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Tag: csk vs kkr

  • MS Dhoni’s Arrival Leaves Andre Russell Covering His Ears In Awe of Chepauk’s Roar, Video Goes Viral – Watch | cricket news

    The roar from the crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium reached a deafening 125 decibels as Mahendra Singh Dhoni strode out to the crease in the final overs of Chennai Super Kings’ run chase against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday. The sight of the iconic CSK captain was enough to send the passionate Chepauk faithful into a frenzy, leaving Kolkata all-rounder Andre Russell with no choice but to cover his ears to shield himself from the thunderous ovation.

    Andre Russell closing his ears due to the cheers from crowd when MS Dhoni in the batting at Chepauk._

    – THE CRAZE & AURA OF DHONI IS UNREAL, THE BRAND…!!!!__ pic.twitter.com/jf8RIr5fTr — CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 8, 2024

    CSK, chasing a modest target of 138, were cruising at 141/3 with 14 balls to spare when Dhoni arrived, the game all but settled. But for the Chennai crowd, who worship their beloved “Thala”, the mere presence of their talismanic leader was worth celebrating like a match-winning six.

    Earlier, it was another CSK star, Ravindra Jadeja, who laid the platform for the convincing seven-wicket victory. The left-arm spinner was the architect of Kolkata’s undoing, returning brilliant figures of 3/18 to restrict the visitors to a below-par 137/9.

    Jadeja struck crucial blows in the middle overs, removing the dangerous Sunil Narine and Angkrish Raghuvanshi to derail Kolkata’s innings. The defending champions then overhauled the target with consummate ease, led by an unbeaten 67 off 58 balls from opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.

    Gaikwad laid the foundation with a 70-run stand for the second wicket with Daryl Mitchell (25) before impact substitute Shivam Dube’s blistering 28 off just 18 deliveries sealed the deal for Chennai.

    While the result may have been expected given CSK’s pedigree at home, the real highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Dhoni’s grand entrance. As the former India captain made his way to the crease, the noise levels peaked, drowning out the commentary and audio feed.

    Seasoned campaigner Russell, no stranger to raucous crowds himself, was taken back by the sheer intensity of the Chepauk crowd’s adulation for Dhoni. The West Indian all-rounder was seen comically covering his ears, a testament to the unprecedented popularity of the Chennai icon.

    “I easily think this man is the most loved cricketer in the world,” Russell later wrote on social media, capturing the sentiment perfectly.

    Indeed, Dhoni’s legacy transcends the boundaries of the sport. For the CSK faithful, he is more than just a cricket star – he is an emotion, a symbol of pride, and the very heartbeat of the franchise. And when he walks out to bat, the fans make sure the entire stadium reverberates with their unadulterated love and admiration.

    As Dhoni strode out to the middle, the game was all but over. But the Chennai crowd refused to let the moment pass without savoring every bit of it. Their thunderous ovation echoed through the stadium, drowning out the commentators and leaving the opposition in awe.

    In the end, CSK cruised to victory, but the real winner on the night was the unbreakable bond between Dhoni and his adoring Chepauk faithful. It was a testament to the enduring legacy of one of cricket’s greatest icons, a moment that will be etched in the memories of all those fortunate enough to witness it live.

  • IPL 2024: CSK vs KKR Head-To-Head, Probable Playing 11s, Chennai Pitch Report, Key Battles And Weather Forecast; All You Need To Know | cricket news

    Huge game today in Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) as two of the biggest rivals in the T20 league are going to meet for the first time this season. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are going to host (Kolkata Knight Riders) at Chepauk and it cannot get better than this. Former captains of the respective teams – MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir – will be in two different roles but the desire to beat each other will still be there in them. Mind you, CSK have lost two in a row and need a win to bounce back while KKR are on winning spree, winning 3 in 3 so far.

    Also Read | IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma Becomes Second Batter After Virat Kohli To Achieve Rare Feat With Stellar Knock Vs DC

    CSK vs KKR: Head-to-head

    CSK and KKR are big rivals because of the intensity with which these two teams play. But when it comes to head-to-head record, there is a big gap between them. CSK have won 18 matches against KKR while the Kolkata-based franchise has won only 10. In Chepauk, the two teams have met each other ten times, out of which KKR have won thrice while Chennai have been victorious 7 times. Gautam Gambhir will want his team to get more closer to Chennai today by winning this contest.

    Chennai Pitch Report

    The MA Chidambaram stadium offers slower pitches, especially in the IPL. CSK build their squad keeping the slow nature of the surface in mind. Expect slower bowlers to dominate the game. KKR are one side which can do well at Chennai despite the slower nature of the surface because they do have the type of bowlers in Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and if needed Suyash Sharma to do the job. But the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner know this surface better having played here a lot in the league. The slow medium pace of Shivam Dube and Daryl Mitchell can also come in handy for CSK today.

    key battles

    Rinku Singh vs the Sri Lankan duo of Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana will be a contest to look out for. Rinku is known for his finishing skills but it is also true that he has scored just 35 runs off 33 balls against them in the league. It will be interested to see how Rinku goes against Theekshana in the middle overs and Pathirana in the death overs.

    Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Mitchell Starc will be another good contest as well the KKR spinners vs MS Dhoni. We might see Varun Chakravarthy being introduced if Dhoni comes to bat early as the former CSK captain has had difficulties facing leg or mystery spin bowling.

    Weather forecast in Chennai today

    It is going to be super hot in Chennai on April 8. There will be no clouds in Chennai today as the temperature will be between 31 to 35 degrees with the humidity crossing 74 percent mark by 7 pm IST when te match is about to begin. But no rain in Chennai today.

    CSK vs KKR: Probable Playing 11s

    CSK Probable XI: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi/Mitchell Santner, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana.

    KKR Probable XI: Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy.

  • ‘Well….I still haven’t left’: CSK skipper MS Dhoni hints at playing for IPL 2022

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni might be 40 but the legendary cricketer could indeed feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. CSK, also known as ‘Dad’s Army’, lifted their fourth IPL title on Friday after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final by 27 runs.

    Dhoni, one of the greatest captains to have played the game, said he still has not left behind his legacy, indicating that he might feature in next year’s IPL also. During the post-match presentation, when the broadcaster asked about the legacy Dhoni is leaving behind, the CSK skipper gave a cheeky reply. “Well, I still haven’t left behind (smiles).”

    However, Dhoni also said that him playing for CSK would depend on what works best for the Chennai-based team. “It depends on BCCI with two new teams coming in. Well it’s not about me playing for CSK, it’s about what is best for CSK. The core group that can carry the team for 10 years. Now we need to see what is best,” said Dhoni.

    The CSK skipper also said if any team deserved to win the IPL 2021 title it was KKR and also pointed out that the break helped the Eoin Morgan side.

    “Before I start talking about CSK, it’s important I talk about KKR. For the position they were in after the first phase, it is very difficult to come back and do what they have done. If any team deserved to win the IPL this year, I feel it was KKR. I think the break helped them,” said Dhoni.

    Speaking about CSK’s win, Dhoni said ” Coming to CSK we shuffled a few players, we used them in different ways. Important to take responsibility. I felt we had match-winners game after game. People who were in the form they ensured they were scoring throughout the tournament and others were chipping in.”

    “Every final is special. Yes, we are the most consistent team looking at the stats but we have also lost finals. Not letting the opposition in is something we consciously wanted to improve. I hope CSK in the coming years will be known for that.

    “We don’t really talk a lot. It’s more one on one. Our practice sessions are more like a meeting session also. People are more open that way. The moment you talk in a team room there is a bit of pressure,” Dhoni added.

