Sunil Narine’s all-round brilliance—3/13 with the ball and a 19-ball 44—powers Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings, lifting them to third on the IPL 2025 table
Chennai, April 12: Veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine delivered a match-winning performance to lead Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a resounding eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2025 clash at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
Narine starred with both ball and bat, dismantling CSK’s batting lineup with figures of 3/13 before unleashing a stunning 44 off 19 balls at the top of the order. KKR made light work of the modest target of 104, chasing it down in just 10.1 overs to claim their third win in six games and rise to third on the points table.
Batting first, CSK never found momentum as Narine’s sharp spin tore through the middle order. CSK stumbled to 103/9 in 20 overs, with Shivam Dube (31)* the only batter offering resistance. KKR’s bowling unit backed Narine efficiently, with Varun Chakravarthy (2/22) and Harshit Rana (2/16) providing strong support.
Opening the chase alongside Quinton de Kock, Narine launched an onslaught, smashing five sixes and two boundaries in a 19-ball blitz. His 46-run stand with de Kock and quick acceleration sealed the contest before CSK could recover. Rinku Singh wrapped up the win with a six, taking KKR to 107/2 and giving a significant boost to their Net Run Rate.
Awarded Player of the Match, Narine said:
“Almost a complete game — next time I hope I can take a catch as well. I try to focus on my strengths. If you overthink the batters, you’re already on the back foot. It’s about adapting quickly.”
On his role as an opener, he added:
“It’s very simple — just trying to get the team off to a flying start. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
The win comes at a crucial juncture for KKR, who bounced back after recent setbacks. In contrast, CSK’s fifth straight loss raises major concerns, leaving the five-time champions in ninth place and desperate for a turnaround.
With Narine in sublime form and KKR’s confidence restored, the Knights will aim to carry this momentum forward in the second half of the tournament.