Twitter Reactions: Dominant CSK dismantle hapless KKR to move top of points table

Chennai Super Kings moved to the summit of the IPL 2023 points table after dispatching Kolkata Knight Riders in a one-sided contest at the Eden Gardens. It was the CSK batters, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube and Devon Conway, who put on a batting masterclass to propel the visitors to a monstrous total of 235 runs. 

If the chase wasn’t a daunting prospect already for the home side, it got worse after they lost Sunil Narine and N Jagadeesan inside the first two overs of the second innings. Even though Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer steadied the ship for the hosts, they were never able to break free against the CSK’s new ball bowlers.

Both the batters departed after the powerplay as CSK threatened to make light work of the KKR batting order. However, Jason Roy, who injured himself while fielding in the first innings, smashed the fastest half-century for the two-time champions in IPL 2023. But his dismissal after a fiery knock gave the visitors complete control of the proceedings.

Despite Rinku Singh’s fighting half-century, the Men in Purple got nowhere close to the target as the four-time champions ran out comfortable winners at the end.

Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube ran riot against the KKR bowlers

Earlier in the match, Nitish Rana called it right at the toss and decided to bowl first on a beautiful batting track in Kolkata. The four-time champions started the game on a bright note after a breezy opening stand between Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad. 

While Gaikwad was dismissed after a brisk cameo, his opening partner, Conway, climbed up in the list for the leading run-scorers in this year’s competition after registering his third successive half-century. It was the Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube show after Conway’s departure as the duo shell-shocked the home side with ferocious hitting.

Dube, who had the license to go big from ball one, smashed an explosive 20-ball half-century, the third joint-fastest of this year’s edition so far. He had a valiant partner in senior statesman Ajinkya Rahane, who dazzled with a glittering half-century of his own. Rahane remained unbeaten at the crease with a staggering 71 runs to his name off just 29 deliveries to help his side to the highest total at the venue in IPL history.