  • ‘Well….I still haven’t left’: CSK skipper MS Dhoni hints at playing IPL 2022

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni might be 40 but the legendary cricketer could indeed feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. CSK, also known as ‘Dad’s Army’, lifted their fourth IPL title on Friday after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final by 27 runs.

    Dhoni, one of the greatest captains to have played the game, said he still has not left behind his legacy, indicating that he might feature in next year’s IPL also. During the post-match presentation, when the broadcaster asked about the legacy Dhoni is leaving behind, the CSK skipper gave a cheeky reply. “Well, I still haven’t left behind (smiles).”

    However, Dhoni also said that him playing for CSK would depend on what works best for the Chennai-based team. “It depends on BCCI with two new teams coming in. Well it’s not about me playing for CSK, it’s about what is best for CSK. The core group that can carry the team for 10 years. Now we need to see what is best,” said Dhoni.

    ALSO READ| Check what the Super Kings had to say after they won IPL

    The CSK skipper also said if any team deserved to win the IPL 2021 title it was KKR and also pointed out that the break helped the Eoin Morgan side.

    “Before I start talking about CSK, it’s important I talk about KKR. For the position they were in after the first phase, it is very difficult to come back and do what they have done. If any team deserved to win the IPL this year, I feel it was KKR. I think the break helped them,” said Dhoni.

    Speaking about CSK’s win, Dhoni said ” Coming to CSK we shuffled a few players, we used them in different ways. Important to take responsibility. I felt we had match-winners game after game. People who were in the form they ensured they were scoring throughout the tournament and others were chipping in.”

    ALSO READ| Don’t get too deep into analytics, go with gut feel: Stephen Fleming on CSK’s winning mantra

    “Every final is special. Yes, we are the most consistent team looking at the stats but we have also lost finals. Not letting the opposition in is something we consciously wanted to improve. I hope CSK in the coming years will be known for that.

    “We don’t really talk a lot. It’s more one on one. Our practice sessions are more like a meeting session also. People are more open that way. The moment you talk in a team room there is a bit of pressure,” Dhoni added.

  • Venkatesh Iyer was a big catalyst in KKR’s turnaround in UAE leg: KKR coach Brendon McCullum

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum says young Venkatesh Iyer, with his flamboyance, played the role of a catalyst in turning around the fortunes of the side in the second leg of the just-concluded IPL here.

    KKR was languishing at the seventh spot after the India leg was suspended in May this year due to COVID-19 outbreak in the tournament’s bio-bubble, but the Eoin Morgan-led side made a fantastic turnaround in the UAE phase, finishing as runner-up after losing to Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs in the final on Friday night.

    “He (Iyer) will be challenged to change his methods at times too. He might not necessarily be the most consistent because of his flamboyancy. But I hope he remains the Venkatesh Iyer that we have seen so far. He’s got an enormous future in this game and he’s a very intelligent man. He was a big catalyst for our turnaround this season,” McCullum said at the post-match press conference.

    McCullum said that Iyer’s has been “incredible story” after the lanky southpaw from Indore amassed 370 runs from 10 games this season. “But look, Venkatesh Iyer has been quite an incredible story. Looking back, he was actually going to play the last game, the next game when we were in India. In a funny way, the break came at a good time there. It gave him an opportunity to just get another couple of months of cricket under his belt, to understand that his opportunities weren’t too far away,” he said.

    Himself a big advocate of aggressive brand of cricket, McCullum felt Iyer should not change his attacking game. “For him, it was a matter of bringing the game which he owns – the Venkatesh Iyer game plan to the table, which is aggressive intent. He’s a big presence, he’s a tall man. He plays the game with a bit of a cavalier kind of streak. And that is so important that he holds on to it,” said the KKR head coach.

    Asked about Iyer’s chances of featuring in KKR’s retention list next season, McCullum quipped: “Look, we will deal with it next season.”

  • Rewarding to ward off criticism and finish four-year cycle with trophy: CSK coach Stephen Fleming

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming is a proud and satisfied man after his old brigade warded off criticism to end their four-year Indian Premier League cycle with a “rewarding” title.

    Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played his part to perfection in an extraordinary script as he led an ageing CSK to their fourth IPL title, outwitting Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in a one-sided final on Friday night. “There was criticism about the age of our squad but it’s rewarding to finish the four-year cycle with the trophy,” Fleming said.

    “Experience is important, guys who have been there and done it before add so much. We don’t get too deep into analytics and numbers, we go with gut feel and developing relationships with players. It’s old school but it works for us,” he added.

    ALSO READ| Check what the Super Kings had to say after they won IPL

    Fleming said that all the four IPL titles are special to him but the current one holds greater significance as it was bagged by an ageing side, who were written off at the start of the tournament. “It is very hard to rank them (the titles). It is also special because you work so hard and the result of a lot of hard work, so they (the titles) are all very special,” Fleming said at the post-match press conference.

    “I think, the one win in 2018, coming back, was very emotional but there is a lot of hard work in this one. I don’t think a lot of people had any hopes from us to be able to maintain our competitiveness during this cycle. We were pretty much written off,” he added.

    “So, there is little bit of satisfaction around that and a lot of pride in what the players have been able to achieve and maintain the standards over a number of months and that was a challenge for an ageing side. I am really proud about what they did and in the way they played,” he added.

    Fleming said the title was a recognition of the hardwork the ageing squad has put in and hinted that there will be a few changes in the team next year. “There is emotion around, I think when you get to an end of a cycle, you are not going to get some players back, so there (was) some emotions around these last games. When you win it, it is celebration and also recognition of what players have put in,” he said.

    “Chennai always had a system or belief that you maintain players and keep them with you for a long period of time, you get the best out of them. There are some players that have been with us for a long time. It will be interesting to see over the next few months how it pans out but most teams are probably going to have a bit of change to them” he added.

    The former New Zealand captain, who also won his fourth title with CSK as head coach, said the opening partnership between Faf Du Plessis and young Ruturaj Gaikwad was one of the reasons for the team’s success.

    He also lavished praise on Ruturaj, who emerged as the highest run-getter this season. “Yeah, I do (see him as the next star of Indian cricket). He (Ruturaj) is an absolute superstar already in my eyes. When we introduced him last year, people were little bit critical but we (had) such high expectations from him. We are really delighted that he finished off the season so well. He is a wonderful kid,” said Fleming about the Pune-based opener.

    “His craft this year, he mastered opening batting. With him and Faf (Du Plessis) to score that many runs, it’s one of the real reasons we won the IPL,” he added.

  • Don’t get too deep into analytics, go with gut feel: Coach Stephen Fleming on CSK’s winning mantra

    By PTI

    DUBAI: IPL champions for a fourth time, Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming says the secret of his ageing warriors’ success is that they rely more on gut feel and interpersonal relationships instead of going too deeply into analytics and numbers.

    Fleming was a proud and satisfied man after his old brigade, led by 40-year-old talisman in Mahendra Singh Dhoni, claimed the title on Friday, outplaying Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs. “There was criticism about the age of our squad but it’s rewarding to finish the four-year cycle with the trophy,” Fleming said.

    “Experience is important, guys who have been there and done it before add so much. We don’t get too deep into analytics and numbers, we go with gut feel and developing relationships with players. It’s old school but it works for us,” he added.

    Fleming said all the four IPL titles are special to him but the current one holds greater significance as it was bagged by a side, which was written off at the start of the tournament. “It is very hard to rank them (the titles). It is also special because you work so hard and the result of a lot of hard work, so they (the titles) are all very special,” Fleming said at the post-match press conference.

    ALSO READ| Check what the Super Kings had to say after they won IPL

    “I think, the one win in 2018, coming back, was very emotional but there is a lot of hard work in this one. I don’t think a lot of people had any hopes from us to be able to maintain our competitiveness during this cycle. We were pretty much written off,” Fleming said.

