Key readings
Key insights in the CSK vs KKR match today
- CSK scored 103/9 in their first innings against KKR in IPL 2025.
- KKR chased down the target in 10.1 overs, winning by 8 wickets.
- The evidence leans toward Sunil Narine being the standout performer, taking 3 wickets and scoring 44 off 18 balls.
- Sunil Narine won the Player of the Match award for taking 3-13 wickets and made 44(18) runs
Match overview
On April 11, 2025, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 25th match of IPL 2025. KKR won the toss and chose to bowl first, restricting CSK to 103/9. KKR then chased 104 in just 10.1 overs, finishing at 107/2.
First innings highlights
CSK struggled, posting 103/9 in 20 overs. Shivam Dube top-scored with 31*, while Vijay Shankar made 29. Sunil Narine took 3 wickets for 13, and Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy each claimed 2, exploiting the spin-friendly pitch.
Second innings highlights
KKR’s chase was led by Quinton de Kock (23 off 16) and Narine (44 off 18, with 5 sixes). Ajinkya Rahane (20*) and Rinku Singh (15*) ensured a comfortable win, finishing with 59 balls to spare.
Detailed analysis of CSK vs KKR, IPL 2025 match
This note provides a comprehensive analysis of the 25th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 11, 2025, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The IPL 2025 season, its 18th edition, runs from March 22 to May 25, featuring 10 teams and 74 matches across 13 cities in India. The match in question was the 25th fixture, with KKR as the defending champions from the previous season, having beaten Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
The toss was won by KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who opted to bowl first, a strategic move given CSK’s recent batting form and the spin-friendly conditions at Chepauk.
From the points table after the 25th match, sourced from the IPL 2025 Points Table, CSK was placed 9th with 1 win and 4 losses, accumulating 2 points and a net run rate of -0.889. KKR, on the other hand, was at 6th with 2 wins and 3 losses, 4 points, and a net run rate of -0.056 before the match.
This analysis find the importance of the match for CSK to climb the standings and for KKR to consolidate their position.
CSK’s inning analysis
CSK’s innings resulted in a total of 103 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs, a below-par score in T20 cricket. This total is noted as CSK’s lowest-ever at home and the second-lowest at Chepauk, surpassed only by Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 70 all-out in 2019. The batting lineup struggled from the outset, with early dismissals setting the tone.
Fall of wickets
16-1 (Conway, 3.1 overs), 16-2 (Ravindra, 4.1 overs), 59-3 (Shankar, 9.4 overs), 65-4 (Tripathi, 10.6 overs), 70-5 (Ashwin, 12.5 overs), 71-6 (Jadeja, 13.3 overs), 72-7 (Hooda, 14.2 overs), 75-8 (Dhoni, 15.3 overs), 79-9 (Ahmad, 17.2 overs)
The innings began with a shaky start, with Conway dismissed lbw by Moeen Ali for 1 off 11 balls, and Ravindra falling to Harshit Rana for 4 off 9, leaving CSK at 16/2 after 4.1 overs. Tripathi and Shankar tried to rebuild, with Tripathi scoring 16 off 22 before being dismissed by Narine, and Shankar playing a fighting 29 off 21, including 2 fours and 1 six, before being caught by Moeen Ali off Chakaravarthy.
Dube’s unbeaten 31 off 29, with 1 four and 1 six, was the highest score, providing some resistance, but the middle order collapsed. Ashwin scored just 1 off 7, Jadeja was out for a duck off 2 balls to Narine, and Dhoni managed only 1 off 4 before being lbw to Narine. The lower order, including Hooda (0 off 4), Ahmad (1 off 8), and Kamboj (3* off 3), added little, with CSK finishing at 103/9. Notably, six CSK wickets fell to spin, marking the most in an IPL innings for them, collapsed from 59/2 to 75/8.
KKR’s bowling performance
KKR’s bowling attack was led by Sunil Narine, who took 3 wickets for 13 runs in his 4 overs, dismissing Tripathi, Jadeja, and Dhoni. Harshit Rana took 2 wickets for 16, including Ravindra and Ashwin, while Varun Chakaravarthy also claimed 2 for 22, getting Shankar and Hooda. Vaibhav Arora took 1 for 31, dismissing Ahmad, and Moeen Ali took 1 for 20, getting Conway. The bowling figures are as follows:
Narine’s spell was particularly effective, with an economy rate of 3.20, while Rana and Chakaravarthy also kept the pressure on with tight bowling. KKR used only five bowlers, with Andre Russell not required, indicating KKR’s dominance.
KKR’s inning analysis
KKR’s chase was a clinical display, reaching 107/2 in just 10.1 overs, and finishing with 59 balls to spare. This is noted as the third-fastest 100-plus target chase in IPL history, with previous records being RCB vs KKR in 2015 (9.4 overs for 112) and SRH vs LSG in 2024 (9.4 overs for 166). The detailed scorecard is as follows:
Fall of wickets
46-1 (de Kock, 4.1 overs), 85-2 (Narine, 7.1 overs).
The innings began with a fiery opening partnership between de Kock and Narine, scoring 46 runs in 4.1 overs before de Kock was dismissed by Anshul Kamboj for 23 off 16, including 3 fours and 1 six. Narine then unleashed, scoring 44 off 18 balls with 2 fours and 5 sixes, providing the impetus for the chase. Rahane and Singh then finished the job, with Rahane not out on 20 and Singh on 15, ensuring KKR’s victory.
CSK’s bowling performance
CSK’s bowling attack struggled to contain KKR’s aggressive batting. Khaleel Ahmed bowled 3 overs for 40 runs without taking a wicket, while Anshul Kamboj took 1 for 19 in 2 overs, dismissing de Kock. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled 3 overs for 30 without a wicket, and Noor Ahmad took 1 for 8, dismissing Narine. Jadeja bowled just 0.1 over, conceding 1 run. CSK’s bowling lacked penetration, with Khaleel Ahmed and Ashwin leaking runs, and Jadeja’s brief spell being expensive.
Key performances and observations
– Sunil Narine (KKR): Awarded Player of the match for his all-round performance of taking 3/13 with the ball and scoring 44 off 18 with the bat. His contribution was crucial in both restricting CSK and powering the chase.
– Shivam Dube (CSK): Despite the team’s low score, Dube’s 31* off 29 was a bright spot, showing resilience, while Shankar’s 29 was crucial in the middle overs.
– Harshit Rana (KKR): Took 2/16, and his post-match quote, “The focus was to execute the plans. We assessed what the wicket was doing and made the bowling changes accordingly,” provided insight into KKR’s strategy.
The match also saw KKR’s fielding not being on form, with dropped catches noted, but it did not affect the outcome
Post-match implications
This defeat marked CSK’s fifth consecutive loss in IPL 2025, the first time they have lost three games in a row at Chepauk in a season, and their third-lowest total ever. For KKR, the win boosted them to 6th place with 6 points, keeping their playoff hopes alive, while CSK remained at the bottom with 2 points from 5 matches.
For Indian cricket fans, this match was a reminder of CSK’s inconsistent form in IPL 2025, with their batting lineup struggling against KKR’s disciplined bowling. The CSK vs KKR rivalry, especially at Chepauk, is always a highlight, and fans would be eager to see if KKR can maintain this momentum or if CSK can bounce back in their next fixture.
The CSK vs KKR match in IPL 2025 showcased KKR’s dominance, with Narine leading the charge, while CSK’s batsmen, despite Dube’s efforts, failed to post a competitive total. This sets up an intriguing rest of the season, with KKR favoured to climb higher and CSK needing a turnaround.
