CSK vs KKR Ball by Ball Commentary

6:03 PM IST Right then! That is all we have from the opening fixture of the Indian T20 League 2022. The action has just begun and on Super Sunday, the 27th of March, we have a tasty double-header lined up for you. In the first match, Delhi will take on Mumbai and that match will begin at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) but the build-up will begin much sooner. This clash will be followed by a match between Punjab and Bangalore, beginning at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Do join us then. Goodbye and take care!

5:55 PM IST Umesh Yadav is the Player of the Match for his exploits with the ball in the Powerplay. He says he is back after two years and he is happy. He thanks his captain and the staff for giving him the opportunity. Adds that he is working on his consistency and he gets the ball to swing as well early on. Tells that wickets early on are very important and he just follows his work ethic.

6:04 PM IST Kolkata captain Shreyas Iyer says there's always tension when MS Dhoni is at the crease and in the last 3 overs it was a bit difficult to contain him as there was dew and it was hard to grip the ball. Adds that the wicket was spongier than they imagined and he himself knows the wicket inside-out and though it would be flat but it wasn't but the bowlers bowled really well. About Umesh Yadav, he says that he is very happy to see him perform really well again and they are pumped up for the next match.

5:48 PM IST Time for the presentation ceremony...

5:54 PM IST Sheldon Jackson is down for a quick chat. He says there were nerves at the start but the staff helped him. Adds that Dhoni is his inspiration and he always tries to imitate him.

5:54 PM IST Chennai skipper, Ravindra Jadeja is up for a chat. Jadeja says dew will play its part in the second innings and while the toss, it will be very crucial further. Adds the ball was coming nicely in the second innings. Tells that Bravo bowled brilliantly but they need to do better with the bat and hopes to come back strong in the next match.

6:02 PM IST Chennai had it all to do with the ball and given the score on the board was well below par, it would have required something special. With Deepak Chahar not in the side at the moment, they didn't have an experienced pacer in the Powerplay and it showed as Deshpande and Milne were dealt with by the opposition openers pretty easily. It was then the veteran, Dwayne Bravo who provided the breakthrough. He went on to pick three wickets in total and in doing so, went level with Lasith Malinga for the most wickets in the tournament's history. His efforts were not enough though as only Mitchell Santner got on the wickets column alongside him and Chennai have a few things to ponder upon before their next match.

5:38 PM IST It seemed a straightforward chase for Kolkata and with the platform their openers, Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane had laid, half the job was done then and there itself. Rahane played fairly well but missed out on a fifty. A couple of quick wickets fell in the middle overs but captain Shreyas Iyer along with Sam Billings just kept knocking the ball around. When the target was in sight, the big shots came out and even though Billings got out at the death, Kolkata got over the line without needing the muscle of Narine or Russell. A good win for the new captain who hit the winning runs and they will be very pleased with their performance tonight.

5:32 PM IST Kolkata get over the blemishes of the previous final and get a bit of sweet revenge over Chennai. They have won the opening match of the 2022 Indian T20 League season pretty comfortably in the end with 9 balls remaining. They get the two points on the board and are off to a flying start in the tournament. Chennai have been handed a comprehensive defeat here and they will look to bounce back quickly in the next game.

5:30 PM IST FOUR! Iyer hits the winning runs. Milne follows Iyer on the leg side and serves a full ball. Iyer whips it to deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Kolkata win by 6 wickets.

5:29 PM IST A length ball, outside off. Iyer gets a thick outside edge as he looks to push. The third man is standing very fine and there is a bit of work to do for him. Two runs taken. Ambati Rayudu gets hurt in the process.

5:28 PM IST Full ball, on off. Jackson jams it out to mid off for a single.

5:27 PM IST Full and on middle. Sheldon Jackson lofts it to long on for a single. A wonderful spell from Bravo - Three wickets while giving away just 20 runs.

5:26 PM IST Very full and on off. Iyer squeezes it out to mid off for a single.

5:26 PM IST Short of a length, outside off. Sheldon Jackson looks to pull but gets a bottom edges it to the left of the keeper. An easy single.

5:26 PM IST Sheldon Jackson is the new man in.

5:25 PM IST OUT! TAKEN! With this wicket, Dwayne Bravo equals Lasith Malinga for most wickets in Indian T20 League history. A length ball, outside off. Sam Billings slog-sweeps it straight in the hands of Tushar Deshpande at deep mid-wicket. Was hit nicely but did not get the required elevation.

5:23 PM IST On a length and on middle, this is flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

5:23 PM IST A full toss, on off, was there to be hit but Iyer plays it back to Bravo.

5:22 PM IST A loopy ball, on off, Sam pushes it straight to covers.

5:22 PM IST Short ball and on off. Iyer cuts it hard and to short third man for a quick single.

5:21 PM IST Around off, drilled down to long on for one.

