downtown. Doesn't get the required distance on it and this time, Brevis makes no mistake with the catch.
Raghuvanshi c Brevis b Hosein 27 (19)
KKR 79/3 in 9.3 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.
Raghuvanshi manages to squeeze out a four off the fourth ball. But this is an absolute disaster of a powerplay for KKR. They have gone at 6 runs an over, required rate of 11.21.
Raghuvanshi and Rahane both on five off eight.
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
Well, KKR are simply not able to get it away in the powerplay, unlike what CSK did earlier. Sunil Narine has got to 24 in 16, Rahane at the other end on two off five. KKR are going at seven runs an over, the required rate is 10.31.
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
All right then, Finn Allen on strike, Sunil Narine at the other end for KKR. Khaleel Ahmed is going to bowl the first over for CSK.
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?
CSK still in the 180s. Nine runs off this one from Vaibav Arora and now Tyagi to finish it off. Overton will be on strike, he is on five off four, Dube on seven off eight. KKR have incurred an over-rate penalty, it seems to be what Abhishek Nayar was arguing about with the fourth umpire on the sidelines. Pretty surprising if that was the case though, considering they are yet to be done with their overs almost two hours into this match.
CSK 184/5 in 19 overs
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
Brevis saves that 17th over somewhat for CSK by sending the fifth ball from Narine through covers for four. Still just seven off the over. As we have stated a number of times this season, it may look like a good score but considering the utterly ridiculous nature of how matches have gone this season, CSK are well behind at the moment. Tyagi to bowl the 18th over.
Brevis on 41 off 27, he has Dube at the other end on one off two.
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
Brevis and Sarfaraz managed to get 15 off the 14th by Chakaravarthy but they are then rung out dry by Anukul Roy. He bowled three wides in that over and still, just six off it. KKR's spinners have really left CSK in a tangle here.
Sarfaraz is on 15 off 14, Brevis on 26 off 21.
CSK 142/3 in 15 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
TIMBER! Samson done for pace and Tyagi makes a mess of his stumps. Full on middle and off at just over 148kph. Samson loses his shape entirely, swings at it and the ball goes right through him.
Samson b Kartik Tyagi 48 (32)
CSK 111/3 in 11.2 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.
KKR have brought in their world-beating spinners. Narine bowled the first over after the powerplay. Three singles off the third, fourth and fifth balls before Dewald Brevis smashes the last one over long on for a six. Then Samson manages to get a four off the fourth ball of the next over by Varun Chakaravarthy, smashed through backward point.
Samson is on 31 off 20, Brevis on nine off five.
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
14 runs in the fourth! Mhatre has gone after Green here. Samson gets off strike first ball, then Mhatre says hello to Green by going for a tennis-like forehand smash between extra cover and mid off for four. Green responds with an unplayable delivery, pitched on a length and seemingly moving in before shaping away, leaving Mhatre playing for thin air and beating him all ends up. It just about missed his outside edge and the stumps. But the fourth ball is then sent through covers for a four by Mhatre. Two fielders then put near the ropes on the leg side, Mhatre hits the fifth ball over them for six. The last ball is sent over midwicket for another six.
Mhatre on 25 off 7, Samson on 16 off 11.
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
Sanju Samson starts off with three consecutive boundaries! Arora's first ball was short and started outside off and bent right into him. Samson saw it like a football, gets on top of the bounce and sends it past short third for four. Next ball is short and wide, Samson gets on top of it again and sends it through point for four. The third delivery is similar, this time Samson takes a swing, it takes an outside edge and goes over short third. Looks like that was intentional from Samson. Single next ball and then another single for Gaikwad.
Cam Green to bowl the second over. Interesting move from KKR.
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.
There are two Sanju Samsons in this world. One is the version that turned up for India in the New Zealand series before the T20 World Cup and for CSK in his first three matches. The one that RR fans are all too familiar with. Who seems to be utterly unsure of what foot to use for what delivery and struggles to get out of single digits.
Then there is the other Sanju Samson, who is unstoppable. It is the one India saw in the latter stages of the T20 World Cup and powered them to the title and the one CSK fans saw decimating the DC bowlers in their last match, on his way to a fourth IPL century. If he turns up today, and for most games after this for the rest of the season, one could argue that CSK could suddenly become favourites to win the lot.
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."
Chennai Super Kings batting-first XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh
Kolkata Knight Riders bowling-first XI: Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Varun Chakravarthy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora
Ajinkya Rahane has won the toss and Kolkata Knight Riders are bowling first.
All right Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane are out there. Ravi Shastri wishes the Chepauk Stadium a "Happy Tamil Puthandu". Full marks for efforts there.
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.
It is HOT. The temperature is around 29 degrees Celsius and it will feel like much more because of the humidity. It also means one can expect dew to have a say later in the day. The team batting first will have to go full throttle for as long as they possibly can to stand a chance. It what RCB a couple of days ago against MI with the latter losing the match comprehensively and never really looking capable of chasing the target down, despite ending with a score of 222/5!!!
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.
Cameron Green bowled at long last for KKR in their last match and he made an instant impact, dismissing LSG skipper Rishabh Pant with just his second ball of the season. However, then he was one of many KKR bowlers who were taken on a ride around town by young Mukul Choudhary. Green ended up with figures of 1/28 in 2 overs. With the bat, he struggled his way to an unbeaten 32 in 24 balls. Price tag weighing him down? Who knows? The fact that he was recovering from an injury, and is still arguably yet to get back to full steam after that, hasn't helped him one bit.
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.
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.
Blessing Muzarabani has been integral to Kolkata Knight Riders this season but he had originally signed up to play for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after going unsold in the 2026 IPL auctions. A fantastic turn in the T20 World Cup, and all the politics that resulted in Bangladesh being booted out of the tournament after Mustafizur Rahman was booted out of the IPL, led to him being selected by KKR as a replacement for the Bangladesh pacer. Now, the PCB has released a statement stating that it has banned Muzarabani from playing in the PSL for two years. READ MORE.
CSK 20 wins
KKR 11 win
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora
CSK predicted XII: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Tejasvi Dahiya, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Blessing Muzarabani, Saurabh Dubey, Sarthak Ranjan, Rachin Ravindra, Prashant Solanki, Varun Chakaravarthy, Matheesha Pathirana, Umran Malik, Daksh Kamra.
Chennai Super Kings Squad: Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Matt Henry, Ramakrishna Ghosh, MS Dhoni, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Zakary Foulkes
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the CSK vs KKR contest. It's a battle between the laggards. Both struggling to find their right combinations. It will be interesting to see how the two sides fare with the bat after failing to fire collectively so far this season.

Historically, clashes between the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have been defined by a battle of spin—pitting elite finger spinners against deceptive mystery bowlers. Whether at Chepauk or Eden Gardens, the "tweakers" usually dictated the narrative. However, as the two teams prepare for their first meeting of the season, both languishing at the bottom of the points table, the conversation has shifted. The focus is no longer on the spinners' dominance, but on their fading impact; traditional spin-friendly tracks in both cities have been replaced by flat, batter-friendly decks that have largely neutralized their primary weapons. READ MORE
Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.