Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: Captain MS Dhoni’s masterclass performance helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) snap a five-match losing streak with a dramatic five-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing IPL 2025 season on Monday.
With a brilliant finishing act, Dhoni remained unbeaten on 26 off just 11 balls, including four fours and a six, while Shivam Dube added a crucial 43* from 37 balls. Their partnership led CSK to chase down the 167-run target in the final over, with three balls remaining.
CSK’s innings kicked off strongly thanks to a fiery opening stand between IPL debutant Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra laid the foundation early, smashing consecutive boundaries in the first over bowled by Shardul Thakur.
Rasheed joined the attack against Akash Deep, registering his maiden IPL boundary with a well-timed flick. He closed the over with back-to-back boundaries, giving Chennai momentum in the chase.
The pair put up a 52-run partnership before Rasheed (27) was dismissed by Avesh Khan. The pacer slowed it down to 125 kph, drawing the 20-year-old into a misjudged shot caught by Nicholas Pooran.
Rahul Tripathi, playing his 100th IPL game, was given a lifeline after Abdul Samad dropped a sitter. Despite that, CSK lost Ravindra (37 off 22) against the run of play, trapped LBW by Aiden Markram.
Tripathi didn’t last long either, managing just 9 runs before returning a catch to Ravi Bishnoi. CSK found themselves under pressure as Jadeja and Dube tried to stabilize the innings. However, Jadeja was dismissed by Bishnoi while attempting a boundary shot, caught near the ropes by Markram.
Vijay Shankar also failed to leave a mark. With the game slipping away, MS Dhoni took charge. Greeted with roaring applause, Dhoni meticulously began closing in on the target.
He struck two consecutive boundaries at the end of the 16th over to ease the run-rate pressure. Then, on the final ball of the 17th, he launched a one-handed six over the boundary.
With 24 needed off the final 12 balls, Shivam Dube took the penultimate over by storm. He punished Shardul Thakur’s variations with a precise placement for four, followed by a towering six.
Doing what he does best 💛 🫡
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 14, 2025
For his brilliant finishing act of 26*(11) and yet another 🔝 effort behind the stumps, #CSK skipper MS Dhoni is the Player of the Match 🙌 💥
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/jHrifBkT14 #TATAIPL | #LSGvCSK | @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/Xcw0whVQo4
LSG’s troubles deepened when Bishnoi dropped Dhoni on 20 — a routine catch that slipped through his fingers. Dhoni capitalized on the lifeline by hitting a boundary, taking 19 runs off the over. The winning runs came from Dube’s bat, sealing a morale-boosting win for CSK.
Earlier in the Match:
After being sent in to bat by CSK, Lucknow got off to a rocky start. Khaleel Ahmed struck early, removing Aiden Markram for 6 with the help of a sharp catch from Rahul Tripathi.
Anshul Kambhoj added to LSG’s woes, dismissing an in-form Nicholas Pooran for just 8. At four overs, LSG were reeling at 23/2.
Mitchell Marsh and captain Rishabh Pant attempted a recovery. By the end of the powerplay, LSG were 42/2, with Marsh on 22* and Pant on 6*.
Pant showcased his inventiveness with a reverse scoop for six as LSG reached 50 in the 7th over. The 50-run stand ended when Jadeja bowled Marsh for 30, which included two sixes and two fours. LSG were 73/3 at that point.
Ayush Badoni came in and played a quick cameo, hitting two back-to-back sixes off Jamie Overton. LSG crossed the 100-run mark in the 13th over. However, Dhoni’s sharp stumping sent Badoni (22 off 17) back, giving Jadeja his second wicket.
Pant then took the attack to Pathirana, notching up his first IPL 2025 fifty in 42 balls, featuring four boundaries and three sixes. The 18th over yielded 18 runs, followed by 16 in the 19th, with both Pant and Samad hitting sixes.
The IMPACT player does it with MAX IMPACT 🤩
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 14, 2025
Shivam Dube 🤝 MS Dhoni with a match-winning partnership 💛@ChennaiIPL are 🔙 to winning ways 😎
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/jHrifBlqQC #TATAIPL | #LSGvCSK pic.twitter.com/AI2hJkT9Dt
The final over saw LSG lose quick wickets. Abdul Samad was run out for 20 (11), and Dhoni caught Pant (63 off 49) off Pathirana’s bowling. Shardul Thakur was dismissed on the last ball as LSG posted 166/7 in 20 overs.