IPL 2021, CSK vs KKR Live Score: Dhoni's Chennai eyes third win vs Kolkata, Narine return likely; Toss at 7:00 PM

Hello and welcome to Sportstar's Live Coverage of Match 15 of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Pitch Report: Ian Bishop suggest that the strip that is in use tonight was the one where Punjab skittled to 106 against Chennai and 195 vs Delhi which was chased on Sunday. A tricky surface with a fine coating of grass on a firm top. He reckons that it would be another contest with the scores on the higher side.

Numbers Game

• Dinesh Karthik will become the third player to feature in 200 IPL matches behind MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Pat Cummins will be featuring in his 100th T20 match.
   
• Faf du Plessis needs one run to become the sixth South African to reach 6000 T20 runs. Eoin Morgan needs 50 runs to become the fourth England player to complete 7000 T20 runs.
   
• Suresh Raina needs 1 six to become the fourth Indian to hit 200 IPL sixes.
   
• MS Dhoni needs 2 dismissals to become the first wicketkeeper to complete 150 dismissals in IPL.
   

Trivia

• West Indies powerhouse Andre Russell has never hit an IPL six at the Wankhede Stadium.
   
• MS Dhoni has never hit a boundary off the bowling of Sunil Narine in IPL.
   
• Kolkata Knight Riders has only won once at the Wankhede Stadium in nine matches. The solitary win came in 2012.

Here's a look at the top performers from the fixture:

Top performers in the fixture

STARS FROM LAST SEASON

- PREVIEW -

Eoin Morgan's Knights would not be holding themselves in high spirits after squandering its last two matches in the torrid conditions in Chennai. A couple of points to the table in these tough, early encounters would be extremely invaluable as the franchises move around the country through neutral venues. And so, after successive losses to Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata takes its challenge to Mumbai, meeting a resurgent Chennai Super Kings to start with.

IPL 2021 CSK vs KKR Preview: Chennai aims another win against struggling Kolkata

A misfiring middle-order has carried itself from the last season for Kolkata, the biggest challenge captain Morgan himself would want to amend with the blade. Kolkata's top-draw finishers Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell have also gone missing in the slow and low tracks at Chennai.

With a batting belter up for grabs at the Wankhede, KKR would hope to build on momentum for the remainder of the season from here.

The Super Kings, on the other hand, have been clinical in its last two games after a debacle in its first match. The master tactician, Dhoni stuck to the simpler rules in his playbook and a powerhouse exhibition from its long list of all-rounders meant the side is got back to winning ways. Dhoni's effective use of Moeen Ali in the top-order, besides sending Deepak Chahar full throttle with the new ball has paid dividends. As for, Sir Ravindra Jadeja, the magic is sprawling all across the Wankhede.

Coaches Speak

"Sunil Narine stood on the rope before our first game which means he has had an injury where he was not 100 percent fit. He certainly comes into our calculations, he was touch and go for the game against RCB but we opted for Shakib who has been good for us and gives us an extra bit of batting. After three games, we have not got the results, we probably would need some fresh legs for slightly different wickets in Mumbai" - KKR coach Brendon McCullum.

"Robin's waiting, but Ruturaj has that spot (opening). He earned a bit of time last year with the way he played and you know our philosophy - we give players a good run. The intent is there, his training is great so we'll continue to back him. We'll make a decision to change at some point and we'll discuss it really hard but at the moment we're backing a good young player" - CSK coach Stephen Fleming.

DETAILS:

When: Wednesday, April 21, 2021

AT WHAT TIME DOES TODAY'S IPL 2021 KKR vs CSK START?

The IPL 2021's 15th match between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders begins at 7:30 PM IST at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

WHERE TO WATCH IPL MATCH KKR vs CSK MI LIVE?

IPL 2021 will be shown Live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. It will be streamed live on Hotstar.