Aaj Ki Janta

In a dazzling display of all-round cricket, Sunil Narine stole the show as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) handed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) a crushing 8-wicket defeat at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With this comprehensive victory in Match 25 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, KKR surged to the third position on the points table while CSK were left reeling after their third consecutive loss at their home ground — a first in their history.

Winning the toss, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane elected to bowl first — a decision that proved to be spot on. Narine led the charge with the ball, dismantling the CSK batting line-up with figures of 3/18. He claimed the prized wicket of Mahendra Singh Dhoni along with Rahul Tripathi and Ravindra Jadeja. Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana also made key contributions, taking two wickets each, as CSK stumbled to a paltry 103/9 — their lowest-ever IPL total at Chepauk. Shockingly, seven CSK batters failed to even reach double digits.

Chasing a modest target, Narine returned to wreak havoc with the bat as well, smashing a quickfire 44 off just 18 deliveries. His explosive knock ensured KKR’s chase never wavered as they hunted down the target in style with more than 7 overs to spare, losing just two wickets in the process.

The match also saw a few key changes in both line-ups. KKR brought in Moeen Ali for Spencer Johnson, while CSK, already handicapped by the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad due to injury, replaced him with Rahul Tripathi. Anshul Kambhoj also came into the CSK XI in place of Mukesh Choudhary.

This emphatic win has not only bolstered KKR’s position in the league standings but also delivered a strong message to the rest of the contenders. For CSK, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to bounce back from an alarming dip in form.