The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered their third defeat in nine matches when they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at a packed Eden Gardens in Kolkata last night.  In fact, the margin of victory was even more humiliating for CSK and its millions of fans as KKR romped home with six wickets and more than two overs to spare.

CSK players has only themselves to blame for the defeat which was a result of the combined effort of the trio of KKR’s spinners – Sunil Naraine, Piyush Chawla and India regular Kuldeep Yadav – and the amazing batting display put up by the 18-year old Shubman Gill, who was India’s vice-captain when the U-19 team lifted the ODI world cup a few months back.

All of 18 years of age, the Firozpur-born Gill – nicknamed by cricket observers as 'Junior Kohli' as his batting style reminds of contemporary great Virat Kohli - got noticed during the U-19 world cup when he played the shot-arm jab as effectively as Kohli to hit sixes at will.  In fact, KKR was placed well when Gill joined Sunil Naraine in the 5th over but it was Gill’s unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership of 83 runs in just six overs with captain Dinesh Karthik which sealed the match easily in KKR’s favour.

Dinesh Karthik hit a flurry of boundaries in his 18-ball 45 (seven 4’s and a six) but was over-shadowed clearly by Gill who hit a neat 57 off just 36 balls (with six 4's and two 6's).  Gill didn't slog it out but only played authentic cricketing shots in racing to his first 50 in his fledgling IPL career.  Later, Dinesh paid rich tributes to Gill’s batting and added that he could foresee Gill playing for the country in ‘India Blues’ for many, many years to come.  "This boy is special," Dinesh remarked in his post-match talk.

Earlier, KKR won the toss and inserted CSK to bat first.  Despite its winning streak, CSK hasn't been using its top five batsmen in the best possible manner, critics feel.  Off-colour Faf du Plessis was sent to open the innings with Shane Watson instead of Ambati Rayudu who should have been the obvious choice.  Faf didn’t last long but Watson played well but his and Raina's dismissals in the 11th and 12th overs put brakes on CSK's scoring-rate.  The ever-dependable Rayudu, the ‘orange cap’ holder (highest run-scorer in this year’s IPL), got out unexpectedly in the 15th over.

It was then that the CSK team management committed a blunder by sending Jadeja ahead of Dwayne Bravo who has the knack of scoring runs right from the word go.  While Dhoni was at his usual self and was hitting boundaries and sixes at will in his 25-ball 43 (with a four and four 6's), Jadeja could manage only one four and got out in the penultimate ball, leaving Bravo with no ball to face.  Dhoni hit his trade-mark six off the last ball and helped CSK reach a respectable 177/5 in 20 overs.

Jadega also dropped Naraine twice off successive balls, thus not helping the teams cause at all.  CSK batsmen's inability to handle spin in the middle-overs and their shoddy selection of its batting order cost them yesterday's match.  It is expected by fans that the team would get things right during its next outing.  Sunil Naraine, who picked up two wickets and scored a brisk 32, was the 'man of the match'.