    “So, there is little bit of satisfaction around that and a lot of pride in what the players have been able to achieve and maintain the standards over a number of months and that was a challenge for an ageing side. I am really proud about what they did and in the way they played,” he added.

    Fleming said the title was a recognition of the hard work that the squad has put in and hinted that there will be a few changes in the team next year. “There is emotion around, I think when you get to an end of a cycle, you are not going to get some players back, so there (was) some emotions around these last games. When you win it, it is celebration and also recognition of what players have put in,” he said.

    “Chennai always had a system or belief that you maintain players and keep them with you for a long period of time, you get the best out of them. There are some players that have been with us for a long time. It will be interesting to see over the next few months how it pans out but most teams are probably going to have a bit of change to them,” he added.

    The former New Zealand captain, who also won his fourth title with CSK as head coach, said the opening partnership between South African veteran Faf Du Plessis and the young Ruturaj Gaikwad was one of the reasons for the team’s success.

    He also lavished praise on Ruturaj, who emerged as the highest run-getter this season. “Yeah, I do (see him as the next star of Indian cricket). He (Ruturaj) is an absolute superstar already in my eyes. When we introduced him last year, people were little bit critical but we (had) such high expectations from him. We are really delighted that he finished off the season so well. He is a wonderful kid,” said Fleming about the Pune-based opener.

    “His craft this year, he mastered opening batting. With him and Faf (Du Plessis) to score that many runs, it’s one of the real reasons we won the IPL,” he concluded.

  • Thakur turns things for CSK to lift fourth IPL trophy beating KKR by 27 runs

    By Online Desk

    DUBAI: Pacer Shardul Thakur took three wickets to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after a solid start in the final of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 here at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

    Openers Venkatesh Iyer and Shubnam Gill scored fifties to give their team a headstart to chase target 193 but rest of the batting line up faltered quickly in the second half the innings which ended with 165 runs.

    Thakur took Iyer’s wicket to break the opening partnership which was the turning point of the game.

    Earlier, CSK opener Faf du Plessis scored 86 not out to lead the team to target of 192/3 against KKR.

    Openers Du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave the three-time champions a solid start which was backed by quick-fire innings by Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali.

    In-form Faf du Plessis saved his best for the last with a blazing 86 off 59 balls as Chennai Super Kings posted a formidable 192 for 3 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL final here on Friday.

    It was a ‘Daddies’ Day Out’ in the true sense as 37-year-old du Plessis, along with 35-year-olds Robin Uthappa (31 off 15 balls) and Moeen Ali (37 not out off 20 balls), set up a target for KKR which they would find difficult on a big Dubai International Stadium ground with premier batsman Rahul Tripathi injuring his calf muscle.

    For KKR’s bowling unit, only Sunil Narine (2/26 in 4 overs) getting his length and variations in pace right.

    (With PTI inputs)

  • IPL 2021 final: Du Plessis leads the way for Chennai Super Kings, 193 target for Kolkata Knight Riders

    By Agencies

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Faf du Plessis scored 86 not out to lead the team to target of 192/3 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 here at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

    Openers Du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave the three-time champions a solid start which was backed by quick-fire innings by Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali.

    KKR’s bowlers had an bad on the field with the exception of Sunil Narine, who grabbed 2 wickets. 

  • IPL 2021 final: Kolkata Knight Riders win toss, opt to bowl against Chennai Super Kings

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the toss and opted to bowl against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 here at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

    At the time of the toss, KKR skipper Eoin Morgan said: “We are going to have a bowl first. The wicket looks good and there’s some dew around. Eventually, I want to score runs, hope this is the day.”

    On the other hand, CSK skipper MS Dhoni said: “We were looking to bowl first also because we thought seamers get that extra purchase initially, but tosses are uncontrollable. We are prepared for everything.”

    KKR had defeated Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2 by three wickets while CSK defeated the same opponent in Qualifier 1.

    Playing XI:

    KKR: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy.

    CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.