IPL 2018, KKR vs CSK: 5 reasons why CSK lost

It was a highly anticipated clash at the Eden Gardens as the Kolkata Knight Riders looked to push up the table by beating the Chennai Super Kings. Dinesh Karthik won the toss and elected to field first.

Chennai got off to a fantastic start as Shane Watson continued in his rich vein of form. But a brilliant spell from Sunil Narine applied the stranglehold on Chennai’s innings. It took a Dhoni special to guide Chennai to a competitive score of 177.

In reply, Kolkata got off to a fast start courtesy a cameo from Sunil Narine. But the hero of the match was Shubhman Gill, who made his first IPL fifty to help Kolkata chase down the target with 14 balls to spare. Let us look at the 5 reasons why Chennai lost the contest.

---

#1 Middle overs struggle

Chennai again got off to a strong start but lost their way in the middle overs. After piling on 90 runs in the first 10 overs, they could only score 31 runs in the next 5 overs as Kolkata’s spinners exercised control.

Both Shane Watson and Suresh Raina were well set and losing them in consecutive overs, sucked the momentum out of Chennai’s innings as both Ambati Rayadu and M.S. Dhoni looked to rebuild. In the end, it turned out to be the difference between a match-winning score and a competitive one.

#2 Jadeja’s drops

Ravindra Jadeja is easily one of the safest pairs of hands in world cricket. Jaddu has turned many a matched around with his superb fielding skills. However, it was an off day for Jadeja in the field as he dropped 2 sitters of Sunil Narine in the 2nd over.

Narine miscued a lofted shot and gave an easy chance to Jadeja at mid-off but Jadeja could not capitalize. On the very next ball, Narine offered another catch to Jaddu at the same position but he mistimed his jump and Narine lived to fight another day.

Narine was batting at the score of 6 at that time and went on to make a quickfire 32 of just 20 balls. In a game of such fine margins, a difference of 26 runs is huge.

#3 Narine’s magical spell

Sunil Narine has had a few setbacks in his bowling career in the recent past as he was banned due to an illegal action. But the West Indian spinner has bounced back brilliantly with a modified action.

Today as well, Narine was brilliant with the ball as he picked up 2 crucial wickets and went for just 20 runs of his 4 overs. When Chennai was looking to step up the run rate, Narine disturbed the stumps of Ambati Rayadu with a sharp off-spinner.

In the penultimate over of the innings, Narine conceded just 4 runs. His spell ensured that Chennai’s score never went out of sight.

#4 Shubman Gill comes of age

There has been a lot of talk in cricketing circuit about Shubhman Gill. Today, the Punjab lad showed just why everyone is comparing him to Virat Kohli. Gill has been a bit unlucky so far in the IPL as he is a top order batsman but has been made to bat at no. 7 by KKR.

Gill was promoted up the order today due to an injury to regular no. 4 Nitish Rana. Gill made the most of the opportunity as smashed a brilliant half-century and guided Kolkata in a tough chase against an experienced Chennai attack. He looked at equal ease against both pace and spin and was the star of Kolkata’s chase.

#5 Dwayne Bravo underbowled

Dwayne Bravo has been one of the finest bowlers in the history of IPL. His brilliant variations are not easy to pick and batsmen struggle to get hold of him in the death overs. However, Dhoni missed a trick today by keeping his overs in the locker for too long.

Bravo bowled a tight first over, conceding just 7 runs but strangely Dhoni had more faith in his spinners and brought Bravo back only in the 18th over. The horse had bolted by then the match was firmly in Kolkata’s pocket.

---

Our tournament homepage has IPL live score, Match Analysis, Detailed Stats, Fantasy Tips, Controversies, Match Predictions and much more. Bookmark it now!