Shivam Dube anchors the chase with 43; Dhoni rolls back the years with a vintage 11-ball 26* to guide Chennai to a much-needed victory at Ekana Stadium
Lucknow, April 14: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) returned to winning ways in IPL 2025, thanks to a composed chase powered by Shivam Dube and a vintage finishing act from MS Dhoni, defeating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by five wickets at the Ekana Stadium on Monday.
Chasing 167, CSK’s top order set the tone with Rachin Ravindra (37) and Shaik Rasheed (27) providing a steady start. But it was the calm aggression of Shivam Dube (43 off 37 balls) and the finishing fireworks of MS Dhoni (26 off 11 balls)* that sealed the game for the five-time champions.
Dhoni walked in at No. 6 with 37 runs still required and played a captain’s knock, showcasing his signature power-hitting and game awareness. Dube, who smashed the winning boundary, held one end firmly as CSK reached 170/5 in 19.3 overs.
Pant’s Return to Form in Vain
Earlier, CSK won the toss and chose to field first. LSG, after a shaky start, were held together by Rishabh Pant, who returned to form with a superb 63 off 49 balls, including four boundaries and four sixes.
Despite early setbacks, with Aiden Markram (6) and Nicholas Pooran (8) dismissed cheaply, Pant and Mitchell Marsh (30 off 25) added a crucial 50-run stand to stabilize the innings. Ayush Badoni (22) and Abdul Samad (20) chipped in with cameos, helping LSG reach 166/7 in their 20 overs.
For CSK, Ravindra Jadeja (2/24) was the pick of the bowlers, while Matheesha Pathirana, Anshul Kambhoj, and Khaleel Ahmed picked one wicket each.
Key Moments:
- MS Dhoni’s final flourish: 26* off 11 balls – classic finishing touch.
- Rishabh Pant’s gritty 63: A much-needed return to form despite the team loss.
- Ravindra Jadeja’s impact: 2/24 and key breakthroughs in the middle overs.
- CSK breaks their losing streak, moving up the table as LSG is left to reassess.
With this win, CSK keeps their playoff hopes alive, while LSG will need to regroup after back-to-back losses. All eyes now shift to CSK’s next clash as they continue to chase consistency in IPL 2025.