CSK vs KKR Review – Nitish, Rinku take Kolkata a step closer to playoffs
Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Chennai Super Kings by six wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, May 14, in the 61st game of the IPL 2023. Shivam Dube’s resilient unbeaten knock propelled Chennai to a total of 144 runs, however, the partnership between Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana proved to be too much to handle for the hosts.
Coming in to bat after winning the toss, Chennai got off to a subpar start to the game as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway scored 17 and 30 runs, respectively. Furthermore, Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu failed to make an impact as well. However, it was the knock of Indian batter Shivam Dube that propelled Chennai to a respectable total. Dube amassed an unbeaten 48 runs in 34 balls, and with Ravindra Jadeja scoring 20 runs as well, the four-time champions posted 144 runs on the board.
Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy made big impacts with the ball in the first innings. Narine took two wickets and conceded 15 runs in four overs, whereas Chakravarthy took two as well, conceding 36 runs in four overs. Furthermore, Vaibhav Arora and Shardul Thakur took one wicket each.
Coming in to chase the target, the two-time champions got off to the worst of starts as Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Venkatesh Iyer collectively scored 22 runs. However, Rinku Singh and skipper Nitish Rana played resilient knocks to propel the visitors to a brilliant win. Rinku scored 54 runs in 43 deliveries, whereas Nitish Rana amassed 57* runs in 44 deliveries. Deepak Chahar was the only wicket-taker for Chennai in the game, taking three wickets and conceding 27 runs in three overs.
Best performers from the match
Rinku Singh: Kolkata star Rinku Singh came in clutch for their side once again. The 25-year-old amassed 54 runs in 43 deliveries. His knock was absolutely crucial for Kolkata in winning the game and making a stronger case for playoff qualification.
Nitish Rana: Kolkata skipper Nitish Rana was just as influential for the two-time champions during the run chase. Maintaining a strong partnership with Rinku throughout the game, Rana’s knock was integral to Kolkata’s emphatic victory.
What’s next for both teams?
Chennai Super Kings take on Delhi Capitals on Saturday, May 20. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders take on Lucknow Super Giants on May 20 as well.
