IPL 2021 Highlights, KKR vs CSK: Chennai Super Kings survive Pat Cummins scare to beat Kolkata Knight Riders

He's oozing confidence. Gaikwad is repeatedly jumping down the wicket and taking the aerial route. And he's connecting each and every one of those. The 100 comes up for CSK in just the 12th over.

Fifty for Ruturaj Gaikwad, off 33 balls. CSK 90/0 after 10.3 overs. That's what he's capable of. Dhoni and Stephen Fleming look pleased from the dressing room. 11 overs gone, CSK 98/0

Down the wicket he goes and connects it brilliantly. What a shot, sends the ball sailing over long on for a six, his third of the innings. CSK's faith in Gaikwad has paid off. All credit to Dhoni and the management for sticking by this brilliant player.

After Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine conceded five off the over. Du Plessis and Gaikwad just taking a slightly subtle approach in the last two overs, which they can afford given the start they have provided the team. CSK 82/0 after 10 overs. Is this the calm before the storm?

Just five off it, all singles. Varun Chakravarthy bowls a tidy third over. He has gone for 21. The best over for KKR of the innings. KKR would want to keep that up. CSK 77/0 after 9 overs, hoping to set up for a big surge in the remaining 11 overs.

There's nothing stopping Ruturaj Gaikwad. First it was Faf du Plessis and now it's his partner, who's really taking it on to the KKR bowlers. Russell's pace isn't much and that speed, the short ball was never going to be effective. Gaikwad rocks back and it's a maximum.

Sunil Narine gets take for another four. Tried the quicker one but Gaikwad edges the ball past for a four. Andre Russell was at slips, but he was just a little too fine. The ball goes past him and into the ropes for Gaikwad's fourth four of the innings.

That wickets column needs to change soon, else CSK will storm away.

Well, 5.2 overs to be precise. CSK have muscled the KKR bowling with du Plessis and Gaikwad taking the attack early on. Magnificent batting, the pitch playing its part in scoring runs briskly. It can be gauged from the fact that Gaikwad offered just a push to Cummins in the previous over and the ball raced away for a four. CSK 54/0 after the Powerplay. Brian Lara's prediction was spot on.

Another textbook cover drive. Almost identical to the one he played earlier. Only difference is the bowler. Prasidh Krishna suffers the brunt this time around. CSK have raced to 44/0 in five overs. That's a scoring rate of 8.8 an over.

Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad have added 40 runs for the opening wicket, which has been CSK's best start of the season so far. A chance put down in the last over by Karthik, but it was a toughie. Spilled and du Plessis lives. CSK in the groove, KKR seeking a breakthrough. Something's got to give.

Wow! He's not holding back here. Clears his front leg and hoicks the ball over long off. Leg spinner from Chakravarthy but du Plessis spots it early. Huge hit. CSK on overdrive already to reach 37/0 after 4 overs.

Once again, du Plessis uses the pace of the ball and what the pitch has to offer to glide the ball between the fielder at point and short third man. Third four for him already. CSK on the attack early against KKR bowlers on this belter of a pitch.

Almost a wicket for Chakravarthy and almost another low score for Gaikwad. The batsman looks to chip the ball down leg but manages an outside edge. The ball lobs in the air but falls beats Chakravarthy to it.

And it doesn't take long for Faf du Plessis to get a boundary off him. Goes after the bowler the second ball but misses. The next ball, as Narine pulls his length back by a little, du Plessis opens the blade of his bat and glides the ball wide of the fielder at short third man for a four. CSK 25/0 after 3 overs.

The first six of the match. Short ball but Gaikwad gets into position really early and pulls the ball, almost a pick-up shot, over the ropes for a six. An expensive first over from Pat Cummins. Two fours and a six. 15 runs off the over. CSK 19/0 after 2 overs.

Full and wide... and right in the slot for Ruturaj Gaikwad to take full toll. Gets the big stride and the head leans into the drive. Textbook stuff. Beats the fielders inside the circle and it's a boundary for Gaikwad. That's why CSK have shown this faith in him.

First boundary for the Chennai Super Kings. Slightly short of length and Faf du Plessis connects it well as the ball races away for a four. With that, du Plessis brings up 6000 runs across all T20.

Encouraging signs for the spinners. The ball is spinning and bouncing already. Faf du Plessis get off the mark with a single as the ball takes the inside edge of his bat and goes to fine leg for a single. The commentators say the pitch looks 'spicy'. There's always something for the bowlers at the Wankhede. CSK 4/0 after 1st over

Ruturaj Gaikwad to take first strike and he will be up against the quality spin of Varun Chakravarthy. Lip-smacking stuff this. Starts with a dot ball but Gaikwad pushed the next for a single. He and KKR are off the mark.

And it promises to be an exciting contest. Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad up against Pat Cummins/Prasidh Krishna/Sunil Narine/Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Some phenomenal bowlers in KKR's ranks, but CSK have a strong batting line up of their own: du Plessis, Raina, Rayudu, Dhoni, Jadeja. Phew! A cracker of a game awaits.

5, 5 and 10: These have been Ruturaj Gaikwad's returns in IPL 2021 in three matches so far. He missed the majority of last season, but returned to hit three half-centuries in a row. CSK have persisted with him for a fourth game and the youngster will be hoping to get some runs going under his belt and get his off to a brisk start.

The former West Indies captain has predicted the outcome of the Powerplay, saying CSK will survive the first six overs without losing a wicket. It'll take quite some doing for it to happen against Cummins and Narine and more.

So here's an interesting trivia Dhoni fans would not want to hear. The CSK captain is yet to hit a single boundary off the bowling of Sunil Narine. WOW! Narine has been playing the IPL since 2012? So it's been nine seasons. So there's your answer behind Sunil Narine's inclusion... to keep MSD quiet.