Skipper MS Dhoni once again showcased his timeless brilliance, scripting a thrilling five-wicket win for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Monday. The victory ended Chennai’s five-match losing streak and reaffirmed Dhoni’s stature as one of the finest finishers in the game.
Chasing 167, CSK rode on a vintage Dhoni cameo and a composed, unbeaten knock from Shivam Dube to cross the finish line with three balls to spare. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 26 off just 11 balls, striking four boundaries and a six, while Dube anchored the chase with 43* off 37 deliveries.
CSK got off to a flying start, thanks to a sizzling opening stand between debutant Shaik Rasheed and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra set the tone with consecutive boundaries off Shardul Thakur in the opening over, and Rasheed followed suit by taking on Akash Deep with impeccable timing. Their 52-run partnership laid a solid platform before Rasheed (27) fell to Avesh Khan, who deceived the youngster with a slower delivery.
In his milestone 100th IPL match, Rahul Tripathi had a slice of luck when Abdul Samad dropped a sitter. However, he couldn’t capitalise, managing just 9 before falling to Ravi Bishnoi. Ravindra, after a brisk 37 off 22 balls, was trapped LBW by Aiden Markram, putting CSK on the backfoot.
Dube and Ravindra Jadeja attempted to stabilize the innings, but Bishnoi struck again, dismissing Jadeja near the boundary with Markram completing a sharp catch. Vijay Shankar’s quick exit added to Chennai’s troubles, leaving Dhoni to steer the chase.
Entering amidst a roaring crowd, Dhoni wasted no time. He struck two back-to-back boundaries to end the 16th over, then launched a one-handed six off the final ball of the 17th. With 24 needed off 12 balls, Dube unleashed an assault on Thakur, carving a boundary followed by a towering six, easing the pressure.
Lucknow’s fate was sealed when Bishnoi dropped Dhoni on 20—a straightforward chance that went begging. The CSK captain punished the lapse by slamming another boundary and finishing the over with 19 runs. Dube sealed the win in the final over, helping CSK snap their losing streak in style.
Earlier in the match, LSG, put into bat by CSK, struggled early. Khaleel Ahmed struck in the first over, dismissing Aiden Markram for 6 with Rahul Tripathi taking a fine diving catch. Anshul Kambhoj then removed the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for just 8, reducing LSG to 23/2 in four overs.
Mitchell Marsh and captain Rishabh Pant mounted a recovery, counterattacking the pacers. LSG reached 50 in the seventh over, with Pant reverse-scooping a six. Marsh was bowled by Jadeja for 30 (25), breaking a promising 50-run stand. At the halfway mark, LSG was 78/3.
Ayush Badoni gave LSG a boost with two consecutive sixes off Jamie Overton, but Dhoni’s sharp stumping off Jadeja ended his knock on 22 (17). Pant shifted gears, bringing up his first IPL 2025 fifty in 42 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes.
LSG collected 34 runs in the 18th and 19th overs, with Pant and Abdul Samad going big. However, the final over-swung back CSK’s way. Samad was run out for 20, and Pant fell for 63 (49) off Pathirana’s bowling. Pathirana then cleaned up Shardul Thakur off the last ball, restricting LSG to 166/7 in 20 overs.
(With ANI inputs)
