HIGHLIGHTS Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 Match 22 - Result, Scorecard

Welcome back. Well, well, Sunil Narine is back opening the innings for KKR. Ajinkya Rahane has dropped himself down the order. The Impact Sub, Finn Allen, will partner with Narine. Varun Chakaravarthy has been subbed out. Akeal Hosein is CSK's Impact Sub. He replaces Ayush Mhatre. CSK are starting with pace in the form of Khaleel Ahmed. Allen to face the first ball. Here we go!

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Will 192 be enough? KKR’s spinners, particularly Sunil Narine, found some grip and turn, and it was one of those surfaces where taking pace off made it difficult for batters to hit. We remember Ruturaj Gaikwad mentioning earlier in April that he did not expect much dew, but at this stage of the month, that remains to be seen. KKR will be reasonably confident of chasing this total. Much will depend on how they start, and if they get off to a good one, whether they can sustain that momentum through the innings. Stay tuned for the chase.

A quick word with KKR's mentor - Dwayne Bravo says that the bowling group has done a great job. Adds that CSK have a strong batting unit, Brevis was also going well, but Sunil and the spinners pulled things back in the middle overs, and at the death, they did not allow any momentum to the batters. Bravo mentions that the bowlers have been working really hard in the nets. He and Tim Southee gave them the plans, and they were fantastic. Tells that the job is to instil confidence in them and back them. Says that Vaibhav was disappointed after the last game, but he told him that he (Bravo) would have done the same thing if he was in his place, trying to execute the yorkers. Dwayne ends by saying that they have to be positive, they have a good batting lineup but the start will be important to chase this down.

KKR dominated the middle phase - There was considerable help on offer with the new ball, but KKR’s new-look attack of Vaibhav Arora and Cameron Green were far too short with their lengths. Ayush Mhatre capitalised on it and got off the blocks quickly. Although he fell on the final ball of the Powerplay, CSK had already raced to 72. The middle phase saw KKR apply the brakes through Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. It was a real struggle for Sarfaraz Khan, while Dewald Brevis also lacked fluency in his innings. Kartik Tyagi continued the good work he started in the middle phase and closed out the innings well for KKR.

From flying start to a stalled finish - Speaking with the broadcasters after the Powerplay, KKR's assistant coach, Shane Watson, said that given the start CSK got, they would be happy to keep the home side under 220. While there is still work to be done with the bat, having kept them under 195 is a really good job from the Knight Riders. CSK, meanwhile, could not build on the strong start they had in the Powerplay, and even the finish left much to be desired, with just 30 runs coming off the last 4 overs.

Kartik Tyagi to Shivam Dube, Superb final over! Kartik Tyagi bowls another full toss, outside off. Shivam Dube too, gets rushed due to the pace and only manages to force it through extra covers for one. CSK finish on 192/5!

Kartik Tyagi to Jamie Overton, Fails to put it away! A full toss, just outside off. Jamie Overton gets rushed and ends up slicing it down to long off for one.

Kartik Tyagi to Shivam Dube, Well-executed yorker, on middle and off. Shivam Dube cannot get under it and drills it to long off for just one.

Kartik Tyagi to Shivam Dube, Run out chance...missed! Short of a length and around off, takes pace off. Shivam Dube pulls it off the inside edge towards mid-wicket and sets off for the run. The fielder throws it back to the bowler, where Tyagi puts in an underarm throw at the stumps but misses, with Dube well short. However, the ball rolls away, allowing the batters to get an extra run.

Kartik Tyagi to Shivam Dube, Another good yorker, on off, Shivam Dube digs it out off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket and comes back for the second run.

Kartik Tyagi to Jamie Overton, In the blockhole, outside off, Jamie Overton jams it out to sweeper cover for a single.

Time for the final over. As expected, the Kolkata Knight Riders can only have 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle due to the slow over-rate penalty. Kartik Tyagi will close out the innings. Can CSK reach 200?

Vaibhav Arora to Jamie Overton, From around the wicket, bowls a low full toss, well outside off. Jamie Overton toe-ends it down to long off for just one. Despite the wides, still a good over from Arora. 9 runs off it.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, Hard length and just outside off, Shivam Dube punches it away to sweeper cover for one.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, WIDE! And again! Much fuller and beyond the tramline, outside off. Shivam Dube once again shoulders arms to it.

The timer has run out. KKR are 10 minutes behind on the over rate. Expect a penalty to be imposed on the Knight Riders for the final over, where they will be allowed only 4 fielders outside the inner circle.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, WIDE! Pitched up and outside off, goes over the wide guideline, Shivam Dube offers no shot at it and gets the decision.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, Dot ball! Nails the yorker, on middle and off, Shivam Dube can only dig it back to the bowler.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, FOUR! Gets it away! Short of a length and around middle, takes pace off. Shivam Dube gets inside the line, waits for it and helps it over backward square leg for a boundary.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, WIDE! Fuller but this time way outside off, Shivam Dube leaves it alone. Wided.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, The stumps become a fielder! Fuller and on middle, Shivam Dube stays deep inside his crease and smashes it down the pitch but straight into the stumps at the other end. CSK certainly denied a boundary.

