March 24, 2025: After a commanding victory against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Rachin Ravindra shared his thoughts on the unforgettable experience of batting alongside former skipper MS Dhoni during the match.
Ravindra played a stellar knock of 65* runs off 45 balls, including four sixes and two boundaries, with a strike rate of 144.44. His innings guided CSK to a four-wicket victory at their home ground, MA Chidambaram Stadium, as they chased down MI’s total.
In the 19th over, when CSK required just four runs to win, MS Dhoni walked out to bat alongside Ravindra. Despite facing only two balls, Dhoni couldn’t get off the mark. Ravindra, however, was determined to finish the game and hit the first ball of the 20th over, bowled by Mitchell Santner, for a boundary to seal the win.
Reflecting on the special moment of batting with Dhoni, Ravindra said in the post-match press conference, “It’s difficult to soak it in when you’re in the moment because you’re simply focused on winning the game for the team. It’s hard to ignore, though. You hear Dhoni come out with the whistles and the noise. It’s cool to share the crease with him for the first time. He’s a legend of the game, and people love him here. So, it’s special.”
He also mentioned the crowd’s probable expectations that Dhoni would finish the game, acknowledging his long history of match-winning performances for CSK. Ravindra added, “All the crowd would have been hoping that I gave him [the strike] and finished the game, and he would have finished it. But it’s just about getting the job done. He’s finished so many games for CSK, and I’m sure there are plenty more to come.”
Ravindra’s composed and mature performance, combined with the sheer experience of playing alongside Dhoni, added another memorable chapter to the IPL 2025 season for Chennai Super Kings.