Kolkata deepens Chennai's IPL woes in 8-wicket win

CHENNAI, India (AP) — The Chennai Super Kings' lowest total at home in Indian Premier League history led to their fifth consecutive loss on Friday.

Sunil Narine’s brilliance with ball and bat led Kolkata Knight Riders to an eight-wicket win with nearly 10 overs to spare.

Chennai avoided its lowest ever total — 79 — but 103-9 at Chepauk was hardly less embarrassing a day after Mahendra Singh Dhoni was handed the captaincy in the absence of the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Kolkata’s spin trio of Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali strangled the home team with combined bowling figures of 12-1-55-6.

After taking 3-13, Narine bludgeoned 44 off just 18 balls with five sixes and two fours and motored Kolkata to 107-2 in 10.1 overs.

Kolkata’s rampant chase lifted it to third on the table, six points behind the Gujarat Titans and unbeaten Delhi Capitals. Chennai, following an unprecedented third straight home loss, remained just above the bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad.

After his starring role with the ball, Narine was in a hurry to lead Kolkata’s electrifying chase, with Quinton de Kock also smashing three sixes in a 23-run knock.

Both left-handers whacked pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed (0-40) and didn’t spare spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who conceded 30 off his three overs.

De Kock and Narine were clean-bowled and captain Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh finished off Chennai's biggest defeat in terms of balls remaining.

Dhoni wanted to bat first after he lost the toss and Kolkata obliged him along with lining up ideal matchups with its spinners.

Ali was specifically drafted for the left-handed opening pair of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. The off-spinner bowled a maiden over in the power play and got the wicket of Conway, lbw to an over-ambitious reverse sweep.

Ravindra struggled and gave a leading edge to Harshit Rana.

Vijay Shankar escaped two dropped catches in his team-high 29 and his luck finally ran out in the 10th over when he holed out to backward square leg against Chakravarthy.

Rahul Tripathi, playing in place of Gaikwad, couldn’t read Narine, and Ravichandran Ashwin’s promotion lasted seven balls for one run.

Impact player Deepak Hooda couldn’t turn the fortunes for Chennai as he chipped a catch to midwicket for a four-ball duck, then Dhoni was lbw for 1 to Narine. At that point, 75-8, Chennai was in danger of its lowest ever IPL total.

But Shivam Dube, 31 not out, spared Chennai that indignity. The home team scored just three boundaries after the eighth over.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Moeen Ali, center, celebrates the dismissal of Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Varun Chakravarthy, left, and Kolkata Knight Riders' captain Ajinkya Rahane celebrates the dismissal of Chennai Super Kings' Vijay Shankar during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

Chennai Super Kings' Rahul Tripathi bowled out by Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

Chennai Super Kings' Rahul Tripathi walks off the field after losing his wicket during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

Kolkata Knight Riders players celebrates the dismissal of Chennai Super Kings' Ravindra Jadeja during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine celebrates the dismissal of Chennai Super Kings' captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)

WOODBRIDGE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 12, 2026--

ChemWerth, Inc., a global leader in generic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) development and supply, continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its position in the Indian market. To support its growth in the region, ChemWerth has hired Chandrakanth Reddy as general sales manager of its India office.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260111302280/en/

“The addition of a general sales manager in India signals our desire to grow our presence and customer base in the world’s most important generic pharmaceutical market,” said Pete Werth III, president, ChemWerth. “Chandrakanth will add tremendous value for our customers and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) in India.”

Reddy is a seasoned pharmaceutical professional with more than 16 years of experience spanning API sourcing, business development, market expansion and regulatory-driven commercial strategy. He has successfully led high-value markets across India, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the United States, building strong customer partnerships and supporting sustainable revenue growth.

In his new role, Reddy will be responsible for leading ChemWerth’s sales strategy in India and strengthening regional customer relationships. He will also support the company’s focused initiative to roll out new generic APIs in the market, including fermentation, peptide and oncology injectable APIs.

“After reviewing ChemWerth’s strategic plan to unveil a strong pipeline of new generic fermentation, peptide and oncology injectable APIs for the Indian market, I knew that was something I wanted to be a part of,” said Reddy.

About ChemWerth, Inc.:

Established in 1982, ChemWerth is a full-service generic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) development and supply company providing cGMP-quality APIs to regulated markets worldwide. ChemWerth is a global company headquartered in the United States, with offices in China and India. For more information, please visit www.chemwerth.com.

Chandrakanth Reddy has joined ChemWerth, Inc., as general sales manager of its India office.