Rahul Tripathi’s sluggish stay at the crease came to an end in stunning fashion, undone by a classic Sunil Narine delivery that left the batter stunned during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Sunil Narine dismantles Rahul Tripathi with a ripping delivery
It was the 10.6 over of the innings, and with mounting pressure, Tripathi looked to break free, but his decision to attack Narine proved costly. Having scored just 16 off 22 balls with one boundary, Tripathi never really looked settled, and Narine capitalized on the indecisiveness with a moment of brilliance.
The dismissal came off a flighted delivery from Narine, tossed up beautifully outside the off stump on a teasing length. As it landed, the ball ripped sharply off the surface and jagged back in—a deviation Tripathi failed to anticipate. Looking to make room and go for an expansive slap through the off side, he left a gap between bat and pad. The spin off the surface was too good, sneaking through that narrow space and clattering into the off stump. Tripathi was left baffled, unsure whether the ball turned more than he expected or if he completely misjudged the line and length. His reaction said it all: a confused glance back at the shattered stumps and a slow walk back to the pavilion, knowing he’d been done in by pure bowling craft. For CSK, it was a big setback as Narine’s genius had struck again, putting them in deeper trouble with a clinical, tactical blow.
Here’s the video:
Spinners 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 their magic 🎩
Ft. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy 💜
Updates ▶ https://t.co/gPLIYGimQn#TATAIPL | #CSKvKKR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/0pZPBNxS4g
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2025
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CSK collapse in Chepauk: Lowest-ever IPL total at home
In a stunning turn of events at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, CSK posted their lowest-ever total at home in IPL history, crawling to just 103/9 in their allotted 20 overs. The Chepauk surface, often known to test batting patience, proved too much for CSK’s line-up as they struggled to cope with KKR’s clinical bowling performance. None of the CSK batters could take control, with Shivam Dube’s 31 unbeaten being the only sign of resistance amidst a flurry of soft dismissals and tactical errors.
The innings began with back-to-back setbacks in the powerplay, losing both openers early, and from there, it was a downward spiral. Narine, as usual, proved lethal with his variations, claiming three crucial wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana chipped in with two apiece. The spin duo of Narine and Varun choked CSK in the middle overs, exploiting the slow pitch to perfection. Dhoni’s decision to challenge a leg-before decision didn’t help as he too departed cheaply.
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