5:20 PM IST SIX! Flatter and on off. Billings shimmies down the pitch and hammers it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

5:19 PM IST Shorter and on off. Billings skips down and mistimes his slash back to the bowler.

5:19 PM IST A length ball, on off. Iyer pushes it uppishly and to mid off for a single.

5:18 PM IST On middle. Another easy single as this is flicked wide of long on.

5:17 PM IST Length and on middle, this is hit to long on for one.

5:16 PM IST FOUR! A slower ball, on a length, outside off. Billings steps across and waits before he pulls it to square leg for a boundary. Kolkata running away here.

5:15 PM IST Good fielding by Milne! A length ball, outside off. Billings punches with sheer power to square on the off side. It was destined for a boundary but Milne dives to his left and saves a couple of runs.

5:14 PM IST A low dipping full toss, outside off. Billing pulls it half-heartedly to square leg.

5:14 PM IST Full and on middle. Iyer pushes it to long on for a single.

5:14 PM IST Dwayne Bravo is back on.

5:13 PM IST On middle, clipped away through mid-wicket by Shreyas Iyer for one more. Just 28 needed now off 30 balls.

5:12 PM IST Just knocking it around at the moment these two. Down the leg side, nudged away towards short fine leg for a single.

5:12 PM IST Fuller, on off. Iyer goes for the big heave leg side but gets it off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket for a single.

5:11 PM IST It's like Sam Billings only knows to play the reverse sweep at the moment. Speared into leg stump, reverse-swept to cover-point for one more.

5:11 PM IST Shorter this time, on off. Billings with another reverse sweep, this time fine of short third man and they get a couple of runs.

5:11 PM IST Quicker and flatter, at 96 clicks and around off. Sam Billings brings out the reverse sweep once again but hits it straight to Adam Milne at short third man.

5:09 PM IST Strategic Time-Out! Chennai have got two quick wickets but still the game is in the favour of Kolkata. 34 runs are needed in 36 balls and it should be an easy chase for Kolkata from now on unless there is something magical coming up.

5:07 PM IST Full and on off, pushed towards mid off.

5:07 PM IST NOT OUT! Well, it was a hopeful review from Chennai. Full and around off. Sam Billings looks for the reverse sweep and seems to get it off the glove towards cover-point for a run. There is a stifled appeal from Chennai and Mitchell Santner reckons it's outside off. Ravindra Jadeja does go for it and the replay shows that there's glove involved, the same is confirmed by UltraEdge.

5:07 PM IST Review! Chennai take a review for LBW! Even with the naked eye, we can see a clear bat there and UltraEdge confirms it.

5:05 PM IST Around leg, tickled 'round the corner for a single.

5:05 PM IST Sliding into leg stump. Billings stays leg side of the ball and works it through mid-wicket for a single.

5:04 PM IST Santner drags it down and bowls it into leg stump. Billings looks to pull off the back foot but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

5:04 PM IST On a length, around off. Sam Billings gets inside the line of the ball and sweeps it towards deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

5:03 PM IST Fuller this time from Jadeja, close to the off pole. Iyer looks for the cover drive but edges it down to short third man. 38 needed now off 42 balls.

5:03 PM IST Around off, Billings goes inside-out through covers for a single.

5:02 PM IST On middle, pushed to the right of the bowler who makes the stop.

5:02 PM IST Another example of the ball gripping a little. Flighted, on off and Billings looks to push it through covers. The ball goes off the inside edge and onto the pads.

5:02 PM IST On off, this is eased down to long off for one more.

5:01 PM IST On middle, Billings sweeps it towards fine leg for a single.

5:00 PM IST Santner floats this one wide of off stump. Shreyas Iyer opens the face of the blade and squeezes it behind point for a couple of runs.

4:59 PM IST Looking for two but it will only be a single. Sliding into leg, Billings gets an inside edge past backward square leg for a single.

4:59 PM IST Sam Billings walks out to the middle.

4:58 PM IST OUT! TAKEN! Straight into the hands of Ravindra Jadeja at short mid-wicket and that's a really soft dismissal for Ajinkya Rahane. Mitchell Santner bowls it on a length, around middle and leg. Rahane gets pushed on the back foot and he is caught in two minds, whether to pull it or just work it away. He ends up doing neither and just pushes it towards short mid-wicket where the catch is taken. Is there still life left in this match?

4:57 PM IST In the air but lands in no man's land. Slightly flighted, around off and turning away. Ajinkya Rahane dances down the track, looking to lift it over long off but gets a top edgen over short third man for a brace.

4:57 PM IST Flatter and outside off, this is tapped towards point for a single.

4:56 PM IST This is sliding down leg, Rahane tucks it behind square on the leg side for a single.

4:55 PM IST Around off, Iyer watchfully keeps it out on the off side.

