Introduction

The clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025 turned out to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller. In a match full of drama, it was MS Dhoni who once again proved why he is the undisputed king of finishing games. Let’s dive into the top 5 moments that defined the KKR vs CSK showdown at Eden Gardens.

1. Rahane’s Composed Knock Sets the Stage

KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane provided a solid start with a well-compiled 48 off 35 balls. Opening with Sunil Narine, he stabilized the innings after an early scare. However, Rahane’s dismissal just before the strategic timeout shifted momentum slightly in CSK’s favor.

2. Noor Ahmad’s Magical Spell

CSK’s spinner Noor Ahmad was the star with the ball, finishing with a 4-wicket haul and containing KKR during the death overs. His scalps included the dangerous Andre Russell and Rinku Singh, limiting KKR to 179/6.

➡️ View full match scorecard on IPLT20.com

3. Dewald Brevis Turns the Tide

Chasing 180, CSK collapsed to 32/5 inside 5 overs. Enter Dewald Brevis, who smashed a sensational 50 off 22 balls, including a massive 30-run over. His fearless approach put CSK back into the game before falling at a crucial stage.

4. Dhoni’s Vintage Finishing Touch

With 8 runs required off the final over, the atmosphere at Eden Gardens was electric. MS Dhoni, as cool as ever, struck a towering six followed by a single to close the game. His unbeaten 17 (18) was slow but calculated—vintage Dhoni at its best.

➡️ Check MS Dhoni’s full career stats on ESPNcricinfo

5. CSK as Party Spoilers

Despite being out of the playoff race, CSK’s win dents KKR’s hopes significantly. This morale-boosting victory for Chennai highlights their depth and potential in grooming young stars like Brevis and Urvil Patel.

➡️ Read the full match report on ESPNcricinfo

KKR’s batting has faltered repeatedly this season, leaving them in a precarious position with just five wins from 11 matches. Pandit however reiterated that the players are not too affected by the pressure. “Always better to tell the boys what positives you have done. It helped you to win the game and you got to carry that. The strength that you have, rather than thinking about the next three games.”

“Looking at the last two games, yes of course (we are peaking). We look ahead to the other two games, very much confident that we will qualify. This is the beauty of this tournament. Ups and downs will be there in a two-month journey,” he said.

Conclusion

In what may be MS Dhoni’s final match at Eden Gardens, fans were treated to a legendary finish. For KKR, the road to playoffs is now tougher than ever. For CSK, it’s a step towards rebuilding with confidence.

➡️ Follow the latest IPL 2025 Points Table

➡️ Explore CSK’s full 2025 squad & analysis