Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, 53rd Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

That's it from a very happy KL Rahul. His team is done with their on-field show in the league stages. Now they will be screaming their lungs out for Rajasthan Royals in front of the TV sets. The game has just started. Join us for the second game too. See you!

Rahul on how he prepares: When you get going like that you feel like you can hit every ball. You need to hold your shape. The only thing I keep telling myself is I am not a power-hitter. I still rely on timing and getting my body in good positions. So I keep telling myself to set up strong, watch the ball and trust my instincts to play the right shot. In the nets I train my mind and train my instincts to make the right choice in the middle. There's no better feeling than hitting the ball in the middle of the bat and watching the ball fly all over the park.

Rahul on his batting and strikerates: It was just what the team needs. I know there has been a lot of talk in the last?3-4 years about my strikerate and me playing slowly. But only my team and I know what's my role?and what my responsibility is. I tried to play the role the team requires off me every game.?I feel I am letting the team down if I play the kind of cricket?I want to play. It's always team first for me. That's?how I have grown up and that's how I will continue to play. Today the team needed?this. I was happy that I could play this kind of a knock.

KL Rahul | 98(42) | Player of the Match | PBKS skipper: It was really hot today. Plan was simple. The numbers guys pulled up a few permutations and combinations. They said if we chase this before 14 overs it gives us the best chance. So the plan was clear and I had the licence to go from ball 1. One of those days when it comes off when you have complete clarity. All of the them?hit the middle of the bat. I don't think I have creamed the ball that sweetly in some time. My personal favourite would be the one (SIX) off Josh Hazlewood over square leg. I love playing the pull shot. Especially after being struck on the head, was a?good response. It's (the bat) making a funny?noise with the handle so I was just a little worried in the middle. There's a World Cup coming up. I want that bat to stay fit. I will go back to the room and fix it up.

MS Dhoni | CSK skipper: You have to cope (when it comes to mental or skill aspect) up with that. We had played very good cricket to reach the playoff stages. We had a few bad games 2 out of 3 and one we felt like we could have a comeback and that's part and parcel d in leagues like these, you have to be at your best. Motivation is not a factor, the guys are highly motivated and maybe we need to tune up slightly as to what needs to be done and also a few tosses if they had gone our way. It would have looked worse winning toss and batting on that wicket and I felt the wicket changed a bit, it was a bit challenging but it was a good wicket.

Aiden Markram: Been brilliant. It is a tournament where I have been involved with these great bunch of guys. Too many to pick from. He (Rahul) needs to enjoy that. He has done something special tonight. It was unbelievable to watch. I think you always need to upscale. So I am spending more hours. It is also about learning as to how the best go about their business. Today was an example.

CSK in IPL 2021:
Batting 1st: Mat 9 | Won 4 | Lost 5
Batting 2nd: Mat 5 | Won 5 | Lost 0

If KKR lose with around 11 overs to spare against RR, their NRR will go below that of PBKS and MI.

17:17 Local Time, 13:17 GMT, 18:47 IST: Brilliant victory for PBKS. Owner Preity Zinta is happy in the stands. PBKS came into this game needing a big win. KL chose to bowl to have a target in mind and be clear of what they needed to do. They restricted CSK to 134, the total could have been lower if the bowling was as brilliant as the first half. And then KL took over with the bat. He's said before that he's not happy to play within himself having to shoulder the batting. But today he must be very happy to have taken the aggressive route. Well, did he have any other option? A win within 10-11 overs would have given them a better NRR, but by finishing in 13 overs, they have definitely gone over MI. PBKS now need RR to win big like MI and then SRH to down MI. But honestly, did they have to scrap for NRR with all these permutations and combinations? That jawdropping 2-run loss and then the 6-run loss to RCB has cost them dear. It's been a story of throwing away games from their own bag for quite some time. Anyway...

Thakur to Rahul, SIX, in the airrrrr, long way into the sky and it's gone over backward square leg. PBKS still have an outside chance of advancing to the playoffs with this win. KL Rahul gets another score in the 90s in the IPL

Thakur to Rahul, FOUR, "two, two, two," says Rahul as he mistimes this pull through mid-wicket. Oh DJ Bravo fumbles in the deep and it's gone for four. Just 2 needed now

Thakur to Henriques, 1 run, short of length delivery outside off stump, Henriques guides it to third man

Thakur to Henriques, 2 runs, drags this away wide of mid-wicket and it's a big enough gap for two runs

Thakur to Henriques, no run, oh Henriques wants to scoop this to fine leg, looks like they want to finish this over. Misses and gets it on the glove

Moises Henriques, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Thakur to Markram, out Caught by Dhoni!! Among all this carnage, Shardul Thakur has taken three wickets in 13 balls and what has he done mostly? Just keep it simple and bowl into the wicket close to the off stump. Nothing but a short of length delivery outside off stump, Markram looks to drive on the up, extra bounce with away movement, thick edge through to Dhoni. Markram c Dhoni b Thakur 13(8) [6s-1]

Thakur to Markram, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Shardul Thakur [2.0-0-15-2] is back into the attack

Dwayne Bravo to Markram, 1 run, slower ball on the leg stump, Markram wrists this to deep mid-wicket

Akhil Khurana: As a true CSK fan I am actually not happy today by the performance of CSK. But as a true Indian fan I am happy to see the performance of KL Rahul.

Dwayne Bravo to Rahul, 1 run, excellent leg stump yorker, Rahul digs it out to deep mid-wicket