In a thrilling encounter at Eden Gardens on May 7, 2025, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched a nail-biting victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by two wickets, effectively knocking KKR out of the playoff race in the IPL 2025 season. The match, which was the 57th of the season, saw CSK chase down a target of 180 runs, finishing with a score of 183 for 8 in just 19.4 overs.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, KKR set a competitive total of 179 runs for 6 wickets. Captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front, scoring a solid 48 runs off 33 balls, while Andre Russell added a brisk 38 runs from 21 deliveries. Manish Pandey contributed an unbeaten 36 runs, but it was Noor Ahmad's impressive bowling performance that stood out for CSK, as he took 4 wickets for just 31 runs.
Chennai’s innings started poorly, with both openers—Ayush Mhatre and Devon Conway—dismissed for ducks, leaving the team reeling at 5 wickets down for just 62 runs during the powerplay. However, Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Brevis scored a blistering 52 runs off just 25 balls, hitting six boundaries, including three sixes in a single over from Vaibhav Arora, where he amassed 30 runs. Dube supported him well with a composed 45 runs off 40 balls.
As the match progressed, CSK lost wickets at crucial moments, including the dismissal of Brevis by Varun Chakravarthy. However, with MS Dhoni remaining not out on 17 and Anshul Kamboj hitting a four to secure the win, CSK managed to cross the finish line with just two balls to spare.
“We knew we had to dig deep after a shaky start,” said Dhoni post-match. “The way Brevis and Dube played gave us a chance, and I’m proud of how the team responded under pressure.”
KKR's bowling attack was led by Vaibhav Arora, who took 3 wickets and was a constant threat throughout the innings. Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana also chipped in with two wickets each, but it wasn’t enough to stop CSK from recording their third consecutive win.
This match was also significant as it paid tribute to the Indian Army for 'Operation Sindoor', with the national anthem 'Vande Mataram' being sung at Eden Gardens before the game commenced. The atmosphere was charged with emotion as both teams respected the tribute.
Following this defeat, KKR's hopes of making it to the playoffs are now dashed, as they have only 11 points from 11 matches, with 5 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw. CSK, on the other hand, has improved their standing slightly but remains in a tough position with only 4 points from 11 matches, having won just 2.
The historical rivalry between these two teams continues, with CSK now leading their head-to-head encounters, having won 20 of the 33 matches played between them in the IPL. KKR's last win against CSK at Eden Gardens came back in 2018, further emphasizing CSK's dominance in this fixture.
As the IPL season progresses, both teams will look to regroup. KKR must now rely on other results to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs, while CSK will aim to build on this momentum in their remaining matches.
The match showcased the thrilling unpredictability of the IPL, with moments of brilliance from both sides. As fans left Eden Gardens, the excitement for the next matches lingered, with the season's dynamics shifting with every game.
