Live score CSK vs KKR IPL 2021 Match 38: Live Updates from Abu Dhabi

CSK vs KKR Live IPL 2021: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Match 38 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 where Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in their fight to qualify for the play-offs after two back-to-back defeats.

Third-placed RCB are slightly in a better position with 10 points in nine games while sixth-placed MI won't like to take any further liberties with just eight points in nine games. LIVE STREAMING

Chennai beat Kolkata by 2 wickets! What a thriller! It looked like we could witness the first Super Over of the UAE leg but Chahar kept his cool on the last delivery, clearing mid-wicket to help Chennai clinch a thriller in Abu Dhabi. Jadeja also played a pivotal role at the death, smacking 22 off just 8 deliveries. Chennai have also reclaimed the top spot in points table!

Chennai 146/6 after 18 overs. Raina and Dhoni fall in quick succession. Chennai in trouble now, with 26 runs still needed off the final two overs. Jadeja and Curran are in the middle. 

Chennai 138/4 after 16.4 overs. Ali departs! Is there a twist in the tale? Ali tries to clear the rope towards long-on but it falls straight to Iyer. Skipper Dhoni comes to the crease. 

Chennai 119/3 after 14.2 overs. Kolkata finally get rid of du Plessis (43) and Rayudu (10) but Ali is still in the middle. Chennai need 53 more runs in 34 balls

Chennai 89/1 after 10 overs. Despite Gaikwad's departure, du Plessis (37*) and Ali (11*) have kept the scoreboard ticking. The required run rate is well under control and the duo could possibly take Chennai to the victory. Kolkata desperately need another wicket to stay alive in the contest. 

Chennai 77/1 after 9 overs. Russell gives KKR the breakthrough! Gaikwad miscues it to Morgan at the cover. A much-needed wicket for KKR as the Gaikwad-du Plessis partnership was looking dangerous. 

Chennai 52/0 after 6 overs. du Plessis, Gaikwad have started steadily in the run-chase, stitching a 50-run stand in the Powerplay.

Kolkata 171/6 after 20 overs. 53 runs came off the last five overs as Kolkata have managed to reach 171/6 in 20 overs. Karthik's 11-ball 26 cameo at the end and Rana's unbeaten 37 from 27 deliveries have helped Kolkata notch up a challenging total on the board. A good recovery from KKR after Russell's departure. 

Kolkata 127/5 after 17 overs. It's Shardul again! He dismisses Russell with a length delivery that caught an inside edge and crashed onto the stumps. Ex-skipper Karthik, who has played over 200 IPL games, is the next man in. 

Kolkata 118/4 after 15 overs. Two fours and a six from Curran's over. Russell has started to shift gears! Expect some fireworks at death. 

Kolkata 93/4 after 13 overs. A pre-meditated reverse sweep from Tripathi and Jadeja's delivery disturbs the woodwork. Kolkata go four down as Russell makes his way in the middle. 

Kolkata 78/3 after 10 overs. du Plessis has got ice running through his veins. He takes a brilliant catch near the boundary rope to dismiss Morgan. Rana joins Tripathi at the halfway mark. The projected score is 155 at the moment.

Kolkata 70/2 after 9 overs. Tripathi (33) and Morgan (8) have kept the scoreboard moving, albeit in a slow fashion after Iyer's departure. With Russell yet to come, KKR would be eyeing to hit the 160-run mark. 

Kolkata 50/2 after 5.1 overs. Thakur strikes on his first delivery to dismiss Iyer! Dhoni makes no mistake behind the stumps and Ultra Edge shows a clear spike. Iyer (18) makes way for skipper Morgan.

Kolkata 40/1 after 4 overs. Tripathi caught by Dhoni but the umpire signals it as a no-ball -- second short delivery for the over! Tripathi clears the rope on free-hit, maintaining a healthy run-flow in the Powerplay. 

Kolkata 26/1 after 3 overs. Iyer gets a reprieve. Dropped by du Plessis on second ball! The left-hander guides it towards third man on the last delivery to squeeze a much-needed boundary. 

Kolkata 19/1 after 2 overs. A mix-up between Gill and Iyer and the former has to depart. Rayudu hits the furniture from short mid-wicket to cut short Gill's innings in very first over. All eyes on Iyer now. The left-hander has already scored over 90 runs in two matches of the UAE leg. Tripathi joins Iyer in the middle. 

Playing XI of CSK and KKR:

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI) Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan(c), Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik(w), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prasidh Krishna

15.02 IST: KKR win toss, opt to bat against CSK in Abu Dhabi. 

14.35 IST: Toss in 25 minutes!

14.20 IST: Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have both won their opening two games since the resumption of the IPL 2021 in UAE. Incidentally, both have also beaten the same sides (Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangaore).

 

Pitch report The pitch of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is expected to be on the slower side with anything beyond 150 is defendable. Experts suggest the captain winning the toss would most likely bat first and look to set a target.