April 15, 2025: Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar weighed in on Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) hard-fought five-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025, highlighting the psychological importance of the win and MS Dhoni’s pivotal role in steering the team back to winning ways.
Speaking on Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, Bangar acknowledged that while the match wasn’t a flawless performance from CSK, it was a crucial morale booster after a string of losses.
“Not exactly a smooth win because Chennai batters struggled in the middle phase of the innings. But when a team is not winning games, to get back into that winning rhythm, you require such scratchy wins. These are two points of immense value for Chennai Super Kings,” Bangar said.
He pointed out that the pressure of five consecutive defeats can affect the entire team’s energy, making it difficult to stay focused. He credited MS Dhoni for holding his nerve and guiding the chase at a critical time.
“The fact that MS Dhoni still steered that successful chase was critical. In his absence, it could have gone wrong for Chennai Super Kings again. Hopefully, this scratchy win reignites their campaign in a big way,” Bangar added.
CSK had been on a five-match losing streak, but Dhoni’s 11-ball 26*, featuring four boundaries and a six, along with Shivam Dube’s composed 43* off 37 deliveries, helped seal a tense win with three balls to spare. Dhoni also impressed behind the stumps with two catches and a sharp run-out, earning him the Player of the Match award.
The win marked a much-needed turnaround for CSK and could serve as the launchpad for a stronger finish in the remaining season.