IPL 2025, KKR vs CSK Highlights: MS Dhoni guides CSK home in 180-run chase, KKR all but knocked out

IPL 2025, KKR vs CSK Highlights:

IPL 2025, KKR vs CSK Highlights: Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by two wickets in what could be a body blow to the latter's chances of making it to the playoffs. In a dramatic chase in which the pendulum swung between both sides, MS Dhoni stayed until the end and anchored the final part of the 180-run chase. 

CSK earlier lost five wickets in the powerplay but Dewald Brevis's 22-ball half-century flipped the tables on Kolkata Knight Riders. Brevis smashed 30 runs in an over to land a body blow on KKR's chances of making it to the playoff. However, KKR have clawed their way back after Brevis fell with Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni struggling to get going. 

CSK's latest young debutant Urvil Patel earlier made a bright start after they lost Ayush Mhatre early chasing 180 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Devon Conway, who opened the innings Mhatre, soon fell and Urvil didn't survive too long either, leading to CSK being three wickets down in the first three overs. 

Earlier, Manish Pandey played through to the end of a strange innings from Kolkata Knight Riders in which they posted a total of 179/6 in 20 overs. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane was halted in the middle overs once again after taking off in the powerplay, as has been the case for him all season. He eventually fell to his longtime India teammate Ravindra Jadeja in the 13th over. KKR are now hoping that Andre Russell and Manish Pandey can give them some acceleration with CSK having taken control of the proceedings in the middle overs. 

Earlier, Rahane and Sunil Narine made merry in the powerplay and helped the defending champions recover from an early loss of wicket. However, Chennai Super Kings have come back strong by first limiting runs after the first six overs before Noor Ahmad dismissed Narine and the in-form Angkrish Raghuvanshi in the eighth over. Rahane had to earlier walk in early once again with Anshul Kamboj sending back Rahmanullah Gurbaz in just the second over of the match. Rahane had earlier won the toss and said that KKR are batting first. 

KKR need to win every match from here on out and among the noise that they might need to cancel out could be from their home fans whenever Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni walks out to bat. As has been the case for the past half a decade or so, there is speculation that this could be the last time that fans at the Eden Gardens could get to see the great man play.

The 43-year-old had started this season as an uncapped wicketkeeper but he was back at the helm of everything for CSK halfway through because of an injury to regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni's reinstatement as captain did not lead to a magical turnaround in fortunes for the stumbling in CSK and they eventually became the first side to be ruled out of contention for the playoffs. CSK have since been in experimental mode, clearly looking to prepare some young players who could power their recovery next season.

The situation couldn't be more different for KKR. They somehow survived an almighty scare against the Rajasthan Royals and now need to win all four of their remaining matches to stay in contention for playoffs. It means while CSK have little to nothing riding on today's match, KKR have everything to lose.

KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit said that he is not too worried about the noise around the match. "I think during these kinds of games, every player and every team is always focused on their own game," said Pandit. "I mean, that's sometimes like, if a batter is batting and there is so much noise around and if you ask that batter, probably he will say that 'I didn't hear anything about it."

"It was the same case with me when people used to tell me so much noise around and how you can focus. But sometimes we just ignore that noise automatically. So, obviously when you are focused on the game, it does not matter so much if you ask me," he said.

KKR's batting has faltered repeatedly this season, leaving them in a precarious position with just five wins from 11 matches. Pandit however reiterated that the players are not too affected by the pressure. "Always better to tell the boys what positives you have done. It helped you to win the game and you got to carry that. The strength that you have, rather than thinking about the next three games."

"Looking at the last two games, yes of course (we are peaking). We look ahead to the other two games, very much confident that we will qualify. This is the beauty of this tournament. Ups and downs will be there in a two-month journey," he said.

Some highlights from the match: 

- CSK beat KKR by 2 wickets

- Dewald Brevis races past 50 in 22 balls

- Dewald Brevis smashes 30 runs in 11th over

- CSK 62/5 in the powerplay

- KKR 179/6 in 20 overs

- KKR 67/1 in the powerplay

- KKR have had to leave out Venkatesh Iyer and bring in Manish Pandey in his palce

- KKR won the toss and chose to bat first