Dominant KKR condemn CSK to their Chepauk nadir

MS Dhoni's return to captaincy wasn't the magic bullet CSK might have hoped for. On a forgettable night, the five-time champions slumped to an unprecedented fifth straight loss, their third at home this season, and were bowled out for their lowest-ever total at Chepauk. To rub salt in the wounds, holders Kolkata Knight Riders chased down the target of 103 with gusto, getting there with 59 balls to spare to notch up their third win of the season.

Where did CSK lose this?

In their batting intent and in the PowerPlays, which is where Dhoni wanted to find ways of improvement in their own way. CSK have hit just three sixes in the PowerPlay all season, none today. In stark contrast, KKR smashed seven in the first six overs alone.

The PowerPlay difference

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS

PowerPlay: Another insipid start

Phase Score: 31/2 (RR: 5.17; 4s/6s: 4/0)

CSK, who had indicated they wanted to bat first and were granted that opportunity after KKR chose to field, lumbered to the second-lowest PowerPlay score of the season, behind only their effort against RCB. It was a tacky surface, but ten of the first 18 balls were dots, prompting Devon Conway to attempt a reverse-sweep against Moeen. He missed and was out LBW in a wicket-maiden from the returning Englishman, who bowled two of the first-six overs. Rachin Ravindra also struggled to force the pace, and a leading edge while trying to heave Harshit Rana was pouched at extra cover. Rana should have had a second, but Sunil Narine spilled a simple catch at mid-off to reprieve Vijay Shankar, who then struck a pair of boundaries in the sixth over to add some respectability to the score.

Middle Overs: CSK's boat rocked sideways by KKR's spin

Phase Score: 43/5 (RR: 4.77; 4s/6s: 1/1)

CSK's hopes of a revival rested on the Vijay Shankar-Tripathi stand, and the pair briefly raised them with a 43-run partnership for the third wicket before it all went pear-shaped for the five-time winners. Varun Chakaravarthy won his duel with state mate Vijay, who, after surviving another dropped chance, swept straight to deep square leg. The innings unraveled quickly thereafter - Tripathi was bowled by Narine, R. Ashwin, promoted as a pinch-hitter, pulled Rana to long-on, and Narine struck again to have Jadeja caught behind for a duck. Deepak Hooda was brought in as the Impact Sub, but Varun had him chipping a simple catch to mid-wicket to leave the hosts reeling at 72 for 7.

Death Overs: CSK's lowest total at home

Phase Score: 29/2 (RR: 5.80; 4s/6s: 3/0)

Dhoni walked in at No. 9 in the 15th over, greeted by a slip and a forward short-leg. With Varun and Narine still operating and the match-ups in their favour, Rahane's smart team selection and resource management paid off. It didn't take long for Narine to strike again, ripping an off-break past Dhoni's defence and into his pads to claim his third. The West Indian finished with a superb 3 for 13. CSK were staring at a sub-100 total after losing 7 for 20 in 46 balls before Shivam Dube spared them that ignominy with an unbeaten 24-run stand for the final wicket with Anshul Kamboj. Dube also broke a 63-ball boundary drought but couldn't prevent CSK from registering their lowest total at home.

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

PowerPlay: Seven sixes in the first six overs

Phase Score: 71/1 (RR: 11.83; 4s/6s: 3/7)

CSK managed just one six in 120 balls; KKR smashed two off the first seven balls of the chase, a stark illustration of the gulf in intent. Dhoni waited until the fourth over to introduce spin, by which time Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock had already shaved 34 runs off the modest target. Ashwin's first over added another 12 runs to the KKR scoreboard before Anshul Kamboj eventually ended the 46-run opening blitz. But there was more PowerPlay punishment left for CSK to endure as Khaleel conceded 18 in the sixth over as KKR moved to within just 33 runs of the target.

Middle Overs: Done and dusted in 10.1 overs

Phase Score: 36/1 (RR: 8.64; 4s/6s: 1/3)

Sunil Narine fell for an 18-ball 44 when he was cleaned up by Noor Ahmad but Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh ensured KKR received a massive swing in the Net Run Rate (-0.056 to +0.803) by polishing off the chase in 10.1 overs.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 103/9 in 20 overs (Shivam Dube 31*; Sunil Narine 3-13, Harshit Rana 2-16, Varun CV 2-22) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 107/2 in 10.1 overs (Sunil Narine 44; Noor Ahmad 1-8) by 8 wickets.

What's next for the teams?

CSK have a two-day gap to their next fixture and will travel north to Lucknow to face the LSG on April 14. KKR will play the following day in New Chandigarh against PBKS.