Vaibhav Arora to Shivam Dube, Vaibhav Arora goes for the wide yorker outside off stump, this is very close to the guideline. Shivam Dube lets it go. Called a wide but KKR take the review here, with the keeper, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, looking confident. The replay shows that Dube is standing a bit outside off, so that moves the wideline further. Ball Tracking shows that some part of the ball is inside the tramline. The wide call has been overturned.

Vaibhav Arora to bowl the 19th over. KKR's head coach, Abhishek Nayar, seems unhappy with something. He is in a conversation with the fourth umpire, where he is letting his displeasure be known.

Kartik Tyagi to Jamie Overton, Pace off again, full and just outside off. Jamie Overton has a big swoosh across the line but misses due to the lack of pace. Just 6 runs and a wicket off the 18th!

Kartik Tyagi to Jamie Overton, FOUR! Good shot! Bangs this into the pitch, outside off, takes pace off again. Jamie Overton picks it up early, waits for it and smacks it wide of extra cover for a boundary.

Kartik Tyagi to Jamie Overton, Gets the wide yorker right, just inside the tramline. Jamie Overton fails to dig it out.

Jamie Overton comes out to the middle.

Kartik Tyagi to Dewald Brevis, OUT! CAUGHT! Another timely wicket for KKR, and Kartik Tyagi gets his second. He lands this short of a length, outside off, but cleverly rolls his fingers to take pace off. Dewald Brevis throws his hands at it but goes through the shot early due to the lack of pace. It takes the outside edge and flies to the left of short third, where Vaibhav Arora dives to take a low catch.

Kartik Tyagi to Dewald Brevis, WIDE! Tries the wide yorker, but just spills it over the tramline, outside off. Dewald Brevis lets it go.

Kartik Tyagi to Dewald Brevis, A low full toss, outside off. Dewald Brevis reaches out for it but only manages to stab it out to short cover.

Kartik Tyagi to Shivam Dube, Fuller and around off, Shivam Dube knocks it wide of mid off for a quick single.

Kartik Tyagi comes back on. 2-0-21-1 so far for the right-arm speedster.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Shortish again and around off, Dewald Brevis stabs it out to extra cover. Narine finishes a fine spell with figures of 4-0-21-1.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, FOUR! Fine shot! Dragged back and just around off. Dewald Brevis backs away early to make some room and slaps it away past extra covers for a boundary. Narine vents out a roar in frustration.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Beauty! Floated, full and on middle and leg, turns away a shy bit. Dewald Brevis backs away to play with a straight bat, but the ball beats the outside edge to hit the back thigh.

Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Short and around off, Shivam Dube punches it down to long on for a single.

Sunil Narine to Shivam Dube, Flatter, full and around leg, Shivam Dube goes for the swipe but misses and the ball goes off his pads towards short fine. Two leg byes taken.

This could be a blessing in disguise for CSK, given the struggles tonight for Sarfaraz Khan. Shivam Dube walks in next. He is welcomed with a roar from the CSK faithful.

Sunil Narine to Sarfaraz Khan, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Sunil Narine strikes now. He serves the carrom ball, full and around middle, turns away a bit. Sarfaraz Khan gets down on one knee and has a big slog across the line. He gets undone by the spin and misses as the ball hits the off stump. CSK are 162/4 now.

Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, FOUR! Just the over CSK were looking for here! Full toss, on middle, there to be hit. Dewald Brevis swipes across the line, gets it from the inner half of the bat but finds the gap at deep mid-wicket for four runs. 20 runs off the over.

Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, Wide! Arora slips in a full ball and the ball keeps going away with the angle. Dewald Brevis thinks about going after it but eventually bails out. Wide not given and Brevis reviews the wide call. The Ball Tracker shows that no part of the ball was within the guideline. The on-field decision is overturned to wide.

Vaibhav Arora to Sarfaraz Khan, Back to the wide yorker plan from around the wicket. Sarfaraz Khan jams it out to long off for a run.

Vaibhav Arora to Sarfaraz Khan, SIX! That will help Sarfaraz Khan feel a little better. Arora goes into the surface but the height does not trouble the batter at all. It comes just around the midriff. Khan presses half-forward and nails the pull over square leg for a six.

Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, Wide yorker nailed by Arora. Brevis falls over as he reaches out but manages to hit it down to long off for one.

Vaibhav Arora to Dewald Brevis, SIX! Top edge and it goes all the way! Arora switches to around the wicket and serves the bumper. This goes across the right-hander. Brevis takes it on but fails to get on top of the bounce. It is skied off the top edge and goes over the fine leg fence.

Vaibhav Arora to Sarfaraz Khan, Oh, that could have gone anywhere! Arora bangs it in short, over off. Sarfaraz Khan gets into a tangle and it goes off his gloves over the keeper for a single.

Vaibhav Arora (2-0-26-1) returns to the attack.

