KKR vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2025: Dewald Brevis’ onslaught deals fatal blow to Kolkata Knight Riders’ playoffs hopes

KKR vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2025: Dewald Brevis’ onslaught deals fatal blow to Kolkata Knight Riders’ playoffs hopes (BCCI Photo)

KKR vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2025: Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) chased down a 180-plus target for the first time since 2019 to defeat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by two wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. CSK wrapped the run chase with two balls to spare, which was their third win in 12 matches.

Here are the five factors that dented KKR's chances of reaching the playoffs with just two games left and 11 points to show...

MS Dhoni gets to big milestone:

MS Dhoni scales new IPL milestone in CSK's long-awaited win (BCCI Photo)

The iconic Eden Gardens holds a special place in the heart of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni, who played a lot of club, U-16, and U-19 cricket in Kolkata when he was younger, so he has a sentimental attachment to the iconic stadium. And Dhoni made his return to the venue a memorable one by becoming the first wicketkeeper to achieve 200 dismissals in IPL (153 catches and 47 stumpings).

Dhoni first stumped Sunil Narine off Noor Ahmad on the first ball of the eighth over. On the fourth ball of the same over, Dhoni caught an edge off Angkrish Raghuvanshi to get to the milestone.

Noor Ahmad’s four-wicket haul:

Noor Ahmad registered four scalps (BCCI Photo)

KKR managed 179/6 in their 20 overs as Ahmad took 4 wickets and conceded 31 runs from his quota of overs. The Afghan tweaker became only the fourth spinner to take 20 or more wickets for CSK in an IPL season.

Noor struck twice in his first over, dismissing Narine and Raghuvanshi then returned in the attack to get rid of the dangerous Andre Russell and Rinku Singh.

Ajinkya Rahane’s valiant knock:

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane has been the leading run scorer for his team in this edition of the IPL with 375 runs from 12 matches. Against CSK too, with his team looking to stay alive in the race for the playoffs, Rahane top scored with a 33-ball 48 - hitting 2 sixes and 4 fours in his knock, before he was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja.

Brevis braves it out:

Dewald Brevis staged an incredible fightback at Eden Gardens (AP Photo)

CSK were 56/4 after 5 overs and were staring at another defeat when Dewald Brevis walked out to the crease. And the South African showed why he is one of the most exciting young batters leading the CSK run chase with aplomb.

Brevis smashed 30 runs in the 11th over bowled by Vaibhav Arora, hitting 3 sixes and 3 fours. In the process he also raced to a 22-ball 50. Brevis slammed 4 sixes and 4 fours in his 25-ball 52 before he was caught by Rinku Singh off Varun Chakaravarthy.

Dhoni finishes it off after Dube falls:

Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni joined forces and together looked set to take CSK over the line. Dube smashed 3 sixes and 2 fours in his 40-ball 45 before he was dismissed by Vaibhav Arora in the penultimate over. Things got interesting when Vaibhav Arora sent back Noor Ahmad two deliveries later.

With 8 runs needed off the last over, the onus fell on Dhoni to finish things off and the 42-year-old rolled back the clock by smashing the first delivery from Andre Russell for a six over mid-wicket and Anshul Kamboj finished things off by hitting a four off the fourth delivery of the over. Dhoni remained unbeaten on a 18-ball 17.