IPL Pulse: Familiar promotions and familiar phrases

Good morning

It's Wednesday, and the week feels long. Imagine how long the month feels for KKR. They're staring at the bottom of the points table, yet to tickle the wins column. We'll talk through that, and more, in today's edition of Pulse, your two-minute browse of the IPL verse.

Last night in five lines

Mhatre-Brevis show just why CSK's future is bright

For a change, KKR's spinners do well to pull things back

Noor Ahmad, the architect of CSK's win, finally shakes off a lean patch

Also finally, a team defends a sub-200 total this season

KKR are now in the midst of their second-longest winless streak ever

Oh, that happened

The return of everyone's secret favourite opener, Sunil Narine. For the first time this IPL, Narine sauntered out to face the new ball. The idea: counter Akeal Hosein early, make use of the uneven boundaries. Narine brought out his usual leg-side swipes, even as Finn Allen came and went. Two fours, two sixes, and a reprieve (a dolly-drop from Gaikwad): his innings was the usual flash of entertainment. But it couldn't do much for KKR.

Pulse awards

The zen-in-defeat award goes to Ajinkya Rahane, for staying "positive" through a winless streak. In the post-match chat, he used that word at least thrice, along with "head up", "chin up" and "self belief". KKR probably need loads of that, but what they need more is a tactical reset.

The now-you-see-me-now-you-dont award goes to Noor Ahmad for his palms out, eyes shut celebration. Have we seen it before? Not sure. He had just one wicket from his last seven T20 innings, so he did have time to practise a new one. Is it a nod to Daredevil season two, also on the same streaming platform? Maybe Noor is also "Born Again".

The you-cannot-do-that award goes to Ruturaj Gaikwad, and no, not in the way Ben Stokes did it. Quite the opposite. An absolute sitter, shelled at mid-off. The never-smiling Narine must have giggled to himself. Could be the dew, could be all the humidity. Brevis and Sarfaraz dropped one each as well. But it didn't prove costly.

The aura-farming award goes to Dewald Brevis, for making Chepauk hit illegal decibel levels. There was an absolute din at his entry, even louder when he stopped and crouched at the boundary line. Can he be Thala-for-this-season, until Thala returns? No, we already have Samson for that.

Talking point

Spin, for both teams. CSK have a rare duo: two left-arm, overseas spinners in tandem. Their spin-bowling history is rich, can these two carry that legacy? Without going too far ahead, the combo worked well against KKR. Akeal gets in the Powerplay, Noor controls the middle phase. Even earlier, KKR's spinners put up a neat operation, pulling things back. In all, spinners took 6/115 in 18 overs (ER: 6.38), compared to 6/231 for pace in 22 overs. But CSK played the matchups better.

Who's saying what

Gaikwad admitted that CSK's losses were "getting into his head" while batting, and he's finally relaxed after two wins in two games. He's got 63 runs from five games so far, but insists "a big knock is just around the corner".

S Sriram, CSK's bowling coach, feels Akeal helped Noor become "unplayable" last night. He revealed Akeal went to Noor and told about the "exact, in-between length" to bowl. Once he hit that, there was no stopping him.

Grateful for the track not being a "belter", Akeal said it was the kind of day for batters to "work for what you want", and not a day where you can "just turn up, close your eyes and do magical things".

After scoring 28 off 22, Rahane felt hitting spin in the middle overs was "challenging", but admitted the surface was a good one. He also praised Kartik Tyagi for improving game by game.

With a golden duck and 0-30 in two, Cam Green had a forgettable day. Bowling coach Tim Southee, calling him a "great cricketer", insisted that "he'll bounce back at some stage".

Stat Snack

Look away, KKR fans. For the first time, the team is winless after five games in an IPL season. This is also now their joint second-longest winless streak in the IPL (six).

What's the latest gossip?

Rohit Sharma's hamstring is making MI sweat. It's a will-he, won't-he situation, but MI could just play it safe and rest him out next game. There's also one eye on the airport, where their English recruit Will Jacks makes an appearance soon. It remains to be seen if his entry puts pressure on a certain New Zealander in the team.

Tonight's watchlist

Hear me out, RCB vs LSG is an under-rated rivalry. Remember Harshal Patel's missed Mankad and Avesh Khan's helmet throw? Gambhir and Kohli almost coming to blows in the middle in Lucknow? Let's hope for a civil, but just as charged-up contest.

Reckless prediction for tonight's match

Last ball, two to win. Avesh Khan, the perennial presence in tight run-chases, takes his helmet and pads off. Still gets run out.