Adding to the mounting concerns for Kolkata Knight Riders, the franchise has been dealt another setback following their recent clash against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined ₹12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during Match No. 22 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday. The penalty comes under Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which deals with minimum over-rate offences. As it was KKR’s first such offence this season, Rahane received a fine without any further sanctions.
“Kolkata Knight Riders Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 22 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai,” the IPL informed in a release on Tuesday night.
“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Rahane was fined INR 12 lakh,” the release informed.
CSK dominate with all-round display
On the field, it was a comprehensive performance from Chennai. Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad (3/21) and Anshul Kamboj (2/32) shared five wickets to restrict KKR to 160/7 in 20 overs, handing CSK a comfortable win while defending 192/5.
Despite some late resistance from Ramandeep Singh (35) and Rovman Powell (31*), KKR never truly threatened the target.
KKR also shuffled their batting order, with Sunil Narine opening alongside Finn Allen. While Narine showed early aggression, Allen departed cheaply as Kamboj struck in just the second over.
Narine’s dismissal during the powerplay left KKR struggling at 36/2, their lowest powerplay total since 2024. Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to stabilise the innings, but regular wickets kept the chase in check.
Earlier, put up a commanding 192/5 after opting to bat. Sanju Samson led the charge with a fluent 48, while youngster Ayush Mhatre provided early momentum with a quickfire 38 off 17 balls.
Dewald Brevis added crucial runs in the middle overs with a composed 41, ensuring Chennai finished strongly despite a brief slowdown.
Although KKR bowlers, particularly Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, attempted to pull things back, CSK’s aggressive start proved decisive.
The victory marks CSK’s second successive win, taking them to four points from five matches and lifting them to eighth place in the standings. Meanwhile, KKR’s struggles continue, with inconsistency in their batting line-up remaining a major concern as the tournament progresses.