CSK vs KKR: Three masterstrokes during the game
In a much-hyped game, courtesy the return of Chennai Super Kings at their home ground after an exile of nearly two years, Kolkata Knight Riders were to battle it out against the men in yellow in their second game of the season.
Put into bat by CSK, Kolkata, despite losing early wicket of Sunil Narine, had a formidable start as the innings progressed with more than 10 runs in an over.
The innings met a hiccup in the middle overs, but it was a late resurgence and some gigantic sixes from Andre Russell, that saw them post 202 in their 20 overs.
The target of more than 200 was a huge ask for the home team but in the quest to keep the winning momentum going, CSK needed a brisk start in the powerplay.
Things went on the expected lines as they were off to a flier courtesy Ambatai Rayudu and Shane Watson.
Before some tight overs from Narine and Kuldeep Yadav could do more damage, Billings kept the hopes alive for them to clinch a thriller of a contest.
In the end, it was some last over heroics from Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo that saw the home team over the line with five wickets to spare.
#3 Saving Kuldeep and Narine for MSD
It is for the first time that Dinesh Karthik is appointed as the skipper for any team in a full-fledged season.
But the veteran cricketer has been so far exceptional in leading his troops. In the game at his home ground against CSK, Karthik was much ahead of the game, saving his best spinners in Narine and Kuldeep for the opposition skipper.
There's no denying the fact that Dhoni finds it difficult to get going against the two KKR bowlers.
He has struggled against Yadav in the past and has been foxed by the Chinaman twice before.
Also, for all the unlikely reasons, Dhoni hasn't scored a boundary against Narine in the IPL faceoff between the two.
Knowing these facts, Karthik cunningly kept both them to attack the opposition skipper and was much successful in choking the flow of the runs.