New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are getting back into the groove in a great fashion. They trounced Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Wednesday and attained the top position in the points table with a net run rate of +1.142.
Right from the start of the match, they looked in supreme control. With the help of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis's wonderful opening partnership of 115 runs, CSK made a huge target of 220 runs for KKR. Ruturaj came back in form and it is a good sign for CSK as he can give good start to the team.
In the last three matches, Gaikwad was not able to give a good start and some cricket experts wanted the replacement of Gaikwad but the team management and captain backed him and did not replace him. Gaikwad proved himself with a quickfire fifty in just thirty-two balls and played a wonderful innings of 64 runs off 42 balls. The skipper Mahandra Singh Dhoni is known to back players whenever he spots talent.
Faf du Plessis played an amazing knock of 95 runs which helped his team to set a huge target of 220 runs. He looked in complete control and everything that he touched converted into gold. In his knock, he hit 9 fours and 4 sixes. He made 95 runs off just 60 balls.
Moeen Ali and MS Dhoni also played small cameos. Ali made 25 runs off 12 balls and Dhoni scored 17 runs off 8 deliveries. CSK fast bowler Deepak Chahar took his second 4 wicket haul in this season and broke the backbone of KKR's top order.
But the spirited fightback from Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik and Pat Cummins brought the KKR back into the game. It was a complete carnage from Andre Russell as he scored 54 runs off just 22 balls. He hit 3 boundaries and 6 sixes in his whirlwind knock.
Dinesh Karthik also played a big role in the match and played a good innings of 40 runs off 24 balls and when Lungi Ngidi took his wicket, it felt like KKR were out of the match.
But there was a twist again in the match. Pat Cummins, who did not do well with the ball, made 30 runs in Sam Curran’s over and completed his fifty. He played an unbeaten knock of 66 on 34 deliveries but his fifty was not enough for his team. KKR were not in the match from the start but their middle-order gave a tough fight to CSK.
The Co-owner of KKR, Shah Rukh Khan also Tweeted after the match. He wrote, “Coulda...woulda...shoulda can take a backseat tonight...@KKRiders was quite awesome I feel. ( oops if we can forget the batting power play!!) well done boys...@Russell12A @patcummins30 @DineshKarthik try and make this a habit...we will be back!!.(sic)”
Coulda...woulda...shoulda can take a backseat tonight...@KKRiders was quite awesome I feel. ( oops if we can forget the batting power play!!) well done boys...@Russell12A @patcummins30 @DineshKarthik try and make this a habit...we will be back!! pic.twitter.com/B1wGBe14n3
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 21, 2021
See how social media reacted after the match:
Sam Curran to Andre Russel: pic.twitter.com/TJUcOv4shb
— Ma (@sarcaster_m) April 21, 2021
Pat Cummins to Sam Curran #CSKvKKR #KKRvCSK #KKRHaiTaiyaar #csk #ipl2021 pic.twitter.com/mkCXAIsSOp
— Naam Mein Kya Rakha Hai (@jeerank156777) April 21, 2021
After getting hit for 30 runs in an over
— OHM (@ohhmmm0) April 21, 2021
Sam Curran be like:- #CSKvsKKR . pic.twitter.com/oFSp3GKXR5
Cummins to the last few KKR batsman #CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/5puR9zJs7w
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 21, 2021
Sam Curran to his highschool friends after Pat Cummins beating#CSKvsKKR #CSK #KKR #KKRHaiTaiyaar #IPL2021 #IPL #WhistlePodu #FANART pic.twitter.com/UWGm59wXcB
— CricStrat (@cricstratgame) April 21, 2021
