On a surface that rewarded patience and precision, Noor Ahmad delivered a decisive spell to help Chennai Super Kings secure a 32-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday.
Defending 192 on a two-paced Chepauk track, Noor returned figures of 3 for 21, removing Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh and Cameron Green as KKR collapsed from 79 for 2 to 90 for 6.
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“It was good. The wicket helped today. There was a little bit of turn for him. The other wickets are quite flat, but today it was a little slower through the air. There was more side spin on the ball and more drop,” CSK bowling coach Sridharan Sriram said after the match.
While conditions played a part, Sriram pointed to preparation as a key factor behind Noor’s turnaround.
“That is something he has been working on. Even MS had a long chat with him in one of the practice sessions, especially about getting his leg-break going. I think it was very helpful today, and the results were there to see.”
EXECUTION KEY
Noor’s impact was built on finding the right length on a surface that offered grip.
“Being able to get some deviation off the surface is very important, and that is what he has been working on. Everyone accepts that there will be days when wickets are flat, but still looking to be aggressive, putting revs on the ball and getting it to spin will help. That is how you induce mistakes,” Sriram explained.
There was also key input during the innings from fellow spinner Akeal Hosein.
“In his first over, he was either a bit short or slightly too full. Once he found that in-between length, he became very difficult to play. Credit to Akeal as well because he pointed that out during the strategic timeout.”
DHONI INFLUENCE
Sriram also highlighted the role of MS Dhoni, whose interaction with Noor during training helped sharpen his approach.
“One of his strengths is that he gets late movement. His release is very good and the ball moves late. When he gets it right consistently, it becomes difficult for batters.”
Beyond skill, Sriram emphasised Noor’s preparation and awareness.
“He is a very good student of the game. He analyses batters, studies where to place his fielders and understands what speeds to bowl. He comes prepared.”
With KKR unable to recover from the middle-order collapse, CSK’s control through spin proved decisive on a challenging surface.
For Noor Ahmad, it was a performance shaped by preparation, communication and execution, with Dhoni’s guidance playing a key role in his turnaround at Chepauk.
