Noor Ahmad, Kamboj Shine as CSK Beat KKR by 32 Runs in Chennai

Chennai, April 2026 : A disciplined bowling performance led by Noor Ahmad and Anshul Kamboj powered Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a convincing 32-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

Defending a competitive total of 192/5, CSK struck at regular intervals to keep KKR under pressure, eventually restricting them to 160/7 in 20 overs. Despite a late fightback from Ramandeep Singh and Rovman Powell, the visitors fell well short of the target.

KKR began their chase with a surprise move, promoting Sunil Narine to open alongside Finn Allen. Narine showed early aggression with a couple of towering sixes, but Allen failed to make an impact, falling cheaply to Kamboj in the second over.

The early breakthrough set the tone for CSK, and KKR soon found themselves in trouble when Narine was dismissed during the powerplay by Khaleel Ahmed. At 36/2 after six overs, KKR registered their lowest powerplay score since 2024, putting them on the back foot early in the chase.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempted to stabilise the innings with a steady partnership, mixing caution with occasional attacking strokes. However, just as KKR looked to rebuild, CSK’s spin attack turned the game decisively.

Akeal Hosein broke the stand by dismissing Raghuvanshi, opening the floodgates for Noor Ahmad to take control. The Afghan spinner delivered a match-winning spell, removing Rahane and striking twice in quick succession. He dismissed Cameron Green for a golden duck and later got rid of Rinku Singh, effectively derailing KKR’s chase.

Noor finished with outstanding figures of 3/21, consistently troubling the batters with his variations and clever use of the Chepauk surface. His spell reduced KKR from a position of recovery to deep trouble at 91/6, leaving them with a steep climb.

With the required run rate soaring, Ramandeep Singh (35 off 23) and Rovman Powell (31 not out off 22) mounted a spirited fightback. The duo stitched together a valuable partnership, hitting timely boundaries to keep KKR’s hopes alive. However, the target proved too steep as CSK’s bowlers maintained discipline in the death overs.

Kamboj returned to seal the contest in the closing stages, dismissing Ramandeep in the penultimate over and conceding just 12 runs in the final over to wrap up a comprehensive victory. He ended with figures of 2/32, complementing Noor’s match-defining spell.

Earlier, CSK posted a strong 192/5 after being put in to bat. Sanju Samson top-scored with a fluent 48, while young Ayush Mhatre provided a blazing start with a 17-ball 38. Dewald Brevis added crucial runs in the middle overs with a well-crafted 41.

Although KKR’s bowlers, particularly Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, managed to slow things down during the middle phase, CSK’s aggressive start proved decisive in setting up the win.

The victory marks CSK’s second consecutive win in the tournament, while KKR continue to struggle for consistency and remain winless this season.

Brief Scores:
Chennai Super Kings – 192/5 (20 overs)
(Sanju Samson 48, Dewald Brevis 41, Ayush Mhatre 38; Kartik Tyagi 2/35)

Kolkata Knight Riders – 160/7 (20 overs)
(Ramandeep Singh 35, Rovman Powell 31*; Noor Ahmad 3/21, Anshul Kamboj 2/32)

Result: CSK won by 32 runs.