CSK vs KKR Highlights: Chennai Beat Kolkata To Score Hat-Trick Of Wins, Move Atop IPL 2023 Points Table

Ajinkya Rahane, long perceived as a Test specialist, destroyed KKR's bowlers by playing some ruthless strokes for 4s and 6s, scoring a sensational 29-ball-71 for his 2nd half-century in IPL 2023.

Kolkata vs Chennai Highlights: An all-round performance from Chennai Super Kings powered them to a 49-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Sunday (April 23). By virtue of this win, Chennai scored a hat-trick of wins in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and moved to the number one position in IPL 2023 Points Standings. After scoring 235 in first innings, Chennai got a dream start to their bowling, dismissing two Kolkata batters in the first two overs. Jason Roy went all guns blazing as he scored fastest fifty (19 balls) so far for KKR in IPL 2023 before falling for 26-ball 61. Rinku Singh played another quickfire cameo, but the target was too big to achieve, especially after that poor start in starting overs. Kolkata suffered their 4th loss in the ongoing tournament.

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and invited Chennai Super Kings to bat first. Scintillating fifties from Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube powered Chennai Super Kings to an imposing 235/4 against Kolkata Knight Riders -- highest IPL total at the Eden Gardens, bettering KKR's 232/2 vs MI in 2019. Every Kolkata bowler went for plenty of runs but not talented young spinner Suyash Sharma, who bowled an incredible spell of 1/29 in an innings where over 200 runs were put on board.

34-year-old Rahane, long perceived as a Test specialist, destroyed KKR's bowlers by playing some ruthless strokes for fours and sixes, scoring a sensational 29-ball-71 for his 2nd half-century in IPL 2023, while Shivam Dube (21-ball 50) muscled his way to another half-century. During his 71-run innings, Rahane hammered six fours and five sixes in his 29-ball knock that came with a 244-plus strike rate. Overall, Kolkata bowlers were hit for 18 sixes today and that too in front of their home crowd. 

Once again, Devon Conway provided a solid start to Chennai Super Kings as the opener notched up a 40-ball-56, his fourth fifty in IPL 2023. Conway received good support from his opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad (35; 20b) as the duo put together 73-run (45b) for the opening wicket, before Rahane unleashed his fury. CSK cruised to 59 for no loss in the powerplay.

Shivam Dube and Rahane seized the momentum with an 85-run partnership (32b). The duo hit four sixes, and a boundary in a row to step up the run rate and set the stage for a big first innings total against Kolkata.