Sunil Narine Stars With Bat and Ball as KKR Crush CSK by 8 Wickets in Chennai

A dazzling all-round performance by Narine powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a clinical victory over Chennai Super Kings, snapping their losing streak and lifting them to third in the IPL 2025 table.

Chennai, April 12: Sunil Narine delivered a spectacular all-round show as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stormed to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on Friday, climbing to third place in the IPL 2025 points table.

After electing to bowl first, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane witnessed a masterclass from Narine, who scalped 3/13 to help restrict CSK to a paltry 103/9. Narine was ably supported by Varun Chakravarthy (2/22) and Harshit Rana (2/16), dismantling CSK’s lineup during the middle overs.

In reply, Narine unleashed his aggressive side with the bat, smashing 44 off 19 balls, including five sixes, setting the tone for an effortless chase. His 46-run opening stand with Quinton de Kock (23) ensured a flying start for the visitors.

Despite losing both openers, a composed Rahane (20*) and Rinku Singh (15 off 10)* calmly guided the team home. Rinku sealed the chase in style with a six, as KKR wrapped up the target in just 10.1 overs, finishing at 107/2.

For CSK, it was another dismal outing, marking their fifth straight defeat, leaving them languishing at ninth on the table. Their batting crumbled under pressure with only Shivam Dube (31)* offering some resistance. The rest of the lineup, including senior names like MS Dhoni (1) and Ravindra Jadeja (0), failed to make an impact.

CSK’s innings saw brief sparks with Vijay Shankar (29) and Rahul Tripathi (16) stitching a 43-run stand, but their collapse began soon after Chakravarthy removed Shankar. Wickets kept tumbling, and by the end of 20 overs, they could only muster 103/9.

KKR’s victory not only ended their losing run but significantly improved their Net Run Rate, boosting their playoff chances. With Narine back in form and the bowling unit clicking, the Knight Riders now look like a rejuvenated force in the tournament.

Brief Scores:
CSK 103/9 (Shivam Dube 31*, Vijay Shankar 29; Sunil Narine 3/13)
KKR 107/2 in 10.1 overs (Sunil Narine 44, Quinton de Kock 23; Noor Ahmad 1/8)
Result: KKR won by 8 wickets.