NEW DELHI: On a night that was meant to celebrate MS Dhoni’s return as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, it was Sunil Narine who scripted a masterclass, leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a resounding eight-wicket win and leaving the Chepauk crowd stunned.
Taking over leadership duties after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, Dhoni’s comeback was highly anticipated. But the veteran keeper-batter could muster just 1 run off 4 balls before falling LBW to Narine in the 16th over — a moment that encapsulated CSK’s forgettable outing.
Chasing a modest 104, KKR made light work of the target, wrapping up the contest in just 10.1 overs. Narine, who had already spun a web with the ball, returned to open the batting and delivered a blistering 44 off 18 deliveries, peppered with five sixes and two fours. His whirlwind knock all but ended the contest before CSK could regroup.
Earlier, KKR’s spinners thrived on a sluggish Chepauk surface. Narine spearheaded the attack with a spellbinding 3/13, removing key batters Rahul Tripathi, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dhoni. He was ably supported by Harshit Rana (2/16) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/22), as CSK crumbled to 103/9 — their lowest IPL total at home and third lowest overall.
Only Shivam Dube (31 not out) and Vijay Shankar (29) showed some resistance, but the rest of the CSK lineup failed to counter KKR’s disciplined bowling.
Once Narine departed in the chase, the rest was a formality. Ajinkya Rahane (20*) and Rinku Singh (15*), finished off the job in style, with Rinku sealing the emphatic win by launching Jadeja into the stands.
On a night that was meant to belong to Dhoni, it was Narine who owned every moment — with ball, bat, and brilliance.
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