CSK Finds New Life as MS Dhoni Steals the Show in Lucknow
It’s not every night that a legend flips the script, but MS Dhoni just reminded everyone why you can never count him out. At the Ekana Stadium on a humid Lucknow evening, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) shook off a stubborn five-match drought with a gutsy five-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 30th game of IPL 2025. What stood out? A classic Dhoni finish—cool nerves, calculated hits, and a little bit of magic with the bat when the team needed it most.
CSK faced a tall chase of 169—a total that probably felt heavier considering their recent string of losses. Things started on a steady note as debutant Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra set the platform with a patient partnership. But as soon as LSG’s bowlers tightened things up in the middle overs, CSK appeared to wobble. There were dot balls, quick wickets, and the kind of uncertainty that creeps in after weeks without a win. Even big hitters like Daryl Mitchell couldn’t break the shackles in the middle segment, and the run rate started inching up.
Enter Shivam Dube, anchoring the innings with a mature unbeaten 43 off 37 deliveries. Dube mixed patience with power—he didn’t take unnecessary risks but punished the bad balls, keeping CSK just within reach. Still, by the time the chase boiled down to the last three overs, the pressure was sky-high; the yellow army needed something special.
And there he was—MS Dhoni, walking in with 34 needed from just 18 balls. The crowd, always partial to the former Indian skipper, began chanting his name, hoping for a miracle. Dhoni started slowly, but as the bowlers missed their yorkers, he pounced. He cracked a signature flat six over deep square, then threaded two boundaries off the penultimate over to turn the equation in CSK’s favor. Suddenly, what felt like a lost cause transformed into a winnable chase. Dhoni stayed unbeaten on 26 from 11 deliveries, finishing the game with three balls to spare and triggering wild celebrations in the CSK camp.
Bowlers Set the Table Before Dhoni’s Finish
LSG’s night began with promise, but their batting never really caught fire. The tone was set from the opening over, where Khaleel Ahmed struck early. LSG’s Aiden Markram was left stunned by a blinder of a catch from Rahul Tripathi—one of those moments where you wonder if gravity was taking a break. With Markram gone and CSK exerting pressure, the home side kept losing wickets at awkward intervals.
One name that kept LSG in the contest was slightly under the radar: Ayush Badoni, who rebuilt their innings in the middle. He nudged singles, stole doubles, and found gaps to keep the scoreboard ticking. But against a disciplined CSK attack, it felt like LSG was always a step behind.
Ravindra Jadeja turned in a crafty spell, bagging 2 wickets for just 24 runs. He spun a web through the middle overs, never letting LSG’s batsmen settle. And Noor Ahmad bowled his full quota without giving away a single boundary, conceding only 13 runs in his four overs—talk about putting the brakes on the opposition. LSG tried to shake things up with an Impact Player switch—Ravi Bishnoi replaced Mitchell Marsh—but even that move couldn’t inject momentum.
By the time LSG closed at 168 for 5 after 20 overs, it felt like they’d left a handful of runs out there, especially on a surface where late acceleration is expected. CSK sensed that with some grit and a little bit of vintage Dhoni, the breakthrough win was finally within reach.
This wasn't just a regular group-stage victory—it was a statement. CSK proved they’re far from finished, and that the magic of MS Dhoni is still very much alive in the IPL.