Anukul Roy to Sarfaraz Khan, A fine over from Roy. Just 6 runs off it. Flighted delivery and near the guideline. Sarfaraz Khan reaches out and one hand comes off the handle. Carves it to deep cover for a single.

Anukul Roy to Sarfaraz Khan, Shorter and outside off. Sarfaraz Khan guides it to the left of backward point. He wants a single but Brevis sends him back.

Anukul Roy to Dewald Brevis, Tossed up, outside off. Brevis is made to reach out and he mistimes the drive to long off for a single.

Anukul Roy to Dewald Brevis, Wide! The cat and mouse continues. Anukul Roy pushes it away from the right-hander but this is just outside the guideline.

Anukul Roy to Dewald Brevis, Keeps coming in with the arm, on a good length. Brevis hops back but is cramped for room and punches it to cover.

Anukul Roy to Dewald Brevis, Wide! This time, Roy drifts beyond the tramline. Brevis lets it go.

Anukul Roy to Dewald Brevis, Well bowled! Dewald Brevis shows his cards early as he backs away even before the release. Roy nails the yorker and it sneaks inside the tramline. Dewald can't reach and he lets it pass.

Anukul Roy to Sarfaraz Khan, Full and drifting in on leg. Sarfaraz Khan goes for the sweep but gets it off the toe end to mid on. They cross.

Anukul Roy to Sarfaraz Khan, Wide! In an attempt to keep it away from the batter, Roy slips beyond the tramline.

Strategic Break! Kolkata Knight Riders managed to pull things back after an early onslaught from CSK, but the last over has shifted the momentum a bit. Both Dewald Brevis and Sarfaraz Khan are dangerous batters, and with Shivam Dube still to come, Chennai will be looking at a total in excess of 200, which has been the norm on this ground. KKR has done well, but now their death bowling will be tested, and this phase could well be the difference maker in this contest. Here is Anukul Roy to bowl after the break.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Flat and short, on middle and leg. Brevis stabs it down on the leg side. A productive over for CSK. 15 runs off it.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, FOUR! Power followed by finesse! Around off and the length stays short. Brevis hangs back this time and uses the pace of the ball. He opens the bat face and threads the gap between short third and backward point to pick up another four.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, FOUR! Hammered away! Varun Chakaravarthy switches to around the wicket and drops it short. Brevis cashes in on the width and thumps it to the left of the diving extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sarfaraz Khan, Drags the length back, on off. Sarfaraz Khan swivels for the pull but is early into the shot. Toe-ends it to long on for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sarfaraz Khan, SIX! Clean strike! A loopy ball at 93 kph, full and on. Sarfaraz Khan waits for the ball to arrive and with a clean swing of the arms, he clubs it over long on for half a dozen.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sarfaraz Khan, Full and angled into the pads. Sarfaraz Khan reaches out in front and attempts the slog sweep but fails to connect and wears it on the pads.

Both teams are wearing black armbands, as mentioned on air by Ravi Shastri, in memory of C. D. Gopinath, who recently passed away at the age of 96. He was the last surviving member of India's first-ever Test-winning team, and this gesture serves as a mark of respect for his contribution to Indian cricket.

Sunil Narine to Sarfaraz Khan, Full and on middle. Sarfaraz Khan sweeps it wide of square leg for a run.

Sunil Narine to Sarfaraz Khan, That looks straight but KKR feel height could be an issue. Sunil Narine did not even go up. Ajinkya Rahane has a chat with the keeper and they eventually decide against the review. Flighted delivery, on a good length, on middle. Sarfaraz Khan drops down on a knee for the slog sweep but misses and gets hit on the right bicep as he crouches.

Sunil Narine to Sarfaraz Khan, Short and on off. This is steered to short third by Khan.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Quick and short, on middle. Brevis makes room to force it through the off side. Ends up chopping it down in front of point for a run.

Sunil Narine to Sarfaraz Khan, Turn for Narine! Tossed up, full and on middle. Sarfaraz Khan presses forward to push it down the ground but the ball spins back in to go past the inside edge. A leg bye is taken as the ball clips the top of the front pad and goes to short third.

Sunil Narine to Sarfaraz Khan, Slower through the air. This grips a bit in the surface, on a nagging length. Sarfaraz Khan pats it to backward point from the crease.

Kartik Tyagi to Dewald Brevis, Pitched up now, on off. Brevis firms the drive down the ground. The ball is past him before Tyagi can react. The long on fielder gets around and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

Kartik Tyagi to Sarfaraz Khan, Around off, on a good length, Khan goes hard on the drive but miscues it to long on off the inner half. They cross.

Kartik Tyagi to Sarfaraz Khan, On a back of a length, around off. Khan stabs it to backward point.

Kartik Tyagi to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Sarfaraz Khan is away! Width offered by Tyagi, very full. Khan drops his bat down and opens the bat face to glide it to the left of backward point for a boundary. That's the risk involved with express pace if you miss your mark.

Nelson strikes for CSK. Sarfaraz Khan is the next man in.

