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So that brings the weekend to a close. Quite a lot of manic action - three thrillers and one which was one-sided but produced a lot of runs. The action now moves to Hyderabad for something spicier than the biriyanis you get there - David Warner returns 'home', but against the Sunrisers as the Delhi Capitals arrive. Ooh that's going to be quite dramatic alright. You know where to return to catch the coverage of that though - right here on Sportskeeda! Of course, do keep yourselves updated with further cricketing news and action from around the globe on this very platform. For the moment, thanking you for joining us today and hoping you enjoyed our coverage is the duo of Shashwat Kumar and Sooryanarayanan Sesha. Here's to a great week ahead - take care and good night!
It was an exhibition of the highest order on display today from Ajinkya Rahane. That he says that his best is yet to come can only make you wonder what is ahead and we sure can't wait to see him unleash that alright. CSK are now on top of the points table - after a dismal season last year where they were languishing in the lower trenches, this will make them feel really good. As for KKR, they've lost four on the bounce and again leave a game with more questions than answers. It's getting out of hand for them and they really have to do something spectacular to turn their season around.
Ajinkya Rahane is of course the Player of the Match for his stunning unbeaten 29-ball 71. Here's what he has to say: (His plans?) Just a clear mindset, nothing else. I always believe in a simple thing - if you're mind is right, you'll be fine. The process was very good heading into the season. The ball was slightly stopping a bit and it was a bit sticky. But once you were in as a batter it was good. Short boundaries and a fast outfield too. We had a very good start, Conway and Ruturaj batted really well. And after that I just wanted to keep it going, play my shots. (Where would he place this knock?) I enjoyed all my knocks - I still feel my best is yet to come. I enjoyed the 37 against RCB, 30 odd against RR and 61 against MI as well. (On playing under Dhoni) A great learning - I played under him in the Indian team for so many years. I'm playing under Mahi bhai at CSK for the first time. When he says something you have to listen.
MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings captain): (Feels like a CSK home game?) I would just say thanks for the support, they came in big support. Whenever there's a KKR game next they'll come in a KKR jersey that's for sure. It's a one-off where they're giving me a farewell and dressed in yellow. So many yellows in one stadium especially in Kolkata so thanks to them. The fast-bowlers have been doing their job, the spinners in the middle. We knew there was one side that was slightly short and they will look to get aggressive so we had to get wickets. If you see their batting lineup they have some very powerful hitters down the order so it's never over until the 20th over. So you have to give that extra bit of respect to the opposition. I keep it very simple. Rather than thinking who is injured, I think of who can be the one person who can be more better prepared for the venue. No point cribbing about who is injured. If someone is injured, move on. Just try to motivate the youngsters in the best possible manner. Everyone who has come in has performed so hope that continues - not the injuries but the performance. (On Rahane) When you realize the potential of someone, you let him bat the way he bats. Give that liberty and reiterate that these are the areas where your strength is. I think it always works in the best possible manner. Second thing is try to give him the best possible manner where he can score the best runs. In a team, someone ends up sacrificing his spot for the others to feel comfortable.
Devon Conway (Chennai Super Kings): (What's working for him?) I think it's the partnership up top with Rutu out there. He calms the nerves for me and we just keep it simple so a lot of credit has to go to Rutu. (Do him and Gaikwad plan against a particular bowler?) Nothing in particular really - just trying to be as clear as possible. I've always had issues with the ball straight on the body line but I seem to be getting that away pretty well in the last few games. My role up top is to put pressure on the bowlers. Using my feet helps me to get through the innings so it's one of those things that I'm working on. The culture that we have here in Chennai is special really. Everyone feels comfortable, everyone feels backed. We've won a few games and for us it's about continuing it. Having MS in your group is a great feeling. Every game feels like a home game.
Nitish Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders captain): (Thoughts on the game) It is difficult to digest that we had to chase 236 on this ground. Chasing that many against this sort of team will be very difficult, especially when we have a powerplay like we had. Credit needs to be given to Ajju bhaiya (Rahane). We should not be conceding 236 on any wicket, regardless. There were positives in this game. But if we take away those positives, we are not really working on what have been weaknesses for us. We are repeating the same mistakes and that will inevitably mean ending up on the losing side.
Match Summary: Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by runs.
Ajinkya Rahane 71* (29) | Maheesh Theekshana 2/32 (4) Jason Roy 61 (26) | Kulwant Khejroliya 2/44 (3)
Domination from start to finish from the Chennai Super Kings. They came to Kolkata having to play their second game in third days but not once did they seem to show fatigue or slack. It was all set up by their batters of course, with that carnage orchestrated by Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube and Devon Conway powering them to a mammoth 235/4 which left Kolkata Knight Riders to go on a leather hunt.
It never began well though. Jason Roy's injury meant that he couldn't bat for a while and the experiment with Sunil Narine as an opener came apart. Akash Singh sent his off stump for a walk and after getting the new ball to swing, he hit those hard lengths and peppered Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer with the short-pitched stuff. This was after a stellar Ravindra Jadeja catch sent Narayan Jagadeesan packing to leave KKR reeling. Just 37 runs came off the powerplay with Akash just not allowing the batters to free their arms and it was just a sign that nothing was going to plan for the hosts.
Venkatesh's misery was put to an end and while Rana too departed soon, Roy came out firing on all cylinders showing no signs of discomfort as he unleashed his slog sweeps at will. Anything in the slot traveled and it was a case of controlling the length. As soon as they did that and bowled to their field, they were able to cut off the big shots to send the asking rate up, even as Roy walloped a 19-ball half-century and Rinku Singh played the big shots himself.
It took a Maheesh Theekshana yorker to send Roy on his way back and while the odd big shot came, there wasn't to be any RussellMania today. Rinku had the rub of the green go his way earlier too when a back-flick from Ravindra Jadeja lit up the zing bails at the non-striker's end, only for the bails to not fall off. But if anything, that was the only solace for KKR, whose disappointing season continued into yet another defeat and by a big margin at that. From CSK's point of view, Theekshana was excellent, as was Matheesha Pathirana who remained tough to put away. They will hope that Theekshana hasn't hurt himself badly though having copped one on his fingers with Varun Chakravarthy striking it back fiercely.
But all said and done, the evening belonged to Rahane and Dube. When Devon Conway fell, one feared that CSK could potentially slow down. If anything, the two Mumbai batters came out throwing caution to the wind with Dube butchering spin and Rahane tackling pace with ease. Some of those improvs from Rahane are bound to be talked about for a long time and we might hear more of those in a bit in the presentation so do stick around...
Smiles all around the CSK camp. And rightly so - they have dished out a hammering to KKR and have surged to the top of the points table as they become the first team to enter double digits in terms of points.
20
overs
186/8score
0
0
6
0
0
0
runs
Rinku Singh*
53(33)
Varun Chakravarthy
0(3)
Matheesha Pathirana
1/27
19.6 Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, CSK WIN BY 49 RUNS! Sharp bumper just outside off stump. Rinku swings for the hills but only connects with fresh air. Dhoni collects cleanly, and that will be that for tonight! CSK have been thoroughly impressive on the road again, and have comprehensively beaten KKR!