Live Cricket Score - CSK vs KKR, Match 61, IPL 2023

Catch all the live updates of the match between CSK and KKR in Chennai. Swipe down or hit refresh for the latest.

KKR live to fight another day!

And they have Rinku Singh (of course!) and captain Nitish Rana to thank for that after the bowlers did a fabulous job to keep one of the best batting sides of this season to just 144/6. This is also KKR's first win over CSK since... the final of IPL 2012. They can savour this one because it also keeps them alive... just about, in IPL 2023. The season continues to give.

Rinku, Rana put KKR in control

At 33/3 in a must-win game, KKR looked cooked under pressure but skipper Nitish Rana and in-form Rinku came to the rescue for the visitors with a calculated stand that's put the hosts to the sword.

Chahar triple-strike dents KKR in PowerPlay

Just the start CSK needed in defending this low score. Gurbaz fell to a slash and picked out third man while Venkatesh and Roy both edged one to a strategically placed wide slip fielder. Contrary to expectations, seam dominated the first six overs for CSK.

CSK end with 144

A valuable 68-run stand between Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja helped CSK to get to a total of some respectability, albeit still under-par. It was Dube who did the heavy-lifting and his knock is what game the innings some impetus in the back end.

Dube and Jadeja with the rescue act

With only Dhoni to come, the onus is on Dube and Jadeja to take the innings deep. They do that with smart batting and the former uses his spin-smashing skills to good effect yet again in the season. At one stage, 140 looked a long way away but CSK are now staring at a possible 150-plus score.

Spin derails CSK completely

The hosts get a dose of their own medicine as the KKR spinners spin a web around the batting unit. From 61/1, CSK find themselves in a spot of bother at 72/5 with a lot of overs still left in the innings.

Conway-Rahane with a steady stand

Both batters play in calculated fashion even as the pitch starts to play the odd trick. There is evidence of turn and uneven bounce already. Conway survives an LBW scare thanks to DRS.

Varun removes Ruturaj early

After a steady three overs for CSK, the first over of spin produces a wicket, as it usually does here at Chepauk. A loose shot from Ruturaj gives Varun a wicket in his first over.

Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Jason Roy, Nitish Rana(c), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

Toss - CSK win the toss and opt to bat

Teams with contrasting fortunes face-off tonight

CSK have had a strong season so far and are just a win away from sealing their playoff berth. They'd also be hoping for a top-2 finish as Qualifier 1 and Eliminator will be held in Chepauk itself. Of course, they can't look too far ahead and they will be facing off against a desperate KKR side that are on the brink of elimination. Both teams have quality spin attacks and with the surfaces here taking turn (even if not extravagant), it could be a shootout between the two units in that department.

CSK have mostly used the spin to win tactic but their batting depth has also been of high value and it's enabled them to get above-par totals more often than not. The bowling isn't flawless, particularly the pace attack that has got some stick but with the return of Deepak Chahar and emergence of Matheesha Pathirana, skipper MS Dhoni has managed to get things going. For KKR, it's all gone wrong and consistency has been a major concern for them across departments.