Kartik Tyagi to Sanju Samson, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Simon Katich just said on air that Tyagi needs to attack the stumps after the previous six, and he delivers right on cue. At 148 kph, full and straight, attacking the sticks. A bit of tail back into the right-hander. Samson does not move his feet at all and swings hard at it but is beaten for pace. The ball sneaks past the inside edge and rattles the timber.

Kartik Tyagi to Sanju Samson, SIX! Have some of that, says Sanju! Off-cutter, dug in short, outside off. Samson stands tall and he gets the width to free his arms. Slaps it with a horizontal bat over long off for a six.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, A dot to end the over. Skidding through, on the shorter side. Brevis looks to clip it away with a closed bat face but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it high on the pads. A tidy over from Varun Chakaravarthy on his return to the attack. Just 3 runs off the over.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sanju Samson, Varun cranks it up. This is at 108.2 kph, on a nagging length, on middle and leg. Samson is cramped for room and he mistimes the pull through square leg for one.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, This is even quicker, shorter and with a flatter trajectory, on middle. Brevis dabs it to point for one.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sanju Samson, Nearly sneaked through! Fuller in length, bowled at 95 kph, on middle and leg. Sanju sinks to a knee and goes for the slog sweep. Ekes out an inside edge behind square leg for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sanju Samson, Another ball going across off. Samson taps it back to Varun with a straight bat.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sanju Samson, From around the wicket, on a good length, on middle. Samson chops it down the strip.

After being 72/2 at the end of the Powerplay, the next 4 overs have gone for just 30 runs. Also, change of ends for Varun Chakaravarthy.

Kartik Tyagi to Sanju Samson, Digs it into the surface again, around off, takes pace off, Sanju Samson stabs it out through covers for one.

Kartik Tyagi to Sanju Samson, SIX! BANG! Sanju Samson does not miss out this time. This is short again and well outside off. Samson makes a bit of room. extends his arms and carves it over the deep backward point fence for a biggie. 100 UP FOR CSK.

Kartik Tyagi to Sanju Samson, Nicely bowled! Kartik Tyagi bangs this into the pitch hard, keeps the line outside off. Sanju Samson backs away and tries to cut it away but gets beaten due to the extra bounce.

Kartik Tyagi to Dewald Brevis, Short of a length and on middle, angling in a bit. Dewald Brevis gets hurried onto his pull shot. Gets it from the inside half of the bat through square leg for a single.

Kartik Tyagi to Dewald Brevis, And again! 148.4 kph this time, on a good length and around off. Dewald Brevis has a slash at it but misses once more.

Kartik Tyagi to Dewald Brevis, Fuller in length at 146.1 kph, just outside off. Dewald Brevis throws his hands at it but gets beaten by pace.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Floated, full and around middle. Dewald Brevis crouches low and lofts it down the ground but gets no timing at all. Rinku Singh at long on quickly moves to his left and collects it on the bounce to keep it to just one. Just 5 runs off the over!

Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson, Dragged back, on off, Sanju Samson stays back and forces it down to long off for one.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Short again and on off, Dewald Brevis moves back and punches it to sweeper cover for another run.

Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson, Drops it short and around leg, Sanju Samson nudges it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson, Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Sanju Samson goes for the slog sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Uppish but safe! Tossed up, full and on middle, Dewald Brevis steps across and tries to slog it across the line but gets a leading edge. The ball is skied over the bowler's head, with Ajinkya Rahane from cover going after it. The mid-wicket fielder runs to his left while the long on fielder also converges, but the ball lands right between them around mid off. A single taken.

A change of gloves for Sanju Samson. Sunil Narine to continue.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Another short delivery, on the pads, Dewald Brevis works it through square leg for one more.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sanju Samson, The bat and ball, both go flying! Shorter in length and on middle, skids through a bit. Sanju Samson looks to heave it away but loses the grip of his bat. He hits the ball towards long on, while the bat flies to square leg. They cross.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Up and over! Varun Chakaravarthy pushes this through quicker, keeps it short but well outside off. Sanju Samson has the license to slash hard with no protection in the deep. He slices it well over point for a boundary.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Drags his length back, on middle, angles it in. Dewald Brevis tucks it through mid-wicket for a run.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dewald Brevis, Floated, full and on off, turns in a bit. Dewald Brevis strides out and taps it out in front of backward point.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sanju Samson, Flatter, full and on leg, angling in, Sanju Samson clips it through square leg for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy has been called into the attack. He missed the last couple of games for KKR due to a hand injury.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, SIX! Clears the fence! Tossed up, full and on middle, Dewald Brevis goes down on one knee, stretches out in front and slogs it towards long on. The fielder thinks he is in the game but it just sails over his head for a biggie.

Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson, Goes around the wicket, bowls this short and around off, angling away. Sanju Samson pats it down to long off for one.

Sunil Narine to Dewald Brevis, Short again and around off, Dewald Brevis backs away and pushes it through covers for another run.

Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson, Drops it short and on off, Sanju Samson hops up and punches it down to long off for a single.

Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson, Floated, full and around off, Sanju Samson guides it off the outer half of the bat towards backward point.

Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson, Tossed up, full and on off, turns in, Sanju Samson prods forward and taps it to short cover. He wants the run but is sent back.