4:55 PM IST Jadeja darts one into the pads, clipped away to fine leg for one.

4:55 PM IST FOUR! Nicely played by Rahane. On middle, Rahane brings out the reverse sweep and gets it past the diving fielder at short third man for a boundary. He moves into the 40s now.

4:54 PM IST Quicker one, on off. Iyer nudges it towards covers for a single.

4:54 PM IST Well wide of the bowler. On off, Ajinkya Rahane uses his feet and drills it uppishly to the left of Jadeja and picks up a single down to long off.

4:53 PM IST Floated up, full and around middle and leg. Rahane clips it towards short mid-wicket.

4:54 PM IST The skipper, Shreyas Iyer walks in to bat at number 4. Ravindra Jadeja is into the attack as well.

4:52 PM IST OUT! TAKEN! A timely wicket for Chennai and Bravo has all the tricks in his pocket. He comes with his evergreen slower balls, on a length and on middle. Rana looks to pull but creates no power behind it. Hits it straight to short fine leg where Ambati Rayudu pouches it. 56 runs needed in 60 balls.

4:51 PM IST A length ball, outside off. Kept out.

4:50 PM IST Tad fuller and outside off. Rana opens the face of the bat to guide it down but bottom edges it back to Dhoni.

4:50 PM IST Around off, on a length. Ajinkya plays it late and guides it to third man for a single.

4:49 PM IST FOUR! Deft touch! A length ball, angling on the pads. Rahane tickles it to fine leg for a boundary.

4:48 PM IST A length ball, on off. Rana dabs it to short third man for a quick single.

4:48 PM IST Strategic Time-Out! It's been all Kolkata and they just require 62 more runs off 66 balls. It should be a cakewalk from here and with the likes of Narine, Shreyas Iyer and Dre Russ to come, Chennai will find it near impossible to make a match out of this one now. Ajinkya Rahane has looked good at the crease and Nitish Rana has come out with a positive intent. Can Chennai pull a rabbit out of the hat and make things interesting?

4:45 PM IST Outside off, Rana cuts it to deep point for a single. 11 runs off the over. 62 needed in 66 balls.

4:44 PM IST Fuller and on off, this is eased down to long off for a single.

4:43 PM IST Slightly short and outside off. Rana works it to deep point for a run.

4:42 PM IST Angles a full ball, on middle, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

4:42 PM IST Again gets low to slog-sweep it but adjusts very late to steer it to deep point for a single.

4:41 PM IST SIX! BANG!  Tossed up, full and outside off. A left-arm bowler to left-hander always brings the slog-sweep on and Nitish Rana does so well to perfection as he hits it over mid-wicket.

4:40 PM IST Length ball, another slower ball, outside off. Rana slices it towards third man and Bravo catches it on a bounce. A single taken.

4:39 PM IST Four byes! Through the keeper! A length ball, from around the wicket, outside off, was slower as well. Rana misses his cut. Dhoni lets it through his legs for a boundary.

4:38 PM IST FOUR! Second boundary in the over! This is on a length and outside off. Rana shuffles across and gets low to cut it past point for a boundary.

4:37 PM IST Length ball, around off. Rahane works it to deep square leg for a single. 50 up for Kolkata!

4:37 PM IST Length ball, on off. Rana chops it to point and runs across for a quick single. There is a shy at the bowler's end but the fielder misses.

4:36 PM IST FOUR! Good shot! Dube starts with a full ball, outside off. Rana waits and then smashes it aerially over covers for a boundary. A lossener to start.

4:35 PM IST Length and outside off, cut away to sweeper cover for a single. Nitish Rana is off the mark.

4:34 PM IST A length ball, angling just around off. Rana looks to defend inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

4:33 PM IST Fullish and on off. Rana gets low and knocks it to point.

4:33 PM IST A short ball, on off. Rana evades it as he ducks under it.

4:33 PM IST Nitish Rana walks in at number 3.

4:31 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Chennai finally get the breakthrough! This is full and outside off. Venkatesh Iyer goes for a big booming drive but gets an outside edge to the keeper, Dhoni who makes no mistake.

4:30 PM IST A length ball, on middle, pulled straight to mid-wicket.

4:31 PM IST Dwayne Bravo comes into the attack now.

4:29 PM IST Slides a full ball, on middle, played back to the bowler. At the end of the Powerplay, Kolkata are 43 without any loss of wicket. 89 needed in 84 balls.

4:29 PM IST Short ball, drifting on off, Rahane punches it to covers.

4:28 PM IST On middle, a single as this is drilled down to long on.

4:28 PM IST Fuller and angling on off. Iyer looks to work on the leg side but mistimes it to mid off. They take a quick single but Milne there fumbles and they get the second run as well.

4:27 PM IST Full and on off, pushed to long off for a single.

