Brevis' Counterattack: Dewald Brevis’ 52 off 25 was the turning point. Coming in after a top-order collapse, he disrupted KKR’s bowling rhythm and put pressure back on the bowlers. His aggression during the middle overs ensured that the required rate didn't spiral out of control. Exploitation of Vaibhav Arora: The 30-run over from Arora was a momentum-shifter. It not only added a big chunk of runs quickly but also broke any building pressure from the KKR side. Spin Control by CSK: Conversely, while CSK batted freely in the middle overs, their spinners choked KKR during the same phase. This nullified Andre Russell’s late hitting spree to some extent, as KKR couldn’t build a platform to post a bigger score. Rahane's Aggression: After surviving an early scare, Rahane switched gears quickly. His 29 off 14 showcased clean striking and clever placement. The dropped catch by Pathirana proved costly, giving him the license to keep attacking. Narine's Firepower: Narine's assault on Ashwin was particularly telling. Targeting a senior spinner in his comeback over sent a strong message and disrupted CSK’s plans to control the middle overs through spin. 17-run Over from Kamboj: That second over from Anshul Kamboj took the wind out of CSK’s early optimism. The boundary and six from Rahane capped a PowerPlay that yielded 62/1 — a significant psychological advantage. Despite this flying start, KKR's failure to build on that momentum in the middle overs — due in large part to Noor Ahmad's excellent spell and Brevis' middle-order heroics — turned the tide in CSK’s favor. 🔁 Turning Points in the Middle Overs: Ashwin's Control: His miserly seventh over (just 2 runs) immediately put the brakes on KKR’s PowerPlay momentum. Noor Ahmad’s Double Blow: The stumping of Narine and the edge from Raghuvanshi—both expertly handled by Dhoni—not only removed set batters but also rattled KKR’s rhythm. Noor’s figures (4/31) were match-defining. Dhoni’s 200th IPL Dismissal: Beyond the personal milestone, it was symbolic of Dhoni’s continued game awareness and impact behind the stumps—his swift glovework changed the complexion of the innings. Jadeja’s Big Wicket and Record: Removing Rahane, who was set on 48 (33), was crucial. The reverse-sweep attempt reflected pressure-induced improvisation. That dismissal sealed Jadeja’s place as CSK's highest wicket-taker, overtaking Bravo with 141 wickets. Boundary Drought: KKR went four overs without a boundary—crippling in T20 context—highlighting just how effectively CSK’s spinners applied the choke. While Russell’s brief counterattack gave KKR something to bowl at, that middle-overs choke held them well below a par score, especially on Eden Gardens’ typically high-scoring pitch. 🔥 Death Overs Summary: Russell’s Counterpunch (21-ball 38): True to form, Russell attacked Pathirana with power and precision, momentarily reversing the pressure. His six and four in quick succession hinted at a possible late-innings explosion. Noor Ahmad’s Composure: Saving Noor for the death proved to be a masterstroke. Despite Russell's momentum, Noor dismissed him with a well-disguised delivery, forcing a mis-hit to long-off. It was a classic case of planning and execution. Manish Pandey’s Struggles: His first boundary came after 21 scoreless deliveries, stalling KKR’s acceleration. While he eventually cleared the ropes, the damage to tempo was already done. Rinku Singh’s Brief Flourish and Fall: The reverse-sweep for four showed intent, but his dismissal—becoming Noor’s fourth scalp—further highlighted CSK's stranglehold. 💡 Key Takeaway: Despite Russell’s power-hitting, the lack of consistent support and the brilliance of Noor Ahmad kept KKR to a sub-par score. Death overs yielded fewer than they should have for a team with hitters like Russell, Rinku, and Pandey—all thanks to smart bowling rotations and field placements. Both teams scores summary Kolkata Knight Riders 179/6 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 48, Andre Russell 38; Noor Ahmad 4-31) lost Chennai Super Kings 183/8 in 19.4 overs (Dewald Brevis 52, Shivam Dube 45; Varun Chakaravarthy 2-18) by two wickets.