Ashok Kumar
- May 15, 2023
- 6 min read

IPL 2023, CSK vs KKR: Rinku, Nitish & Bowlers take KKR home; CSK's playoffs chances dented

IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Rinku Singh-Nitish Rana's 99-run stand, Deepak Chahar's 3-27 and Shivam Dube's 48 are top performances. KKR beat CSK and join RCB, RR, PBKS at 12 points in table.

IPL 2023, CSK vs KKR, Top Performances_ Nitish Rana-Rinku Singh added 99 off 67 balls for 4th wicket; KKR beat CSK _ Walking wicket (Images_ ©IPL_Twitter)

Rana-Rinku added 99 off 67 balls for 4th wicket (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Brief Scores: KKR 147/4 (Rinku Singh 54, Nitish Rana 57, Deepak Chahar 3/27) beat CSK 144/6 (Shivam Dube 48 not out, Sunil Narine 2/15) by 6 wickets.

Player of the match: Rinku Singh (54 off 43)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 6 wickets at Chennai in IPL 2023 on Sunday thanks to a 99-run stand between Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana. CSK batted first and scored 144/6 with Shivam Dube top-scoring with 48 not out. KKR chased down the target in 18.3 overs. The win had kept KKR mathematically alive for play-offs, while CSK face a must-win clash in their last league match against Delhi Capitals to qualify.

Rinku-Rana stand deflate CSK, Chennai must win the last match to qualify

For Chennai Super Kings, Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad started the innings in the middle. Beginning the match for Kolkata Knight Riders is Vaibhav Arora. Before the halfway point, Chennai is now three down after losing Devon Conway for 30. In his first over, Shardul Thakur records a strike. Conway attempted to drag across a Shardul back-of-length delivery that had been around off. The partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube had reached 53 off 48 balls. This was a fantastic performance by the team. After deciding to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings reach a respectable 144 for six. The KKR spinners put on an excellent bowling performance to hold the hosts to a respectable total.

To start this 145-chase pursuit for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Jason Roy are in the middle. Chennai Super Kings will make the opening statement through Deepak Chahar. FOUR! Moeen Ali is hit for a string of boundaries by Rinku Singh to maintain the tempo. At the moment, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh batted exceptionally effectively. Both participating fully in this challenging pursuit of 145. They could keep the rate below 8 RPO. Nitish Ran is in his third top fifty of the year. Captain driving at the front with his group. This was a fantastic strike from the KKR skipper. After taking some early hits, Nitish and Rinku Singh helped their team out of difficulty and put together a winning partnership for the fourth wicket. With 9 balls remaining, KKR successfully defend their target of 145 to win the game.

Talking points; CSK’s Low Score

CSK were playing at their home ground and knew the conditions well. It was a slow track, but not a difficult one where runs cannot be scored. Here, CSK was guilty of not accelerating enough to post an above-par total on this ground. It could be due to CSK batsmen being tied down to smart spin bowling from KKR. But playing at home, CSK batsmen should have done better, but their below-par total was just not enough to halt KKR on the path to victory. It was CSK lowest total in this IPL, and it was not enough.

CSK make 144/6

On a slow pitch of MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, CSK chose to bat first. They were off to a quick start, racing to 31/0 in 3.2 overs as the openers made merry against the pacers. But the introduction of KKR spinners turned things around for the visitors. Varun Chakravarthy gave the first breakthrough to KKR. Ruturaj Gaikwad looked to take on Chakravarthy but his attempted slog took a thick edge to the short third where Vaibhav Arora took the catch. Ruturaj fell for 17.

Ajinkya Rahane raced to 11-ball 16 before he holed out in the deep to Jason Roy off Varun’s bowling. Devon Conway then fell to a catch in the deep off Shardul Thakur’s bowling as CSK were reduced to 66/3 in 9.3 overs. Sunil Narine then bowled for 4 Ambati Rayudu to put the CSK innings in disarray. Narine also bowled Moeen Ali next as KKR spinners dominated the proceedings. However, a 68-run stand between Shivam Dube (48 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (20) propelled CSK to 144/6, with Chennai falling a few runs short as they didn’t get the required momentum. KKR spinners restricted CSK from putting good total, with Narine deserving a special mention for his 2/15.