4:26 PM IST FOUR! Santner into the attack and he gets the same treatment! An arm ball, sliding on leg, was on the shorter side and Rahane pulls it nicely to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

4:27 PM IST Spin for the first time as Mitchell Santner is brought into the attack.

4:25 PM IST Back of a length, close to off. Rahane nudges it down towards point for a quick single.

4:24 PM IST FOUR! Kolkata off to a solid start and the runs required are under a hundred already! Overpitched from Deshpande and he is punished. On off, Rahane lofts it over mid off and picks up another boundary.

4:23 PM IST Lovely bowling! Tushar Deshpande goes for the cutter and bowls it on a length, around off. The ball goes away from the batter who just looks to run it fine but gets beaten by the lack of pace.

4:23 PM IST A bit too straight from Deshpande and this is flicked down to fine leg for a single.

4:22 PM IST FOUR! Not perfectly timed but will do for Venkatesh Iyer. Fullish ball, around off. Iyer drives on the up and there's plenty of space at the extra cover region. The ball goes through that area and ends up in the fence.

4:21 PM IST Length, around middle and leg. Iyer bunts it out towards short mid-wicket.

4:21 PM IST SIX! First maximum of the innings and Rahane has timed it sweetly yet again. On the hips, Rahane shuffles just a touch and launches it over the backward square leg fence for a biggie.

4:19 PM IST Good come back from Adam Milne. Milne hits the length hard and bowls it outside off. Rahane looks to swing across the line but gets beaten for pace and bounce.

4:18 PM IST FOUR! Ajinkya Rahane might have been going a bit too hard at the ball but times this one to perfection. Pitched up, on middle. Rahane shows the maker's name and punches it uppishly right back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

4:18 PM IST Good-length, around off. Rahane looks to cut it through point but edges it back onto the deck.

4:17 PM IST A big heave leg side from Ajinkya Rahane but he misses. Milne bowls it around the top of off, Rahane looks to thump it over mid-wicket but misses and gets hit on the pads once again.

4:16 PM IST Nicely bowled, a bit too high maybe. Length from Milne, around off and nipping back in sharply. Rahane looks to tuck it leg side but misses and gets hit high on the pads.

4:15 PM IST Iyer tries to repeat the trick but it's well stopped by the fielder at short cover. Full, on off and driven towards covers.

4:14 PM IST FOUR! Deshpande pitches it full and on off. Venkatesh Iyer stays deep in his crease and drives it firmly through covers for a boundary.

4:13 PM IST A length ball, around leg. Iyer flicks it off his hips towards the square leg fence for a couple of runs.

4:12 PM IST On off, Rahane gets inside the line of the ball and works it to fine leg for a single.

4:12 PM IST Fullish delivery, outside off. Rahane pushes it gently towards the cover region.

4:11 PM IST Good shot for no run. Back of a length, outside off. This is slapped off the back foot by Rahne but straight to Mitchell Santner at point.

4:10 PM IST Milne hits the length hard on off and the ball just shoots through. Iyer looks to play it off the back foot but gets hurried on and bunts it out on the off side.

4:09 PM IST Four dot balls in a row now. On a good length, around leg. Iyer looks to turn it leg side but gets a leading edge towards covers.

4:10 PM IST Venkatesh Iyer withdraws very late. Milne almost delivers the ball but his towel drops and that makes Iyer back away from it.

4:08 PM IST Back of a length this time from Milne, going across the left-hander. Iyer hops on the back foot and plays it towards covers.

4:07 PM IST Around the top of off. Iyer punches it off the back foot towards mid off.

4:07 PM IST A length ball on middle. Iyer defends it back to the bowler.

4:06 PM IST Venkatesh Iyer is off the mark straightaway. Pacy delivery to start off from Adam Milne, around off. Iyer leans back and drives it late, through point. Deshpande sprints across to his left from the backward point fence and puts in the dive to stop the boundary. Two taken.

4:06 PM IST Who will bowl from the other end? It is Adam Milne.

4:05 PM IST Fullish delivery, around off. Rahane presses forward and pushes it out on the off side.

4:04 PM IST FOUR! This is as sweetly timed as it can get! Overpitched, around off. Rahane has minimal feet movement but punches it through extra cover for the first boundary off the innings.

4:04 PM IST Jut short! This is on the hips and Ajinkya Rahane whips it towards the fine leg fence. Shivam Dube comes racing in but can't reach it. The batters come back for two and Rahane is off the mark.

4:03 PM IST Deshpande keeps the consistency in his line and length and bowls a third delivery in the same area. Outside off, tapped towards point.

4:02 PM IST Another good length ball, outside off. Rahane looks to work it leg side but the ball is well out of his reach and ends up missing it.

4:02 PM IST Deshpande starts off with a good length ball well outside off. Ajinkya Rahane looks to hang back and guide it through point but gets a bottom edge towards first slip.