The opening match of the 2022 edition of the Indian T20 League will be played between Chennai and Kolkata. While Chennai have won the ITL four times, Kolkata have emerged as the champions twice. With both these sides slated to lock horns on 26th March 2022, let us take a look at the three best matches between Chennai and Kolkata.
3. 2015 ITL – Chennai won by two runs
In this roller coaster of a contest, Chennai beat Kolkata by just two runs. Batting first, Chennai posted a total of 134/6 on the board, with Faf Du Plessis top-scoring with a run-a-ball 29. Kolkata kept losing wickets at regular intervals, and in spite of Ryan ten Doeschate’s 38*, the then Gautam Gambhir-led side fell short on that day against Chennai.
2. 2012 ITL – Kolkata won by five wickets
In this high scoring, high-pressure ITL final, Chennai batted first and posted 190/3 on the board, with Suresh Raina bludgeoning a 38-ball 73. In reply, Manvinder Bisla’s blistering 89 off just 48 deliveries ensured that the Kolkata side won this match with five wickets and two balls to spare, to lift their maiden ITL crown.
1. 2011 ITL – Chennai won by two runs
We will travel more than 10 years back in time to relive this thriller of a contest between the two outfits. Chennai wielded the willow first in this battle and posted a total of 153/4 on the board, with Srikkanth Anirudha scoring 64.Â
In reply, Kolkata’s opening duo of Jacques Kallis and Manvinder Bisla put on a partnership of 64 runs for the opening wicket. But after that, the Kolkata side fizzled out, losing wickets in a heap. They fell short of the target by two runs. Srikkanth Anirudha won the Player of the Match award for his timely half-century.
