Kolkata thrashes Chennai, extends their IPL losing streak

Published : Saturday, 12 April, 2025 at 4:35 PM Count : 54

A historically low score at home for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League saw them suffer a fifth straight defeat on Friday.

Sunil Narine starred with both ball and bat as Kolkata Knight Riders cruised to an eight-wicket victory with almost 10 overs to spare.

Although Chennai narrowly avoided their all-time lowest IPL score of 79, the 103-9 they posted at Chepauk was hardly less humiliating — especially just a day after Mahendra Singh Dhoni resumed captaincy in place of the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Kolkata’s spin trio — Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Moeen Ali — choked the hosts with combined figures of 12-1-55-6.

Narine, who claimed 3-13, then blasted 44 off only 18 balls, including five sixes and two fours, to help Kolkata reach 107-2 in just 10.1 overs.

The commanding chase propelled Kolkata to third in the standings, trailing the Gujarat Titans and the unbeaten Delhi Capitals by six points. Chennai, meanwhile, slumped just above bottom-ranked Sunrisers Hyderabad after an unprecedented third successive home defeat.

Narine finishes it quickly

Having shone with the ball, Narine wasted no time in leading Kolkata’s swift pursuit, ably supported by Quinton de Kock, who hammered three sixes during his 23-run cameo.

The left-handed duo took on pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed (0-40) and didn’t spare Ravichandran Ashwin either, who gave away 30 runs in his three overs.

After De Kock and Narine were dismissed bowled, Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh sealed what became Chennai’s worst defeat in terms of balls remaining.

Chennai’s batting collapses

Dhoni opted to bat first after losing the toss, and Kolkata capitalised, fielding a spin-heavy attack perfectly tailored for the conditions.

Ali, included specifically to counter the left-handed opening pair of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, delivered a maiden in the powerplay and removed Conway, who was trapped lbw attempting a reckless reverse sweep.

Ravindra, struggling to settle, offered a leading edge to Harshit Rana.

Vijay Shankar, who top-scored with 29, survived two dropped chances before finally holing out in the 10th over to backward square leg off Chakravarthy.

With Gaikwad absent, Rahul Tripathi stepped in but failed to pick Narine, while Ashwin, promoted up the order, lasted just seven balls for a single run.

Impact substitute Deepak Hooda couldn’t revive Chennai’s innings either, falling for a four-ball duck to a catch at midwicket, and Dhoni was trapped lbw by Narine for 1. At 75-8, Chennai were staring at the ignominy of their lowest ever IPL score.

Shivam Dube, unbeaten on 31, spared them that fate, but the damage was done. Chennai managed just three boundaries after the eighth over.

FP/MI