|| CF DESK ||

Chennai Super Kings showcased their bowling prowess by restricting the Kolkata Knight Riders simple total of 137 for nine at Chepauk, thanks to Ravindra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande and Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman.

Leading the bowling attack were the experienced campaigner Jadeja and the promising pacer Deshpande, both of whom bagged three wickets each.

Additionally, the crafty bowler, Mustafiz, played a pivotal role by claiming two crucial wickets. His tally of nine wickets in the ongoing season surpassed Yuzevendra Chahal of the Rajasthan Royals, earning him the prestigious Purple Cap, awarded to the tournament's highest wicket-taker.

Mustafizur's initial spell was characterized by tight and economical bowling, despite remaining wicketless in his first two overs. However, he made a significant impact in his final over, taking both of his wickets and contributing crucially to Chennai's dominance.

"He's been very good... Batsman are not able to read his slower. He has been amazing," Jadeja said after he handed Mustafizur the Purple Cap after the close of first innings.

Mustafizur's impeccable control restricted Kolkata to just 12 runs in his first two overs, which included seven dot balls, showcasing his mastery over the art of variations during the Powerplay.

Despite a missed opportunity to dismiss Andre Russell, Mustafizur maintained his composure and continued to apply pressure. Although he bowled four dot balls to Russell in one over, a dropped catch by MS Dhoni led to Mustafizur conceding nine runs, including a no-ball and a wide.

Mustafizur's persistence paid off in the final over of the innings, where Jadeja's exceptional fielding led to two crucial dismissals, including his 100th IPL catch.

With Jadeja's catch to dismiss KKR captain Shreyas Iyer and Rachin Ravindra's catch to send most expensive player of IPL history Mitchell Starc packing, Mustafizur rounded off his spell on a high note, contributing significantly to Chennai's comprehensive performance.