MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were comprehensively beaten by Kolkata Knight Riders in their last home game of IPL 2023 on Sunday. Chasing a 145 target, KKR crossed the finishing line with six wickets and nine balls to spare. Captain Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh scored match-winning half-centuries. Rana remained unbeaten on 57 off 44 balls while Rinku made 54 off 43 deliveries. This helped set up KKR’s chase after they lost their first three wickets for 33 runs inside the fifth over.
While Rana and Rinku’s partnership was one of the highlights, the moment of the night came after the match.
As Dhoni and CSK players did a lap around the Chepauk to give goodies to the fans, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who is currently part of the commentary team for IPL 2023, ran towards the CSK captain and took his autograph off his shirt.
Dhoni and Gavaskar hugged at the same moment.
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After getting Dhoni’s autograph on his shirt, Gavaskar said on-air: “Please give me the pink shirt for the remaining games”.
KKR finished at 147 for four in 18.3 overs with Rana leading from the front after making the most of a dropped chance.
KKR’s cause was helped to a large extent by a superb bowling effort earlier by the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. They did superbly and took two wickets.
The defeat also stops CSK‘s chances of sealing a play-off berth as the home side leads by 15 points.
KKR, on the other hand, moved to 12 points with a match to play but their hopes rest on other results.