STRATEGIC BREAK! An entertaining first 6 overs of the game. KKR lacked discipline in the Powerplay and were made to pay by CSK. They will be relieved to see the back of Ayush Mhatre as we head into the middle phase. The focus now shifts to how Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy operate, especially with Varun not quite at his best of late. CSK made the Powerplay count, but can they maintain this tempo through the middle overs against KKR's spin duo? Dewald Brevis joins Samson out in the middle. Sunil Narine to bowl after the break.

Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, OUT! TAKEN! Vaibhav Arora has the last laugh here, and this is a crucial wicket for KKR. Arora once again bowls a well-directed bumper at 137.5 kph, on middle, angling in as well. Ayush Mhatre looks to take it on with a pull, but gets tucked up again. He ends up hitting it from the higher part of the bat and only gets the height, not the distance. It flies miles in the air towards deep mid-wicket, where Ramandeep Singh settles under the swirling ball and takes a really good catch. Mhatre's blitz comes to an end, and CSK are 72/2 after six overs.

Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, Hits the length hard, on middle, jags back in sharply. Ayush Mhatre gets cramped up for room and flat-bats it only as far as mid on.

Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, Well bowled! Arora bangs in a sharp and quick bouncer, on middle. Ayush Mhatre just gets a bit hurried and misses out on the pull shot.

Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Vaibhav Arora overcompensates and bangs this into the pitch, on off. Ayush Mhatre is anticipating that, shimmies a bit and swats it over the bowler's head for four more runs.

Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, FOUR! Two in two! Much fuller in length and just around off. Ayush Mhatre backs away to open up the off side and smacks it between mid off and extra cover for another boundary. Mhatre moves to 34 off just 13 balls.

Vaibhav Arora to Ayush Mhatre, FOUR! Put away! Vaibhav Arora serves a juicy full toss, on middle and leg, begging to be hit. Ayush Mhatre does not miss out and heaves it away over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Vaibhav Arora to bowl the final over of Powerplay.

Anukul Roy to Ayush Mhatre, On middle and leg, on a length. Ayush turns it through mid-wicket and retains the strike with a single.

Anukul Roy to Ayush Mhatre, Stumping chance missed! Tossed up now, just outside off, full in length. Mhatre reaches out in front and swings hard at it. He is beaten on the outside edge and his back leg gets dragged out of the crease. Angkrish Raghuvanshi fails to gather the ball cleanly and it pops out of his gloves. Ayush gets a reprieve. How costly will this prove to be?

Anukul Roy to Ayush Mhatre, Keeps it around the off stump, full in length. Ayush keeps it out on the off side.

Anukul Roy to Ayush Mhatre, Around leg, on a length. Mhatre misses out on the glance. The ball brushes his pads and goes towards short fine leg.

Anukul Roy to Sanju Samson, Full and on leg, Samson nudges it to mid-wicket and crosses over.

Anukul Roy to Sanju Samson, SIX! Samson joins in on the fun! Full and angled in, on middle. Samson puts his head down and holds his shape to go downtown. A clean swing of the arms and Sanju slams it towards the sight screen for a six.

Cameron Green to Ayush Mhatre, SIX! Back-to-back maximums from Mhatre. Green taken down by Ayush. Green bangs it in short but this sits up to be hit, on middle. Ayush climbs onto it in a flash as he swivels and nails the pull over square leg for half a dozen more. 21 runs off the over!

Cameron Green to Ayush Mhatre, SIX! A quality shot with a bit of flair from Mhatre. Green bashes the hard length and does manage to tuck the batter up for room. Ayush hops and lifts his front leg to play the pull over backward square leg for a biggie.

Cameron Green to Ayush Mhatre, FOUR! Crunched! Fractionally fuller, not all that wide but Mhatre stays leg side of the ball and exposes all three stumps. He gets his hands through the ball and thrashes it through covers for the second four of the over.

Cameron Green to Ayush Mhatre, Green responds with a ripper! In and around the off pole, this nips away after pitching. Mhatre looks to cover the line with a straight bat but is squared up by the movement and the ball goes past the outside edge.

Cameron Green to Ayush Mhatre, FOUR! Gets it through! Green hits the back of a length, just outside off. Mhatre takes a step towards the ball. He gets on top of the bounce and slaps it with a flat bat to the left of mid off for a boundary.

Cameron Green to Sanju Samson, Swinging away from the off stump, on a length. Samson pushes at it with hard hands. The ball goes off the outer half through point for a run.

Anukul Roy to Ayush Mhatre, FOUR! Up and over! Roy gives the ball a bit of air this time but ends up being a bit too full, on middle. Mhatre clears the front leg, gets under the ball and launches it over mid on for his first boundary.

Anukul Roy to Sanju Samson, Stays full and on leg. Sanju wrists it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Anukul Roy to Sanju Samson, Full and attacking the stumps, Samson watchfully blocks it out with a straight bat.

Anukul Roy to Ayush Mhatre, Bowls it full and this comes in with the arm, on middle. Mhatre clips it to wide long on for a single.

