IPL 2023: It was always going to be difficult chasing 236 – Nitish Rana after loss against CSK

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Nitish Rana admitted that it was always going to be difficult for his team to chase down 236 against Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday. CSK posted the highest IPL total at Eden Gardens after fifties from Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shivam Dube.

In fact, CSK openers – Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad – scored 59 runs in the PowerPlay overs. However, the middle overs produced 101 runs as Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube took KKR bowlers to the cleaners on a featherbed.

Rahane, who has been seen in a different avatar in the ongoing IPL 2023, completed his second fifty of the season off just 24 balls as he once again timed the ball to perfection.

While Rahane was typically timing loaded knock, Dube played like he is known for, smashing everything that came in his way like a hulk. Dube scored the third-fastest fifty of IPL 2023 off just 20 balls as he and Rahane added 85 runs off just 32 balls.

In fact, there was no respite for the KKR bowlers even after the dismissal of Shivam Dube as Ravindra Jadeja took charge. Dube scored 50 runs off 21 balls while Rahane smashed an unbeaten 71 from 29 balls whereas Jadeja added the finishing touches with 8-ball 18.

On the other hand, KKR found themselves in troubled waters as they lost two wickets in the first two overs. After Nitish Rana was dismissed, the home team found themselves at 70-4 and the target of 236 looked like a speck on the horizon.

Nitish Rana said in the post-match presentation, “Tough to digest. Always going to be difficult chasing 236 especially if you don’t have a good powerplay. Have to give credit to Rahane. As I said, it’s tough to digest that we conceded a score like that. We do have some positives. But if you don’t improve. If you keep repeating mistakes against such a big team, you’ll lose.”

KKR were poor with the ball and every bowler, barring Suyash Sharma, conceded their runs at more than 10 runs/over.

KKR will next face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.