Same Script, New Season: Kolkata Knight Riders stumble as Chennai Super Kings spin web tightens at Chepauk

On the eve of Poila Boishakh, Kolkata Knight Riders were hoping to turn a corner in IPL 2026. Instead, the script felt all too familiar.

At Chepauk, Chennai Super Kings tightened their grip with spin, sealing a comfortable 32-run win and handing KKR their fourth defeat in five matches.

KKR’s struggles were as much self-inflicted as they were forced. The delayed introduction of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy allowed Ayush Mhatre and Sanju Samson to dictate the powerplay. Later, in the chase, a questionable batting order exposed Cameron Green to spin, where Noor Ahmad proved decisive.

With the campaign slipping, KKR now find themselves edging towards a must-win territory. CSK, meanwhile, have rediscovered rhythm after a shaky start, building momentum with back-to-back victories.

Mhatre, Samson set the tone

Asked to bat first, CSK came out firing. Though Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his lean patch, falling cheaply, the momentum never dipped. Mhatre’s aggressive strokeplay and Samson’s control powered CSK to 72 in the powerplay.

KKR pulled things back towards the end of the phase when Vaibhav Arora dismissed Mhatre for a quickfire 38, but the early damage had been done.

Spin pulls KKR back into contest

After the powerplay, KKR’s spinners wrestled back control. Narine led the charge with a tight spell, finishing 4-0-21-1, while Chakravarthy kept things in check despite one expensive over.

Samson, fresh off a century, looked set but fell for 48, while contributions from Dewald Brevis and Sarfaraz Khan lacked the finishing punch. CSK were restricted to 192/5 — competitive, but not imposing given their start.

Kartik Tyagi’s impact at the death

Among the pacers, Kartik Tyagi stood out. His searing delivery to dismiss Samson halted CSK’s charge, and he followed it up by removing Brevis.

In the death overs, Tyagi’s control was evident as he conceded just 14 runs across his last two overs, ensuring CSK didn’t breach the 200-mark.

Powerplay collapse derails KKR

The chase never quite got going. KKR managed just 36 runs in the powerplay, immediately falling behind the asking rate. Narine, opening for the first time this season, showed intent but fell early, while Finn Allen’s dismissal compounded the pressure.

Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempted a rebuild, but the required rate spiralled. On a turning track, KKR’s middle order faltered under mounting pressure.

The decision to push Green down backfired, as he fell first ball to Noor. Rinku Singh also struggled to find rhythm, leaving too much for the lower order.

Noor Ahmad seals it

Noor was the game-changer for CSK. The left-arm wrist-spinner dismantled KKR’s middle order, finishing with 3 for 21. He removed Narine early and later struck crucial blows by dismissing Rahane, Rinku, and Green.

Support came from Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj and Akeal Hosein, as CSK restricted KKR to 160/7.

Despite a minor injury scare to Khaleel, CSK will take confidence into their next clash. For KKR, it’s back to the drawing board — and quickly — before their season slips beyond recovery.