In a season that many fans had already written off for the Yellow Army, the Chennai Super Kings reminded the world why they are never truly out of a fight. On a humid night at Eden Gardens, MS Dhoni’s men clawed back from a 60/5 collapse to chase down 180, sealing a two-wicket victory with just one ball to spare. The final Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match scorecard reflects a game of two halves, where early Kolkata dominance was eventually dismantled by individual brilliance and late-game composure.
The Stakes: Playoff Hopes vs. Pride
Heading into Match 57 of the 2025 season, the narratives for both sides couldn’t have been more different. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were perched precariously on 11 points, needing a victory to stay in the top-four hunt. A win would have leapfrogged them into a safer mid-table position; a loss meant their fate was no longer in their own hands. For Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the playoffs were already out of reach. They were playing for pride and for the chance to play “spoilsport”—a role they executed with clinical, late-game efficiency that left the reigning champions needing a “mathematical miracle” to qualify.
Game Flow Narrative: The Momentum Pendulum
The match was a masterclass in shifting momentum. KKR started explosively after being put in to bat. Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane capitalized on the powerplay to reach 69/1. However, the introduction of Afghan phenom Noor Ahmad changed everything. His four-wicket haul—dismissing Narine, Raghuvanshi, Russell, and Rinku Singh—sucked the oxygen out of KKR’s middle order.
The chase began as a nightmare for Chennai. Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana tore through the top order, leaving the visitors reeling at 60/5 after the powerplay. Just as the Eden Gardens crowd began to celebrate, “Baby AB” Dewald Brevis unleashed a historic assault. The turning point was the 11th over, where Brevis took Arora for 30 runs (three sixes and three fours). Though Varun Chakaravarthy fought back with his 100th IPL wicket to remove Brevis, the calmness of MS Dhoni and a final-over six ensured the Yellow Army silenced the Kolkata faithful.
Quick Game Facts
- Final Score: CSK 183/8 (19.4) def. KKR 179/6 (20.0)
- Date & Location: May 7, 2025 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Weather: 31°C, Humidity 78%, Clear Skies
- Attendance: 66,000 (Sold Out)
- Total Game Time: 3 hours 42 minutes
The Statistical Core
Top Performers Comparison
| Category | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings |
| Top Batter | Ajinkya Rahane (48 off 33) | Dewald Brevis (52 off 25) |
| Top Bowler | Vaibhav Arora (3/48) | Noor Ahmad (4/31) |
| Power-Hitter | Andre Russell (38 off 21) | Urvil Patel (31 off 11) |
| Wicketkeeper | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (11 runs) | MS Dhoni (17* runs, 200 dismissals) |
Team Efficiency Table
| Metric | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings |
| Total Runs | 179/6 | 183/8 |
| First Downs (Boundaries) | 11 Fours, 7 Sixes | 13 Fours, 14 Sixes |
| Powerplay Runs | 67/1 (RR: 11.16) | 62/5 (RR: 10.33) |
| 3rd Down (Middle Overs) | 62/3 (Overs 7-15) | 103/3 (Overs 7-15) |
| Red Zone (Death Overs) | 50/2 (Overs 16-20) | 43/2 (Overs 16-19.4) |
| Penalties (Extras) | 6 (2wd, 4lb) | 5 (4wd, 1lb) |
The Tactical Masterclass (Captaincy Analysis)
Ajinkya Rahane (KKR Captain)
Rahane played the “anchor” role to perfection initially, but his captaincy was tested during the Brevis storm. His decision to stick with Vaibhav Arora in the 11th over, despite the tactical advantage of his spinners, proved fatal. Under pressure, Rahane’s defensive fields allowed Shivam Dube to rotate strike easily, preventing KKR from building the dot-ball pressure required to choke the lower order.
MS Dhoni (CSK Captain)
Dhoni’s tactical genius was visible in his bowling rotations. Using Noor Ahmad as a weapon against Russell and Rinku Singh neutralized KKR’s most dangerous assets. While batting, his “poise under pressure” was the difference. Requiring 8 in the final over, his first-ball six off Andre Russell effectively ended the contest.
| Captain Stat | Ajinkya Rahane (KKR) | MS Dhoni (CSK) |
| Runs Scored | 48 | 17* |
| Strike Rate | 145.45 | 94.44 |
| Sacks Taken (Wickets) | 1 (c Noor b Noor) | 0 (Not Out) |
| Pressure Index | High (Fielding) | Very High (Chasing) |
Positional Deep Dives
The Ground War: Powerplay & Running
The Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match scorecard highlights a bizarre powerplay for CSK. They scored 62 runs (joint-highest of their season) but lost 5 wickets. The “Ground War” was won by Urvil Patel, whose 31 off 11 balls ensured the run rate never climbed out of reach despite the collapse.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s / 6s | Strike Rate |
| Dewald Brevis | 52 | 25 | 4 / 4 | 208.0 |
| Shivam Dube | 45 | 40 | 2 / 3 | 112.5 |
| Urvil Patel | 31 | 11 | 1 / 4 | 281.8 |
The Aerial Attack: Bowling & Fielding
Noor Ahmad’s performance was the “Defensive Player of the Game” equivalent. He utilized a heavy mix of “wrong-uns” to exploit the tacky Eden Gardens surface. On the other side, Varun Chakaravarthy was KKR’s most disciplined asset, picking up his 100th IPL wicket and finishing with an economy of 4.50.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Noor Ahmad (CSK) | 4.0 | 31 | 4 | 7.75 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy (KKR) | 4.0 | 18 | 2 | 4.50 |
| Vaibhav Arora (KKR) | 3.0 | 48 | 3 | 16.00 |
Advanced Metrics & “The Why”
The Win Probability shift in this game was a jagged mountain range. KKR held an 88% Win Probability after dismissing Ravindra Jadeja (60/5). However, the EPA (Expected Points Added) by Dewald Brevis in the 11th over was the highest of the season for any CSK batter, swinging the probability back to 52% in favor of Chennai.
Historical Context: This match marked a significant milestone for MS Dhoni, who became the first wicketkeeper in IPL history to reach 200 dismissals. Additionally, CSK’s win avenged an earlier 8-wicket thrashing at the hands of KKR at Chepauk, improving their all-time head-to-head record to 20-11.
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Conclusions
For KKR, this loss is catastrophic. They remain on 11 points with only two games left, meaning their playoff hopes are now a mathematical long shot. For Chennai, this win is a testament to their culture. Even in a “lost” season, the ability to find gems like Urvil Patel and the resurgence of Dewald Brevis suggests that the 2026 rebuild is already well underway. The Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match scorecard will be remembered as the night the “spoilsport” Yellow Army officially broke the purple hearts of Kolkata.
FAQ Section
Who won the chennai super kings vs kolkata knight riders match scorecard?
Chennai Super Kings won by 2 wickets. They successfully chased down a target of 180, reaching 183/8 in 19.4 overs at Eden Gardens.
What was the turning point of the game?
The turning point was the 11th over of the CSK innings, where Dewald Brevis smashed Vaibhav Arora for 30 runs. This over halved the required run rate and shifted the win probability back to Chennai.
How many yards (runs) did MS Dhoni have?
MS Dhoni scored 17 off 18 balls*. While not his highest score, his unbeaten stay and the crucial six off the first ball of the final over were the final nails in KKR’s coffin.
