🏏IPL 2026: CSK vs KKR, 22nd Match,Chennai 14 Apr 7:30pm IST🏏 - Page 2

Originally posted by: SoniRita

🏏IPL 2026: CSK vs KKR, 22nd Match, MACS, Chennai on 14/04/206 at 7:30PM IST🏏

Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians have 13 IPL titles between them. That's a mindboggling number given the tournament is only 18 years old. However, all three have already fallen behind four rounds into the season. The three of them occupy the last three spots and are desperate to get out of the rut. In KKR's case in particular, they also need to shed the burden of being the only winless team in the tournament so far. They had CSK for company in that regard until Saturday evening when the men in yellow ended their losing streak with an impressive win over Delhi Capitals.

In doing so, CSK may have also found a new pattern to succeed at their home venue where their recent record has been woeful. Pace at hard lengths was the way to go for five-time champions who had historically relied on spin at home turf for their success over the years. However, conditions have undergone a change and CSK do have the arsenal to thrive here again if the other pitches exhibit similar behaviour aiding good pace and bounce. CSK would have also been pleased with Sanju Samson's superlative century after his lean start in yellow. It will be interesting to see if they consider swapping Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre in the batting order to utilize the fielding restrictions.

KKR on the other hand have looked impressive in patches without any of those moments translating into a win. A total of 220 wasn't enough against MI and a special knock from young Mukesh Choudhary denied them a maiden win. Sandwiched between those two games was a fixture against SRH, where they were outplayed and a rained out fixture against Punjab Kings in which they were rattled early before the teams walked off the field. Angkrish Raghuvanshi has impressed but lack of runs from Finn Allen and Cameron Green haven't helped. With well-documented issues in the bowling department following a few injuries and uncertainty still hanging around Varun Chakaravarthy's availability for this fixture, KKR will have their task cut out.

Thanks for the tags, Soni!

All title winners are fighting for a place at the bottom of the table now

But hey it’s my opinion whether it’s life or tournament, every team should have a low and a high. So I guess it’s these teams’ lows while the underdogs are ruling the roost.

Originally posted by: SoniRita

Team Watch

Chennai Super Kings

Injuries/Unavailabilities: There is still no clear update on MS Dhoni's return to action. CSK may just prolong his absence now for at least one more game and stick to their winning combination.

Tactics & Matchups: If Varun CV is indeed fit to play this fixture, CSK's best bet against the spinner is Shivam Dube and to an extent Dewald Brevis. CSK will also have to back their pace pack against Cameron Green, as the Australian has a great record against both Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein.

Probable XII: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh

Kolkata Knight Riders

Injuries/Unavailabilities: Matheesha Pathirana has finally been declared fit. But it is unlikely that he will debut for his new franchise against his old one. Another key player with a Chepauk connection, Varun, was spotted training in the nets away from the main group. But whether KKR will rush him remains to be seen.

Tactics & Matchups: There is a case for KKR to use Sunil Narine as an opener again at least for this fixture given the presence of Akeal Hosein in the Powerplay. Narine is also an option again in the first six overs with the ball as well as he does possess a good record against Sanju Samson, having conceded only 66 runs off 82 balls he has bowled to him.

Probable XII: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora

Wdym Cameron Green will finally be useful ?

Originally posted by: Arpita00001

Putting all my points on csk plz Jeet jana

Don’t keep it even. Even if the team doesn’t win , at least hume anda nahi milega

kkr hai tayyar phir se comeback waala speech dene ke liye

CSK vs KKR Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson (Source: IPL)

After a slow start at his new franchise, Sanju Samson came into his own in the last game against Delhi Capitals. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter slammed a blistering 115 not out off 55 balls, hitting 15 fours and four sixes. He will look to continue from where he left off on Saturday.

Probable Best Bowler: Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine (Source: IPL)

Sunil Narine bowled a brilliant spell against the Lucknow Super Giants as he gave away just 13 runs in his four overs and picked up one wicket. This season, he has gone at an economy rate of 7.45. In three games, he has bagged two wickets. However, his experience and skills always make him a bowler to watch out for.

Wounded knights ride into the lion's den - Eight trophies between them. Two of the most storied franchises in the history of IPL, but both going through a rough patch lately, are all set to clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Match 22. It's Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders. The tournament is a quarter done, and neither side can afford to sleepwalk through what lies ahead. CSK, after enduring three consecutive defeats to start their campaign, finally stirred to life last time out, putting together their most complete performance of the season on home soil to open their account. The lion, it seems, is slowly waking up. KKR, however, are in a far grimmer place. The three-time champions sit alone at the foot of the table, the only franchise yet to taste victory this season. Not a single exhale of relief yet. Just a growing weight that gets heavier with a lot of wrinkles yet to be ironed out.

Home advantage and momentum - After a quiet start, beginning the season with three back-to-back single-digit scores, Samson delivered a masterclass against DC, smashing a free-flowing 115* to anchor a massive total of 212/2. Samson is now CSK’s leading scorer so far. Right behind him is Ayush Mhatre, quietly building a case for one of the most exciting young players in this tournament. Holding down the crucial number three slot, Mhatre has already struck two half-centuries in four games. For a youngster handed such responsibility by a franchise of CSK’s stature, that is not just a promise. That is proof. Perhaps the most encouraging shift has been in the Powerplay.