Early exit for the CSK skipper. Ayush Mhatre walks out to bat at number 3.

Anukul Roy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, OUT! CAUGHT! The lean run continues for Ruturaj Gaikwad. Anukul Roy picks up a key wicket in his first over. This is speared in from around the wicket, full and on the off stump. Gaikwad reaches out in front and goes hard on the sweep. Ruturaj targets the longer of the two square boundaries on the leg side. He is unable to roll his wrists over the ball and a top edge is found. It goes flat to deep mid-wicket, where Rovman Powell moves to his right in the deep and takes a safe catch around his chest.

Anukul Roy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ruturaj makes room again. He walks towards the leg side early and Roy pushes it away from the right-hander. Gaikwad is made to reach out and he chops it down on the off side.

Anukul Roy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Wide! Roy spots Gaikwad backing away. He tries to follow him but drifts well down leg. Ruturaj lets it go.

Change? Yes, time for some spin now as Anukul Roy replaces Vaibhav Arora.

Cameron Green to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Hurls it on a nagging length, on middle. Ruturaj presses forward and nudges it to the right of mid-wicket for a quick single.

Cameron Green to Sanju Samson, Leg bye! A bit more effort behind this ball from Green. At 139.2 kph, bowled into the wicket, slanting in at the hips. Samson lifts his front leg to pick it up off the hip but fails to lay any bat on it. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes square on the leg side.

Cameron Green to Sanju Samson, No swing on this occasion. This angles into the pads, on a length. Sanju clips it neatly but straight to mid-wicket.

Cameron Green to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Keeps it full, on off. Gaikwad knocks it down the ground. Ajinkya Rahane swiftly moves to his right at mid off and makes a diving stop. Keeps the batters down to a single.

Cameron Green to Ruturaj Gaikwad, EDGED, FOUR! A fortuitous boundary for the CSK captain. Green pitches it up again and gets the ball to move away in the air. Gaikwad gets lured into the drive and he pushes away from his body. Gets a thickish outside edge that goes towards short third, where Varun Chakaravarthy flings himself to his left but the ball evades him and races away.

Cameron Green to Sanju Samson, Nice and full this time from Green at 137.8 kph. It curves away in the air and Sanju extends his hands to caress it to deep point for a single.

Cameron Green to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Two wides! A wayward start from Green. Sprays it down leg, Gaikwad swings at it but fails to connect. Angkrish Raghuvanshi dives to his left and the ball gets parried away off his fingertips. The batters cross over for one.

Vaibhav Arora finished the over well, but still a fine start for CSK. Interestingly, Cameron Green will share the new ball. He has bowled just two overs this season, which came in the last game.

Vaibhav Arora to Sanju Samson, Much better from Vaibhav! On the fuller side, honing in on the off stump. Samson covers the line, presents a straight bat and stabs it down on the off side. 14 runs off the first over. A positive start for CSK.

Vaibhav Arora to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Angled in on the off stump, on a short of a length. Gaikwad dabs it behind point and gets off the mark with a single. Arora yet to get his lengths right.

Vaibhav Arora to Sanju Samson, On off, on a back of a length, Sanju pats it through point and crosses over.

Vaibhav Arora to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Make that a hat-trick of boundaries in a row. Arora continues to be on the shorter side but the line is tighter this time. This is closer to the off pole. Samson stays leg side of the ball and gets on his toes to steer it wide of short third. It goes uppishly but wide of the man at short third to his left for another boundary.

Vaibhav Arora to Sanju Samson, FOUR MORE! Too short and Samson makes Arora pay. Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Sanju hops and is airborne while playing the cut shot. Hits it hard and well wide of the man at deep backward point to his right.

Vaibhav Arora to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Samson and CSK are up and running! Arora gets the ball to tail back into the right-hander. This is on a hard length, over off. Samson stays back and lets the ball come to him. He opens the bat face and hops to glide it to the right of short third for the first boundary of the night.

All in readiness now! It's a packed crowd here in Chepauk. The home fans are displaying a massive Tifo, with ' All you need is love' written on it. We can now see the two umpires walk out to the middle, followed by the Kolkata Knight Riders players who take up their respective field positions. Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the two openers for Chennai Super Kings. Vaibhav Arora has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

Impact sub options for KKR - Manish Pandey, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Navdeep Saini and Tim Seifert.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Varun Chakaravarthy (In for Navdeep Saini), Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi.

Impact sub options for CSK - Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer and Matt Henry.

Chennai Super Kings (Unchanged Playing XI) - Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh and Khaleel Ahmed.

Slowly getting the balance right - The skipper of the Chennai Super Kings, Ruturaj Gaikwad mentions that they would have opted to bowl first as well. He adds that the pitch has not changed much over the past couple of games, so the toss is unlikely to have a major impact. That said, he acknowledges that setting a total on this surface could be a challenge. Reflecting on their previous outing, Gaikwad says the bowling unit was excellent, and defending 212 against a strong DC side has given the team a lot of confidence. He also highlights the energy they showed in the field. Ruturaj feels the side is slowly finding the right balance, with Dewald Brevis returning to the setup and Jamie Overton chipping in with the ball. Informs that they are unchanged for this game.

