IPL 2021, Match 38: CSK vs KKR, Stats Review: Sunil Narine, Ravindra Jadeja accomplish milestones as CSK go to playoffs

In Chennai Super Kings, we have the second team securing a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 playoffs. The MS Dhoni-led side defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by two wickets and jumped to the top of the team standings. It was indeed a thrilling game as several momentum shifts were witnessed. However, CSK just proved to be a better side at the end, sealing the game in the last ball.

Earlier in the game, Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and opted to bat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. With Shubman Gill getting run out in the very first over, KKR didn’t start off in thrilling fashion. However, in-form batters Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi steadied the ship, adding 40 runs for the second wicket. While the opener after scoring 18, Tripathi (45) played yet another substantial knock.

The baton was then passed onto the middle order they didn’t disappoint. Although skipper Eoin Morgan perished cheaply, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik, and Andre Russell came to the party and made significant contributions in the latter half of the game. As a result, the Knight Riders posted a brilliant total of 171/7 in their allotted 20 overs.

CSK’s chase started off smoothly with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis continued their fine form. The duo added 74 runs for the first wicket, setting a great platform for batters to come. However, the Men in Yellow lost momentum out of nowhere and KKR came back in the hunt. Although Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali played some delightful shots, the match went to the very last ball. Needing one of the final delivery, Deepak Chahar cleared the field and CSK to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, here are the important stats and numbers from the CSK vs KKR clash in IPL 2021:

5 – Eoin Morgan recorded his fifth single-digit score in the last six innings in IPL. The KKR skipper has really been short of runs.

4 – Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad became the fourth CSK pair to add 500 runs in a season.

1 – Sunil Narine became the first bowler to complete 150 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders.

3 – Narine dismissed Ambati Rayud for the third time in the Indian Premier League.

27 – KKR have now bowled 27 overs of spin in powerplay. On the contrary, CSK haven’t introduced spin even once in powerplay overs.

56 – Sam Curran bowled his second most expensive spell in IPL, conceding 56 runs in four overs. In the first half of the competition, he conceded 58 runs against KKR only.

20 – Shardul Thakur conceded just 20 runs in this quota of fours, his second-most economical spell against KKR in IPL.

8 – Ravindra Jadeja became the eighth player to complete 50 sixes for Chennai Super Kings in IPL.

3– Varun Chakravarthy has dismissed MS Dhoni for the third time in the last four meetings between CSK and KKR.

3 – This is the third time CSK defeated KKR off the final ball of the run-chase in IPL. The last two instances were a six-wicket win in Dubai in 2020 season and a five-wicket win in Kolkata in 2012 season.

7 – This is the 7th time that CSK have won chasing off the final ball in IPL, the most for any team. The next team in the list is Mumbai Indians having done it six times.

6 – KKR lost the game off the last ball while defending a target for the sixth time in IPL, the most for any team with again, MI being the second most in this aspect losing on five such occasions.