Chennai Super Kings produced a clinical all-round performance to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs in Match 22 of the IPL 2026 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.
Defending 192, CSK restricted KKR to 160/7, with Noor Ahmad emerging as the game-changer with a brilliant spell in the middle overs.
CSK set the tone with aggressive start
Opting to bat first, CSK came out with intent as Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre took the attack to the KKR bowlers right from the outset. Despite an early dismissal of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, the momentum never dipped.
Mhatre provided the early fireworks with a stunning 38 off just 17 balls, dominating the powerplay and helping CSK race to 72/2 in six overs. At the other end, Samson played the perfect anchor, scoring a fluent 48 off 32 deliveries, laced with boundaries and controlled aggression.
KKR managed to pull things back through their spinners in the middle overs. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy tightened the scoring, forcing CSK into a quieter phase.
Just as the innings risked losing steam, Dewald Brevis injected fresh life with a counter-attacking 41 off 29 balls. He found support in Sarfaraz Khan (23 off 18), with the duo adding a crucial 51-run partnership to push CSK towards a strong total.
Kartik Tyagi stood out for KKR with disciplined bowling at the death, finishing with 2/35 and preventing a late surge. From a commanding position of 162/3 in 16 overs, CSK were restricted to 192/5 in their 20 overs.
Noor Ahmad triggers KKR’s collapse
In reply, KKR’s chase never truly gained momentum after an inconsistent start. The decision to open with Sunil Narine alongside Finn Allen didn’t pay off, with Allen falling early and Narine dismissed for 24.
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempted to rebuild with a steady partnership, taking KKR past the 50-run mark. However, the game turned decisively in the 11th over.
Noor Ahmad delivered a match-winning spell, removing Rahane before castling Cameron Green for a golden duck on the very next ball. He then dismissed Rinku Singh, leaving KKR reeling at 91/6 and effectively ending the contest.
The left-arm spinner finished with outstanding figures of 3/21, breaking the backbone of KKR’s middle order.
Ramandeep Singh (35 off 23) and Rovman Powell (31* off 22) added a fighting 57-run stand for the seventh wicket, but the required rate had already climbed too high.
Despite their late resistance, KKR fell well short, finishing at 160/7 in 20 overs.
Alongside Noor Ahmad’s brilliance, Anshul Kamboj chipped in with two key wickets, while Khaleel Ahmed and Akeal Hosein provided crucial breakthroughs to keep KKR under pressure throughout the innings.
CSK vs KKR IPL 2026: Playing XI
Chennai Super Kings:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Khaleel Ahmed
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi