KKR eventually secured victory with nine balls to spare. While a more comprehensive win might have been hoped for, Rinku and Rana were compelled to prioritize victory over net run rate considerations, given KKR’s early losses.

In a post-match interview, CSK skipper MS Dhoni acknowledged that his team would have required a target of 180 to stand a chance of defending a total under dewy conditions. However, he acknowledged the challenge of achieving such a score given the conditions during the first innings.

Of note, it was Dhoni’s decision to opt for batting first. CSK’s innings displayed promise initially, with opening partnerships of 31 and 30. Varun Chakravarthy intervened on both occasions, deceiving Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane with his carrom ball, leading to miscued shots.

Rahane’s dismissal triggered a collapse as CSK plummeted from 61 for 1 to 72 for 5. Shardul Thakur dismissed a struggling Devon Conway for 30 off 28 balls, followed by Sunil Narine’s double strike in the 11th over, removing Ambati Rayudu and Moeen Ali.

By the end of the powerplay, Rana and Rinku exhibited signs of settling into their rhythm. Rana elegantly dispatched Chahar for a six off his hip in the fifth over, while Rinku lofted Deshpande for a straight six to conclude the sixth over.

Chennai Super Kings introduced spin early, deploying their offspinners against the southpaw duo. The initial overs proved economical, conceding just seven runs across the seventh and eighth overs. However, Rinku alleviated the pressure with consecutive boundaries off Moeen Ali in the ninth over.

Moeen Ali continued to leak runs as Rana seized control, striking three boundaries in his third and fourth overs – employing a reverse sweep and two inside-out drives. Overall, Rana accumulated 34 runs off 22 balls against offspin, showcasing his prowess as one of the finest left-handed batters against such bowling in the IPL.