The 61st game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 featured a clash between the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings and the Nitish Rana-led Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, May 14.
Coming in to bat first after winning the toss, Chennai got off to a subpar start as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway only managed to score 17 and 30 runs, respectively. The bowling attack of Kolkata proved to be a big problem for the four-time champions.
The spell of veteran Windies all-rounder Sunil Narine was especially impactful for Kolkata. Narine claimed his first wicket after three matches. He took his last wicket in the 39th game of the tournament against defending champions Gujarat Titans, and his next wicket after that came against Chennai in match No. 61.
Narine dismissed Ambati Rayudu, who was playing his 200th game in the tournament. Rayudu was sent packing for just four runs. Furthermore, Narine topped it off with yet another wicket, dismissing Moeen Ali for one run.
KKR aim to register sixth win of the IPL 2023
The situation for a playoff spot for Kolkata looks rather bleak at the moment. The two-time champions find themselves in eighth place on the IPL points table with 10 points in 12 matches. Finding themselves on the wrong end of the standings, the Nitish Rana-led side would look to win their remaining games and go all-out in their quest to make it to the playoffs of the tournament.
They would be keen on completing the 145-run chase in the second innings. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings are in a rather comfortable position in the standings, as with 15 points in 12 matches, the four-time champions find themselves in second place in the standings. Coming off a brilliant win against Delhi Capitals, they would be keen on maintaining their winning ways.