Important to stay positive - Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, says that the last game was really good for them, and even though the result didn't go their way, it has given the team a lot of confidence. The knock that Mukul played against them was really special but those things will happen in this format. Rahane mentions that it is an important venue, and it is all about starting fresh. When things are not going your way, it is important to stay positive and have faith in yourself. Further adds that the mega auction does make it challenging to find the right combination and with all the injuries they have, it makes it even more difficult but that's not an excuse. Jinx shares that in T20 cricket, the key is to win the small moments. He ends by saying that he is looking forward to this game, starting well with the ball and then chasing the total down. Also, informs Varun Chakaravarthy is fit and comes back in the team for Navdeep Saini.

TOSS - Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane greet each other in the centre. We are all set for the flip of the coin. Rahane calls it correctly. Kolkata Knight Riders opt to BOWL first.

How's Dewald Brevis feeling? Brevis says it feels incredible to be back playing after a tough period on the sidelines. He adds that being able to do what he loves is something truly special. Dewald shares that he focused on conditioning during his time away and has had a good few days getting stronger and back into rhythm. Reflecting on a conversation with his coach last year, Dewald admits he was not in a great space at the time, but remembers that moment vividly. He describes it as the point where his season truly began. Adds that he went back to the basics, reconnecting with who he is as a player. With the support of his coach, Brevis focused on rediscovering his natural game, putting in long hours of training and hitting plenty of balls. He calls that phase a special few days, where everything started to fall back into place, much like how he played as a young boy. Brevis emphasises that being aggressive and hitting sixes has always been part of his DNA growing up, and while he can pick the gaps, his natural instinct is to take the aerial route.

Words from the KKR camp - Cameron Green says that it has been awesome being part of the KKR family. Adds that the staff and the players have been really great. Mentions that on-field, it hasn't quite gone their way, and they desperately need to win some game, but he is hopeful of a turnaround. Green shares that they have had a chat with the whole team about how they are doing things right, but in IPL, any player can win any game for their team, and hopefully, they get on the right side next time. Tells that his body is feeling good, there is nothing like match practice for bowling and says he will be able to bowl four overs in this game. Green ends by saying that he wasn't part of this last year, but from two years ago, teams were getting 270 consistently. Maybe it is early tournament nerves that the scores have been a bit low, but he is optimistic to see how things go from here.

PITCH REPORT - Simon Katich is pitchside. He says that the square boundaries are 70 meters and 63 meters, while the straight hit is 79 meters. WV Raman joins him and says that the pitch looks good and hard, also well rolled on. Adds that there has been good bounce and carry this season, and the batters will enjoy it. Mentions that there have been a couple of 200-plus scores and he expects that trend to continue here. Ends by saying that spinners will not get much help, and the key will be for the pacers to use variations.

Searching for a spark - Winless in their first four games, with just a solitary point coming via a washout, Kolkata Knight Riders have plenty of catching up to do. They return to a venue filled with fond memories, where they clinched their first and third IPL titles in 2012 and 2024, respectively. As they search for their first win of the season, KKR will be hoping this ground can ignite a much-needed turnaround and get their campaign up and running. Stick around for the toss and team news.

Hope rekindled - It was a rough start to the campaign for the new-look CSK outfit, with three defeats in a row before they snapped that streak with a win over the Delhi Capitals. That victory also brought an end to their run of six consecutive losses at home, and they will be looking to paper over the cracks at Chepauk. On the auspicious occasion of the Tamil New Year, the Super Kings will be hoping tonight marks a turning point in their season.

Battle of the bottom dwellers - Two star-studded sides, and two of only three teams in the history of the tournament to have multiple titles to their name, go head-to-head. So far this season, neither has looked anything like the champion outfits they once were. Chepauk plays host as the 9th-placed Chennai Super Kings take on the bottom-placed Kolkata Knight Riders in what is the third game of the season at this venue. 

... MATCH DAY ...

