Rana: Need to give credit to Jinks for carrying out whatever he was attempting. It’s difficult to digest being taken for 235 runs on that pitch. We have not been improving in the tournament. If we keep repeating our mistakes in such a big tournament against big teams, you are going to be behind. We needed to have a good start [in the powerplay] chasing such a big score, but couldn’t get it and we were always behind in the game.
Dhoni: Thanks for the support and they [the crowd] came in big numbers. Whenever there’s the next KKR game, they will come support them. Yes, the fast bowlers and spinners have been doing their job. We always kept the pressure on the opposition and if you see their batting line-up, they have big hitters down the order and we respect that. I keep it simple. Whoever is injured, can’t do anything.
I see who looks better prepared and see the youngster who can get the chance and motivate him. I hope it keeps going – not the injuries but the performance (laughs). What is also important is when you realise the potential of someone you let him bat the way he wants (on Rahane). Whatever your strength is be positive and enjoy it. And the second thing is to try to give him the best position to score runs. Someone has to sacrifice the position.
Rahane, Player of the Match: Just a clear mindset and nothing else. If that’s right, you can do anything and so just wanted to keep my mind clear. The prep before the season was very good. Ball was stopping and the pitch was a little sticky, but the outfield was fast and one side was small. Ruturaj batted very well and I just wanted to be positive. I enjoyed all the knocks this season and I feel my best is yet to come. Great learning to play under MS. Played under him in India and playing under him at CSK for the first time. Whatever he says, you listen.
Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Highlights today, Sunday 23-4-2023. 33rd Match (N), Indian Premier League 2023, Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Toss: KKR chose to field.
Chennai Super Kings team: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Moeen Ali, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Ambati Rayudu, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (capt&wk), 9Tushar Deshpande, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Maheesh Theekshana
Kolkata Knight Riders team: 1 N Jagadeesan (wk), 2 Jason Roy, 3 Nitish Rana (capt), 4 Andre Russell, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Sunil Narine, 7 David Wiese, 8 Kulwant Khejroliya, 9 Suyash Sharma, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun Chakaravarthy
Head to Head In T20’s: 28
Chennai Super Kings Won: 18
Kolkata Knight Riders Won: 10
Form guide
(last five completed Matches, most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings WWLWW
Kolkata Knight Riders LLLWW
Match Timings: 2:00 PM GMT | 7:30 PM Local
Umpires – Nitin Menon, Tapan Sharma
TV Umpire – Virender Sharma
Match Referee – Shakti Singh
Reserve Umpire – Abhijit Bengeri
Match number – IPL 2023 – 33rd Match
IPL Points Table
Pitch and weather: Scores of 200 have been hit in three of the four innings so far at Eden Gardens this season. Incidentally, the team batting first won both games. The surface has played well for batters, but with the April sun baking down, there could be some help for the spinners. There are chances of a light shower on Sunday, which might bring down the temperature a touch.
