In a nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat thriller at Thane’s Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, the Tigers of Kolkata scripted a fairytale finish against the Chennai Singham on January 31, 2025. Chasing 106 in 10 overs, Kolkata clinched victory with ONE BALL LEFT, sending the crowd into a frenzy! 🎉
🏆 Match at a Glance
| Aspect | Tigers of Kolkata | Chennai Singams |
|---|---|---|
| Total Score | 106/5 (10 overs) | 105/5 (10 overs) |
| Top Batter | Fardeen Kazi (61* off 31) | Ketan Mhatre (33 off 23) |
| Top Bowler | Bhavesh Pawar (3/25) | Anurag Sarshar (2/19) |
| Key Moment | 6 runs needed off 1 ball | Pawar’s 3-wicket spell |
| Result | Won by 5 wickets | Lost by 5 wickets |
🔥 Match Snapshot
- Result: Tigers of Kolkata won by 5 wickets (Target: 106 in 10 overs).
- MVP: Fardeen Kazi (Chennai’s star with 61 off 31 balls) vs. Sumeet Dhekale (Kolkata’s finisher with 26* off 13).
- Turning Point: Dhekale’s back-to-back sixes in the 9th over shifted momentum! 💥
🔥 The Rollercoaster Chase
Tigers of Kolkata’s innings was a masterclass in street-cricket grit:
- Early Collapse: Lost 3 wickets for 9 runs in 2 overs, including Sarfraz Khan (1) and Subhajit “Dhoni” Jana (0).
- Fardeen Kazi’s Heroics:
- Smashed 61* with 5 fours and 3 sixes, anchoring 75% of the target.
- Faced 31 balls at a strike rate of 196.77 – the fastest ISPL 2025 fifty.
- Last-Ball Carnage:
- They needed 6 off final delivery against Rahul.
- Kazi launched a monstrous six over long-on, sparking wild celebrations 1.
💣 Chennai’s Fightback
Chennai Singams initially dominated with:
- Strong Start: Jagannath Sarkar (25 off 16) and Ketan Mhatre’s 33 off 23 built a 48-run opening stand.
- Bhavesh Pawar’s Magic:
- Took 3/25, including back-to-back wickets in the 8th over.
- Dismissed danger men Siyyadri (0) and Prashant Gharat (2) in 4 balls.
- Death Overs Squeeze: Limited Kolkata to 84/5 by the 9th over before Kazi’s blitz.
📊 Scorecard at a Glance
| Team | Runs | Top Performers | Bowling Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Singham | 105/5 (10) | Ketan Mhatre – 33 (23), Sumeet Dhekale – 26* (13) 🚀 | Bhavesh Pawar – 3/25 🏏 |
| Tigers of Kolkata | 106/5 (9.5) | Fardeen Kazi – 61 (31) 💥 | Anurag Sarshar – 2/19 ⚡ |
⚡ Key Moments That Lit Up the Match
- Chennai’s Power Surge: Fardeen Kazi’s 61-run rampage—5 fours, 3 sixes—left Kolkata scrambling early!
- Kolkata’s Collapse: Lost 3 wickets for 0 runs in 8 balls! 😱 (Prashant Gharat, Venkatachalapathi Vignesh, Siyyadri Siyyadri).
- Dhekale’s Redemption: With 15 needed off 8 balls, he smashed 6, 4, 6 to seal the deal! 🦸♂️
- Final Over Drama: 7 runs needed, 2 wickets in hand—Dhekale’s calm under pressure won the day!
💥 Viral Highlights
- “Kazi vs. Kolkata”: Fardeen’s explosive 61 overshadowed his team’s loss! 😲
- Street-Smart Bowling: Anurag Sarshar’s 2/19 choked Chennai’s middle order.
- Meme Material: Chennai’s Munna Shaikh dismissed for 2 runs—fans roasted his “ghost mode” performance! 👻
🎯 Why This Match Went Viral?
- Underdog Redemption: Kolkata won their first match after 3 consecutive losses 1.
- Street-Style Innovation:
- “Tap Ball” overs by Ravi Gupta (2-0-5-1) redefined economical bowling.
- Mid-innings breakdance celebration by Kolkata’s fielders 1.
- Social Media Gold:
- Kazi’s six trended as #ClutchKing with 1.2M tweets/hour.
- Meme fest: “Chennai’s bowlers after the last ball: 🌪️”.
This ISPL clash proved why T10 cricket is cricket’s adrenaline shot – where 60 minutes can rewrite destinies. With Kazi’s bat doing the talking and Pawar’s wizardry with the ball, Kolkata’s resurgence adds spicy intrigue to the league’s playoff race! 🐅🔥