Rinku-Rana see KKR through

Deepak Chahar has destroyed the top-order of KKR, dismissing both the openers – Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz before taking his third wicket in Venkatesh Iyer in the powerplay itself. At 33/3, KKR looked to be in sort of trouble before Rinku Singh and captain Nitish Rana steadied the ship with a 99-run stand for the fourth wicket. Both the left-handed batsmen first resurrected the innings before accelerating to finish the game in 18.3 overs. Rinku made 54 off 43 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Rana finished the chase with a knock of 57 off 44 balls with 6 fours and 1 six in the company of Andre Russell.

Let’s scan the top three performances from the game between CSK and KKR in IPL 2023

IPL 2023, CSK vs KKR, Top Performances_ Ravindra Jadeja-Shivam Dube added 68 off 53 for 6th wicket; KKR beat CSK _ Walking wicket (Images_ ©IPL_Twitter)

Jadeja-Dube added 68 off 53 for 6th wicket (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Shivam Dube’s 48 not out

It was an uncharacteristic knock from Shivam Dube, who is known for his big hitting, taking the attack to the cleaners. But coming to bat at no 5 at 66/3, Shivam judged the slowness of the wicket and played the anchor role to take CSK to 144/6. He had a 68-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja – the best of the innings, with Dube being the better of two as he showed great urgency to score quick runs. He took 34 balls for his 48 not out, but he remained till the end to power CSK to a challenging score. He also smashed 1 four and 3 sixes, with each of his sixes written the Dube’s trademark style all over it. What was the best about Dube’s knock was that he expressed maturity and played as per the merit of the ball, the pitch and situation of the match.

IPL 2023, CSK vs KKR, Top Performances_ Deepak Chahar took 3-27 in opening spell against KKR; KKR beat CSK _ Walking wicket (Images_ ©IPL_Twitter)

Deepak Chahar’s 3/27

CSK needed early wickets to defend this total. And their new-ball bowler Deepak Chahar did the job for his team. He took three wickets in the powerplay itself to put KKR on the backfoot straightaway. First, he got Rahmanullah Gurbaz to hole out in the deep to Tushar Despande in the first over itself. He then dismissed Venkatesh Iyer by making the southpaw fish at a wide and full delivery only to hole out to short third man. Chahar then dismissed Jason Roy in similar fashion to give hopes of a CSK win. But it was not meant to be.

Rinku-Rana’s 99-run stand

KKR looked to be struggling at 33/3 before Rinku Singh and captain Nitish Rana put their team onto the path to victory by a 99-run stand in 12.4 overs. The two left-handers were calm as they first cut down the risks and relied on ones and twos. They opened up soon after when they got the measure of the pitch and the bowling and started toying with the field placements. Despite the three quick wickets, the low target helped them to take their time to settle down before unleashing their full range of strokes to deflate CSK. While Rinku carried his form into the match, punishing every bad ball, Rana played some improvised shots to steal a boundary or two. Eventually, their stand ensured KKR was able to beat CSK at their own den.

Points Table Scenario & What's Next

The win by KKR has opened the points table. Except for SRH and DC, all teams stand a chance to qualify for the play-offs. KKR must win their last league game against LSG on May 20 by a big margin and hope other teams do poorly to stand a chance to qualify for the play-offs. CSK stands in a tricky situation as a loss in their last league game may even see them out of the race for play-offs if other teams do well. So, CSK must win their last league game against Delhi Capitals on May 20 to be a master of their own destiny. Currently, CSK stand second with 15 points, having posted 7 wins from 13 games. KKR are 7th with 12 points, having won 6 matches from 13 games.

IPL 2023 Points Table