KKR VS CSK MATCH 33

That is it then from this game and another week in the 2023 Indian T20 League has flown by. The action though continues on Monday, the 24th of April with Hyderabad taking on Delhi in Hyderabad. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but our coverage will begin much earlier. Do join us then. Take care and goodbye!

Ajinkya Rahane is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his sensational inning. Rahane says that he has a clear mindset which is working for him. Adds that he just wants to enjoy the game. Tells that the wicket was a bit slow initially but got better and one square boundary was a lot smaller. Mentions that he has enjoyed all his knocks, but feels like the best is yet to come. Ends by saying that he had played under MS Dhoni in India and it has been great learning for him here too.

The Chennai skipper, MS Dhoni starts by thanking the fans for their support and in the next Kolkata game, the fans will certainly support their team. Adds that the fast bowlers up top and the spinners in the middle did well and they were able to pick up wickets and keep the pressure on. Mentions that he keeps it very simple and there's no point thinking about injuries and they focus on who can be the replacement rather. Adds that you let someone like Ajinkya Rahane bat the way he bats and he will score and it will work out well and he needs to be given the position he enjoys as well.

The Presentation ceremony...

Devon Conway is down for a quick chat. Conway says that the partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad is working for him. Adds that he calms his nerves and they try to keep things simple. Tells that he has had some issues with the straight ball, but that is improving this season. Mentions that his role is to put pressure on the bowlers and he loves to use his feet. Tells that the culture in the Chennai team is really special. Ends by saying that everyone feels comfortable and having MS Dhoni is great as every game feels like a home game.

Nitish Rana, the captain of Kolkata says that it is hard to digest this loss and it is never easy to chase 236 runs when you haven't had a good Powerplay. Adds that he feels that apart from the positives they are not improving on the areas of their weakness and says that if you continue to do that against big teams like this you will end up on the losing side. Mentions that whatever Ajinkya Rahane was doing came off for them, and praises Jason Roy for his valiant effort.

Earlier in the game, Nitish Rana won the toss and put Chennai into bat and this decision backfired as the Chennai openers got off to a flier. Devon Conway brought up a fourth half-century on the trot before Ajinkya Rahane came in and played some delightful shots. Later Rahane and Shivam Dube went into overdrive and added on 85 runs in just 32 balls to take the score well over the 200-run mark. As for Kolkata, every bowler apart from Suyash Sharma went for more than 11 runs per over while Sharma went for a shade over 7 runs per over. With 235 runs on the board, all Chennai needed were early wickets and they got just that going on to seal their fifth win of the season.

Kolkata will be disappointed with that loss and truth be told, they simply conceded way too many runs with the ball. Although, the start with the bat was dreadful as well. Both openers fell inside the first eight balls and from thereon it was a mountain to climb. Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana played handy knocks before Jason Roy came out to bat in the middle order and smoked the ball away to notch up a half-century. Apart from Roy, Rinku Singh was the only other batter who was able to muster up runs and brought up a half-century as well but they were pretty far away from the target in the end.

Chennai had a massive total on the board and got off to a dream start with the ball as well. Akash Singh swung the ball well and along with Tushar Deshpande, the pair bowled a nice spell up top. There were a couple or so partnerships in the middle for Kolkata but Chennai were able to break them before the set-batters went berserk. The spinners did receive a bit of tap but the pacers were excellent in the latter stages as well and ensured that the win was a sizeable one. The Lankan duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana were the pick of the bunch as they were economical and picked up wickets as well.

Chennai go top of the table with a solid victory and the shades of the Chennai of the old were to be seen in this game again. As for Kolkata, it is their second defeat at home and they have a lot of work to do as they have now lost 5 out of the 7 games played.

A dot to end the innings then! Matheesha Pathirana lands this short of a length and around off, Rinku Singh looks to pull it away, but fails to connect. CHENNAI WIN BY 49 RUNS!

Back of a length and around leg, slower too, Rinku Singh pulls it towards fine leg.

A high full toss, on off, Rinku Singh slashes at it, but gets an outside edge towards the keeper. Rinku Singh goes for the review, and the replays shows that it is below the waist and a fair delivery. Kolkata lose their review.

SIX! FIFTY FOR RINKU! A fighting knock, but it will not be in a winning cause. This is full and on middle, Rinku Singh stays there and slogs it high in the air towards deep square leg where the fielder backtracks and catches it, but steps on the boundary ropes at the same time. So, it is a maximum and the replay confirms the same.

A slower delivery now, full toss, outside off, Rinku Singh tries to reach for it, but misses.

A low full toss, on off, Rinku Singh slices it behind the stumps as MS Dhoni parries it towards short third man.

A full toss, on middle, Varun Chakaravarthy mistimes his slog towards deep mid-wicket and Rinku Singh refuses the single.