As the IPL fever is touching the sky, Kolkata fans are enjoying the thrilling showdown between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Chennai Super Kings. Though CSK's playoff hopes are over, their bowlers are still turning heads with a stellar show on the Eden Gardens pitch. While bowling first, Noor Ahmad thrived on the pitch, troubling the KKR batters. With stunning form, the spinner not only dominates but also breaks his own record, setting a new benchmark.
Amidst growing criticism over their form, Chennai Super Kings have found their spark in the ongoing clash with Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite their playoff dream being dashed, the CSK bowlers troubled the KKR batters while bowling first. Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad has been one of the costliest purchases for the franchise, and he has brought out one of his best games against the Knights. Bowling first, Noor drew first blood by dismissing fellow Afghan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, then doubled the damage by removing the dangerous Sunil Narine in the 8th over. After dismissing Andre Russell and Rinku later in the game, the spinner registered a remarkable spell of 4/31, marking his second-best bowling figure in the IPL. His standout performance remains the stunning 4/18 against the Mumbai Indians earlier in the season.
In the 57th match of IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the toss and opted to bat first against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), posting a total of 179 for the loss of 6 wickets in their 20 overs. While KKR started with fire, it was CSK’s young Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad who stole the spotlight with a sensational four-wicket haul, shifting their scoring momentum. Noor struck early by trapping the explosive Sunil Narine, who was stumped by MS Dhoni. Noor’s sharp turns also took the wicket of young Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who edged to Dhoni for just one run. Noor Ahmad has now taken 20 wickets in 12 matches in the IPL 2025.
The highlight of Noor’s performance came in the 17th over when he took the wicket of the dangerous Andre Russell, who was batting on 38 runs off 21 balls. He was not done yet—he sent back Rinku Singh, who made nine runs off six balls. All these breakthroughs shifted the momentum towards CSK at the Eden Gardens. Noor’s four-wicket haul broke the backbone of KKR’s batting line-up. With CSK chasing 180 for victory, they have nothing at stake as they are already out of the race for qualification to the playoffs. But KKR are in a do-or-die situation because if KKR lose, it would cost them their qualification hopes. With this four-wicket haul, Noor is now back to the second spot in the Purple Cap race with 20 wickets in 12 matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders couldn’t get going against the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League 2025. Despite the presence of the aggressive batters, the defending champions posted just 179/6 at the Eden Gardens. Ajinkya Rahane was the top scorer, amassing 48 runs off 33 balls, laced with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. Andre Russell tried to take on the bowlers, scoring 38 runs off 21 deliveries, with the help of 4 fours and 3 sixes. Manish Pandey managed 36 off 28 balls, including 1 four and 1 six. Sunil Narine, who was looking good before getting dismissed, made a contribution of 26 runs off 17 deliveries. He hit 4 boundaries and a six.
Noor Ahmad’s outstanding performance was crucial as he picked up 4 wickets and conceded just 31 runs from his four overs. KKR, after cruising at 67/1 at the power-play, choked with Ahmad turning the tide. The Afghan spinner broke KKR's rhythm immediately after the powerplay, striking twice in one over. First, he dismissed Narine, beaten in flight and stumped brilliantly by MS Dhoni. Four balls later, Angkrish Raghuvanshi edged behind to give CSK a double breakthrough. KKR lost further momentum as the boundaries dried up, and at one stage, they went 24 balls without a single four in the middle overs. Their hopes rested on Andre Russell, fresh from a match-winning fifty in the previous game. The explosive Jamaican shifted gears, smashing Ravindra Jadeja for two fours and a six, and then launched Ahmad into the stands with a massive six off a googly. But Ahmad had the last laugh, deceiving Russell with another well-disguised googly to end his dangerous knock. In his final over, Ahmad also removed Rinku Singh, wrapping up a terrific spell that broke KKR’s backbone.
From 67/1 in six overs, KKR managed just 112 runs in the next 14 overs, as CSK spinners collectively gave away only 55 runs in the last five overs, throttling the scoring on a sluggish, turning track. Opting to bat, KKR, hanging by a thread in the playoff race, came out with full intent. Rahmanullah Gurbaz opened with a boundary and launched Anshul Kamboj over midwicket in the second over. Though Kamboj dismissed him in the same over, it had little impact as Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine swung freely, adding 67 runs in the powerplay. Rahane, who was dropped on 15 by Matheesha Pathirana off Kamboj, capitalised on the reprieve. Narine, meanwhile, took on Ravichandran Ashwin, smashing two fours and a six in his opening over. But once the field spread out, CSK’s spin trio took complete control. Jadeja applied pressure with a tight spell of 1/34, while Ashwin was the most economical, returning 0/19 from his three overs, extracting sharp turn and bounce.
Noor Ahmad's best bowling figures in IPL now include: 4/18 against Mumbai Indians in 2025, 4/31 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025, 3/36 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025, and 3/37 against Mumbai Indians in 2023. With another brilliant performance, Noor has raced to 20 wickets in IPL 2025. In 12 matches, he owns 20 wickets at 17.25 this season. As per Cricbuzz, Noor has become the fourth CSK spinner to take 20 wickets in an IPL season. Imran Tahir (26 wickets in 2019), Ravichandran Ashwin (20 wickets in 2011), and Ravindra Jadeja (20 wickets in 2023) are the others. With the match still ongoing, KKR set a challenging total of 179, and CSK's chase is about to begin, with every ball counting in this electrifying encounter.