Wounded knights ride into the lion's den - Eight trophies between them. Two of the most storied franchises in the history of IPL, but both going through a rough patch lately, are all set to clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Match 22. It's Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders. The tournament is a quarter done, and neither side can afford to sleepwalk through what lies ahead. CSK, after enduring three consecutive defeats to start their campaign, finally stirred to life last time out, putting together their most complete performance of the season on home soil to open their account. The lion, it seems, is slowly waking up. KKR, however, are in a far grimmer place. The three-time champions sit alone at the foot of the table, the only franchise yet to taste victory this season. Not a single exhale of relief yet. Just a growing weight that gets heavier with a lot of wrinkles yet to be ironed out. Home advantage and momentum - After a quiet start, beginning the season with three back-to-back single-digit scores, Samson delivered a masterclass against DC, smashing a free-flowing 115* to anchor a massive total of 212/2. Samson is now CSK’s leading scorer so far. Right behind him is Ayush Mhatre, quietly building a case for one of the most exciting young players in this tournament. Holding down the crucial number three slot, Mhatre has already struck two half-centuries in four games. For a youngster handed such responsibility by a franchise of CSK’s stature, that is not just a promise. That is proof. Perhaps the most encouraging shift has been in the Powerplay. CSK’s first six overs were a genuine concern heading into this season, but that worry has largely been put to rest. The Super Kings are averaging close to 10 runs an over in the Powerplay, a significant upgrade built on intent and clarity of purpose. Add Sarfaraz Khan at number four into that equation, and CSK’s top order starts to look genuinely settled. Khan brings a rare dual ability to attack when the platform is set and consolidate when the situation demands it. That kind of batting intelligence does not just strengthen the middle order. It takes pressure off the big hitters lower down and gives the entire innings a sense of structure. Captain’s quest for runs - One win does not paper over every crack, and CSK's most pressing concern right now has a name - Ruturaj Gaikwad. The skipper has been uncharacteristically quiet in this campaign. 56 runs across four matches at a strike rate of 103.70 are numbers that simply do not belong to a batter of his calibre. There is a visible caution in his game at the moment that feels at odds with both his natural ability and the aggressive intent his team has otherwise shown at the top. Missing out on most of the 2025 season, and playing just a handful of domestic games, Gaikwad is in desperate search of runs and, more importantly, momentum. Need for improvement - The batting may be finding its groove, but CSK's bowling tells a different story. Jamie Overton has been the bright spark, coming off with the best bowling figures of the season, a stunning 4/18 that underlined his value as a genuine all-rounder. But beyond that one performance, the rest of the attack has struggled to keep up. Anshul Kamboj sits within touching distance of the Purple Cap with eight wickets, but an economy rate of 10.70 means he has been leaking far too many runs along the way. The deeper concern lies with the new ball. CSK have been one of the least effective powerplay bowling units in the competition, while Noor Ahmad, the Super Kings' leading wicket-taker from last season, has looked a shadow of that version of himself, managing just one wicket at an economy of 11.30. Whereas left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh impressed on his IPL debut, hitting the batters high on the bat and surprising them with extra bounce. Winless KKR aim for redemption - If history is any guide, KKR have every reason to believe the season is far from over. In 2021, they stumbled to four defeats in their first five matches and still found a way to march all the way to the final. Their primary issues stem from a severely depleted pace attack and an inconsistent batting order that is still searching for its best configuration. Their problems, however, are real. The pace attack has been severely depleted, with Harshit Rana and Akash Deep ruled out through knee and back injuries, respectively. Matheesha Pathirana, their marquee overseas signing, has only just cleared a fitness test after a calf strain and is expected to rejoin the squad shortly. With the bat, the openers have blown hot and cold. Ajinkya Rahane has been his reliable self at the top, but Finn Allen remains a touch inconsistent despite showing plenty of intent. Their Powerplay numbers, however, have been noteworthy, which is at least one box being ticked. The bright spots - The standout performer with the bat has been Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Scores of 51, 52 and 45 speak to a consistency at number three that is remarkable for someone so young, and his 155 runs make him KKR's leading scorer this season by some distance. Cameron Green, their big-money signing, has been a work in progress. Three underwhelming outings to start, but signs of a turnaround with a 32 last time out, and he also claimed a wicket off the very first ball he bowled this season. Small steps, but steps in the right direction. With the ball, Sunil Narine’s numbers are just exceptional. He might have just two wickets to show in three games, but his economy of just 7.45 competes just behind the likes of Shami and Rashid in that list. And the fact that he is coming off a frugal spell of 1/13 in 4 overs makes KKR believe that a collective performance is right around the corner, with Vaibhav Arora leading the pace attack impressively with responsibility as well. Team form (Last 5 completed matches, recent first) - CSK - WLLLW | KKR - LLLLL. Records at a glance - 20-11. This is what the head-to-head record reads between these two sides since inception, in favour of Chennai Super Kings. But zoom into the recent past, and the picture changes entirely. Since 2021, both sides have won three apiece from six meetings, with an alternating win-loss pattern that has refused to let either side build any kind of momentum over the other. But at Chepauk, the balance shifts back in CSK's favour. Despite losing two of their last three home encounters against KKR, the Super Kings hold a commanding 8 wins to 4 advantage at this venue. What to expect? What might be in CSK’s favour right now is the timing. Two home games on the bounce at Chepauk, where the crowd is a player in itself, and the addition of Dewald Brevis to the mix. The South African powerhouse brings a different dimension to an already potent batting unit. From KKR's perspective, the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine could hold the key, but there is a catch. Chakravarthy's availability remains uncertain after missing recent games with a finger injury. If he does take the field, the pair make for a formidable combination against CSK specifically. Narine leads all bowlers with 26 wickets against this side, while Chakravarthy sits second on that list with exactly half that number. On a Chennai surface, both on song together could be the difference. However, Chepauk in 2026 is not quite the spin-friendly minefield it once was. The pitch has been actively rewarding stroke-making this season, with three of the four innings played here already crossing the 200-run mark. Expect a high-scoring contest where the team that bats smarter, not just harder, takes the honours.