A late surge from Shahbaz Ahmed played a key part in Lucknow Super Giants’ late recovery, but it was still Chennai Super Kings who finished on top at Chepauk on Sunday after setting a stern chase: 204. When Sanju Samson was dismissed in the fourth over of CSK’s run chase, the outlook for the hosts looked bleak, with their chances of winning slipping to just 38 per cent. A loss at that stage would have severely dented their playoff ambitions. However, the momentum shifted dramatically over the next stretch of play, and by the time five overs had passed, CSK’s probability of pulling off a win at home had jumped to 93 per cent, driven by Urvil Patel’s record-defining 65 from 23 balls. The innings was so commanding that Virat Kohli even paused to watch as he noticed the impact moments before Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their match against Mumbai Indians in Raipur.
Urvil’s start was modest, as he opened his account with a single, yet the tempo changed immediately afterward. Over the next seven deliveries, he refused to offer anything other than scoring opportunities at pace, taking Digvesh Rathi and Avesh Khan apart. The fast bowler was struck for three consecutive sixes, all struck from the mid-wicket to long-on corridor. Rathi endured further punishment, conceding three sixes as well, including a remarkable 98-metre hit, plus a four—each coming off back-to-back balls. Urvil then sent Mohammed Shami over the ropes with a long-on six and completed his fifty with another single in the same over. He needed only 13 balls to reach the milestone, matching the IPL record for the quickest fifty in the tournament’s history.
In a clip shared by Star Sports on Sunday, Kohli was shown watching the Chepauk action on television from the RCB dugout in the moments leading into the clash in Raipur. The broadcast also captured Kohli’s attention as Urvil’s blitz unfolded, underlining how quickly the innings had grabbed the league’s spotlight.
After getting to his fifty, Urvil briefly folded his hands in a prayer-like gesture and then pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket. On it were words that read, “This is for you, Papa,” followed by additional lines written in Gujarati, his mother tongue. It was a personal tribute that arrived in the middle of a spell of destructive batting.
Urvil’s impact continued beyond the landmark as well. He struck Shahbaz Ahmed for a six and a four before finally being dismissed for 65 off 23, leaving CSK in an excellent position for the chase on a tricky Chepauk surface. The quick runs gave the middle order breathing space and reduced the pressure that can often build on slower tracks.
There were still nerve-filled passages late on, but CSK managed to close it out. Prashant Veer, who had survived two dropped chances when he was on nine, provided the steadying influence, while Shivam Dube sealed the job with an unbeaten 15 off just seven balls. With that victory, CSK moved into the top five of the points table, finishing above Rajasthan Royals on net run rate, with three league matches left.
For Lucknow Super Giants, the loss was a heavy blow. It marked their eighth defeat in 11 matches and effectively extinguished their playoff hopes. Chennai, meanwhile, climbed to fifth place after recording their sixth win of the season.