CSK’s first six overs were a genuine concern heading into this season, but that worry has largely been put to rest. The Super Kings are averaging close to 10 runs an over in the Powerplay, a significant upgrade built on intent and clarity of purpose. Add Sarfaraz Khan at number four into that equation, and CSK’s top order starts to look genuinely settled. Khan brings a rare dual ability to attack when the platform is set and consolidate when the situation demands it. That kind of batting intelligence does not just strengthen the middle order. It takes pressure off the big hitters lower down and gives the entire innings a sense of structure.

Captain’s quest for runs - One win does not paper over every crack, and CSK's most pressing concern right now has a name - Ruturaj Gaikwad. The skipper has been uncharacteristically quiet in this campaign. 56 runs across four matches at a strike rate of 103.70 are numbers that simply do not belong to a batter of his calibre. There is a visible caution in his game at the moment that feels at odds with both his natural ability and the aggressive intent his team has otherwise shown at the top. Missing out on most of the 2025 season, and playing just a handful of domestic games, Gaikwad is in desperate search of runs and, more importantly, momentum.

Need for improvement - The batting may be finding its groove, but CSK's bowling tells a different story. Jamie Overton has been the bright spark, coming off with the best bowling figures of the season, a stunning 4/18 that underlined his value as a genuine all-rounder. But beyond that one performance, the rest of the attack has struggled to keep up. Anshul Kamboj sits within touching distance of the Purple Cap with eight wickets, but an economy rate of 10.70 means he has been leaking far too many runs along the way.

The deeper concern lies with the new ball. CSK have been one of the least effective powerplay bowling units in the competition, while Noor Ahmad, the Super Kings' leading wicket-taker from last season, has looked a shadow of that version of himself, managing just one wicket at an economy of 11.30. Whereas left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh impressed on his IPL debut, hitting the batters high on the bat and surprising them with extra bounce.

Winless KKR aim for redemption - If history is any guide, KKR have every reason to believe the season is far from over. In 2021, they stumbled to four defeats in their first five matches and still found a way to march all the way to the final. Their primary issues stem from a severely depleted pace attack and an inconsistent batting order that is still searching for its best configuration. Their problems, however, are real. The pace attack has been severely depleted, with Harshit Rana and Akash Deep ruled out through knee and back injuries, respectively. Matheesha Pathirana, their marquee overseas signing, has only just cleared a fitness test after a calf strain and is expected to rejoin the squad shortly. With the bat, the openers have blown hot and cold. Ajinkya Rahane has been his reliable self at the top, but Finn Allen remains a touch inconsistent despite showing plenty of intent. Their Powerplay numbers, however, have been noteworthy, which is at least one box being ticked.

The bright spots - The standout performer with the bat has been Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Scores of 51, 52 and 45 speak to a consistency at number three that is remarkable for someone so young, and his 155 runs make him KKR's leading scorer this season by some distance. Cameron Green, their big-money signing, has been a work in progress. Three underwhelming outings to start, but signs of a turnaround with a 32 last time out, and he also claimed a wicket off the very first ball he bowled this season. Small steps, but steps in the right direction. With the ball, Sunil Narine’s numbers are just exceptional. He might have just two wickets to show in three games, but his economy of just 7.45 competes just behind the likes of Shami and Rashid in that list. And the fact that he is coming off a frugal spell of 1/13 in 4 overs makes KKR believe that a collective performance is right around the corner, with Vaibhav Arora leading the pace attack impressively with responsibility as well.

Records at a glance - 20-11.
This is what the head-to-head record reads between these two sides since inception, in favour of Chennai Super Kings. But zoom into the recent past, and the picture changes entirely. Since 2021, both sides have won three apiece from six meetings, with an alternating win-loss pattern that has refused to let either side build any kind of momentum over the other. But at Chepauk, the balance shifts back in CSK's favour. Despite losing two of their last three home encounters against KKR, the Super Kings hold a commanding 8 wins to 4 advantage at this venue.

What to expect?
What might be in CSK’s favour right now is the timing. Two home games on the bounce at Chepauk, where the crowd is a player in itself, and the addition of Dewald Brevis to the mix. The South African powerhouse brings a different dimension to an already potent batting unit. From KKR's perspective, the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine could hold the key, but there is a catch. Chakravarthy's availability remains uncertain after missing recent games with a finger injury. If he does take the field, the pair make for a formidable combination against CSK specifically. Narine leads all bowlers with 26 wickets against this side, while Chakravarthy sits second on that list with exactly half that number. On a Chennai surface, both on song together could be the difference.

However, Chepauk in 2026 is not quite the spin-friendly minefield it once was. The pitch has been actively rewarding stroke-making this season, with three of the four innings played here already crossing the 200-run mark. Expect a high-scoring contest where the team that bats smarter, not just harder, takes the honours.

Thanks for the tag aaj last place ki jung hone wali hai

Originally posted by: missFiesty_69

Don’t keep it even. Even if the team doesn’t win , at least hume anda nahi milega

Ab dono hi weak team hai toh dono ke weak players Le liya badka badka Andaa loading