CSK vs KKR, 25th Match at Chennai, IPL, Apr 11 2025 - Match Result

An early finish then. Not in the manner you'd expect. The slightly surprising bit is that CSK are not at the bottom of the points table despite their biggest defeat. The games keep on rolling. Lots of cricket tomorrow, with two games each in the IPL and the PSL. Do join us for all of that and more. Till then, on behalf of Chandan and Ashish, this is Sudarshanan saying goodnight! Ciao, fellas!

10:27pm A massive thrashing for CSK and they lose five games in a row for the first time in the IPL. This is also their third consecutive defeat at Chepauk, another first. Nothing really went right for CSK tonight. Narine got KKR off to a flier before Rahane and Rinku dealt the opposition the final blow.

At the innings break, Rana spoke about how change-ups were making the ball grip the surface. But we saw Khaleel and Kamboj both go for pace and they travelled. With not much pressure, CSK's spinners weren't spared either but Noor did make a small mark on the game. Lots to ponder for the five-time champs.

This is the biggest margin of defeat for CSK in the IPL in terms of balls remaining.

MS Dhoni, CSK captain: "Quite a few nights haven't gone our way. Need to look deep down inside. Challenge was there, but we needed to tackle. Didn't have enough runs on the board today. Ball stopped that has been the case, even in the second innings it stopped. Today it stopped in the first innings as well. With quality spinners, it is difficult. We didn't get partnerships as well. [Powerplay batting] It is important to see the conditions. A couple of conditions where we have done well. We don't want to match somebody else or some other team. We have quality openers and it is important not to get desperate seeing the scoreboard. A few boundaries and the score keeps moving, if we target 60, it gets tough. If we lose wickets, the middle order needs do heavy-lifting and the slog never comes."

Moeen Ali: "Having two left-handers helped my case. Kept as straight as possible. Rinku dived and stopped four early, that helped my confidence. In powerplay, you cannot bowl quick. Give it time to spin. Sometimes it skids on, sometimes it spins. Sunil has been outstanding for a long time. If I can bowl a couple of overs at the top and save them for later, helps. I am learning from them. At the top you can't spin every ball. You just need one to grip and that puts doubts in the batters' minds."

Ajinkya Rahane, KKR captain: "We played here last two years - Moeen played here, DJ knows the conditions. We didn't think it would be too sticky and that our spinners will get help. We had our plans and that worked well for us tonight. Still long way to go in the tournament, I don't want to share too many things. In the end, it looks spot on. Initially I thought it was a 170-180 wicket. Moeen set us up, tough for him to play and then miss out. Sunny and Varun dominated the middle overs for us. Really happy with Vaibhav and Harshit, the way they came and executed the plans. I am enjoying my batting, worked hard last two-three years. It is about staying in the moment than thinking too ahead. First it was about taking two points, after six overs, we thought if we finish it early, it will help us. Sometimes you play good cricket, you lose as well. Last game we lost by four, it was about starting from scratch. Boys are preparing well, there is positive intent."

Sunil Narine, Player of the Match: "Almost [a complete game], next time hope I can take a catch as well. Try to focus on my strength. Batters play well but if you focus too much on batters, you are already on the back foot. You get accustomed and try to adapt as soon as possible. You see what happens in the powerplay and try and help the team. It's very simple - trying to get the team off to a flying start. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

Jadeja for possibly the final over of the game, around the wicket

Nayan: "question to commentators, 'what would you prefer: to see glimse of an old lion unable to hunt no more or an young lion learning to hunt?'" Think everyone would want to see a competitive team, irrespective of the age composition. I think they could do with a few youngsters in - just to see how the likes of Andre Siddharth, Vansh Bedi etc fare at this level

Timeout taken

Around to Rinku

Suds is back to finish things off

10 years, 20 teams, 0 all-Indian backlines in an ISL Final. Bengaluru FC could create history tomorrow with an all-Indian defensive setup, but once you look at the numbers, it is an obvious choice.

Here's Rinku. Noor is over the wicket with a slip around

Noor Ahmad comes on for his first spell. KKR need just 19 now