Ahmad's impressive spell of 4 for 31 helped restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to a modest 179 for 6 in a crucial must-win IPL fixture. KKR got off to a flying start, racing to 67 for 1 in the powerplay, but their momentum was soon derailed by his timely breakthroughs

The Afghan spinner shifted the game’s momentum immediately after the fielding restrictions were lifted, striking twice in a pivotal over. First, he outfoxed Sunil Narine (26 off 17 balls; 4x4, 1x6) with flight and turn, with MS Dhoni executing a sharp stumping. Just four deliveries later, Angkrish Raghuvanshi edged behind, handing CSK a crucial double blow

With the run flow stifled, KKR struggled to find boundaries during the middle phase of the innings, going 24 deliveries without hitting a four. The onus fell on Andre Russell to revive the innings, especially after his match-winning fifty in the previous outing. Russell looked threatening, launching Ravindra Jadeja for two boundaries and a six, followed by a massive hit off a Noor Ahmad googly into the stands

Ahmad capped off his spell with the wicket of Rinku Singh, effectively dismantling KKR’s middle order. From a promising 67 for 1 after six overs, KKR managed just 112 runs in the remaining 14, as Chennai’s spinners dominated the latter half. The last five overs yielded a mere 55 runs, showcasing CSK’s stranglehold on a surface that offered turn and grip

Earlier, KKR, aware of their fragile playoff hopes, opted to bat first with intent. Rahmanullah Gurbaz opened with a boundary and dispatched Anshul Kamboj for a six in the second over, only to fall to the same bowler shortly after. Ajinkya Rahane and Narine capitalized on the powerplay, with Rahane surviving a life on 15, dropped by Pathirana off Kamboj. Narine took on Ravichandran Ashwin, smashing two boundaries and a six in his first over