Sunil Narine delivered a vintage all-round performance to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to a resounding eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in Match 25 of IPL 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday. With this defeat, CSK slumped to their fifth consecutive loss, while KKR climbed to third on the points table.
Bowling first on a sticky Chennai surface, Narine ran through the CSK middle order with figures of 3-13, ably supported by Harshit Rana (2-16) and Varun Chakravarthy (2-22), as the hosts limped to 103/9 in their 20 overs.
Try to focus on my strengths. Batters play well, but if you focus too much on them, you're already on the back foot. It’s about adapting quickly. You see what’s happening in the powerplay and respond accordingly.
Narine then returned with the bat to hammer 44 off just 18 deliveries — an innings laced with two fours and five sixes — setting the tone for a clinical chase. Kolkata reached the target in just 10.1 overs, with Ajinkya Rahane remaining unbeaten on 20 and Quinton de Kock adding 23 at the top.
Rahane, who led KKR and previously played for CSK, credited familiarity with local conditions and smart planning for the emphatic win.
We played here the last two years – Moeen played here, DJ (Bravo) knows the conditions. We didn't expect the pitch to be this sticky, but our spinners got help. We had our plans, and it worked well for us tonight.
KKR’s tactical use of spin was evident early, as Moeen Ali, another ex-CSK player, bowled a tight spell of 1/20 in four overs and built pressure in the powerplay.
Having two left-handers helped my case. In the powerplay, you can’t bowl quick – you’ve got to give it time to spin. Just one gripping ball can plant a seed of doubt in the batter’s mind.
For CSK, only Shivam Dube (31*) and Vijay Shankar (29) showed some resistance. With Ruturaj Gaikwad still unavailable, MS Dhoni led the side and was candid in his assessment.
Quite a few nights haven’t gone our way. We need to look deep down inside. The ball stopped, even in the first innings. With quality spinners, it’s tough without runs on the board. We didn’t build partnerships either.
CSK, now languishing in ninth place with just one win in six matches, will need a dramatic turnaround to salvage their campaign. Meanwhile, KKR's boost in net run rate and momentum could make them a serious contender heading into the second half of the season.
Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 103/9 in 20 overs (Shivam Dube 31*, Vijay Shankar 29; Sunil Narine 3-13, Harshit Rana 2-16) Kolkata Knight Riders 107/2 in 10.1 overs (Sunil Narine 44, Quinton de Kock 23; Noor Ahmad 1-8, Anshul Kamboj 1-19).
Result: KKR won by 8 wickets
