IPL 2023, CSK vs KKR: Half-centuries from Rinku-Rana help KKR over the finish line

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s last league game of IPL 2023 at the Chepauk ended on a sad note for his team after they suffered a 6-wicket defeat by the Kolkata Knight Riders.

A win would’ve assured second ranked CSK a play-off berth, making them the first team to qualify this season but instead KKR’s victory has marginally increased Nitish & Co’s chances to reach the top-4.

Skipper Nitish Rana and Kolkata’s trusted Rinku Singh stitched up a 99-run partnership, comfortably guiding the team over the finish line.

While Deepak Chahar shined for Chennai with a 3-wicket haul, his stellar performance was in vain.

Rinku Singh registered his 3rd IPL fifty in the 16th over, incidentally his first half-century in a winning cause but was run-out by Moeen Ali in the 18th over.

With 13 runs remaining in the chase and plenty of balls at their disposal, captain Nitish Rana seemed in no rush to hurry.
In the third ball of the penultimate over, Nitish hit Tushar Deshpande for a four, leading KKR to their 6th victory in 13 games.

Sunday’s match was an emotional one for Chennai fans as speculations of Dhoni’s retirement continue to overshadow the entire tournament.

Earlier in the evening, the fans could not stop cheering as the legendary cricketer arrived at the crease in the very last over to play just 2 balls.

CSK’s innings was spearheaded by Shivam Dube, who fell short of a half-century by 2 runs. The hosts were losing wickets at quick intervals, having been reduced to 72-5 in the 11th over.

It was a 66-run partnership by Dube and Ravindra Jadeja that helped CSK post a modest 144.

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