Lucknow: Skipper MS Dhoni's masterpiece ended Chennai's poor run as the Super Kings stamped their authority with a crucial five-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday.
Dhoni's exceptional, combined with Shivam Dube's controlled yet combative performance in patches, snapped Chennai's five-match unbeaten streak. Dhoni remained undefeated on 26 from 11 deliveries, with four boundaries and a six, while Dube blasted 43* from 37 deliveries as CSK triumphed in the final over with three balls to spare.
Chennai opened their 167-run chase with a blistering opening stand between IPL rookie Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra. The young Kiwi southpaw set the tone in the first over, hitting back-to-back boundaries off Shardul Thakur.
Rasheed demonstrated his boundary-breaking abilities by targeting Akash Deep. By perfectly timing his flick, the youthful newcomer set his first IPL boundary. With perfect timing, he closed the over with back-to-back deliveries to set the pace for the chase.
The pair went from strength to strength, putting on a 52-run opening stand before Rasheed (27) died against Avesh Khan. The seasoned bowler dropped his pace to 125 kph, luring the 20-year-old into making a mistake and allowing Nicholas Pooran to hole it.
Rahul Tripathi was fortunate in his 100th IPL game. Abdul Samad missed a sitter, giving the veteran batter a longer stay on the crease. The Super Kings were on a high in the chase, but Aiden Markram caught Ravindra in front of the stumps on 37(22) against the run of play.
CSK lost another wicket in four deliveries as Tripathi (9) cushioned the ball back into Ravi Bishnoi's hands and returned to the dressing room with another poor performance.
Shivam Dube attempted a comeback with Ravindra Jadeja, but Bishnoi made the breakthrough, putting Chennai on the back foot. Jadeja focused on the boundary but drilled it to Markram near the edge of the boundary.
Vijay Shankar failed to make a significant impression and left cheaply. CSK needed a player to finish the game, thus Dhoni stepped up to lead his team to win. The crowd erupted in applause as Dhoni outlined his strategy for success.
With two consecutive boundaries in the closing deliveries of the 16th over, Dhoni began chopping the required rate. On the penultimate delivery of the 17th over, Dhoni muscled the ball away from the boundary rope for a one-handed maximum.
As the equation drew closer to 24 needed in 12, Shivam Dube unleashed a ferocious onslaught in the penultimate over. Shardul Thakur, with his quick pace, was decimated. Dube placed the ball precisely to direct it to the boundary rope. On the next delivery, he hit the ball into the stands for a maximum.
LSG's difficulties worsened as Bishnoi squandered the chance of sending Dhoni back to the dressing room on 20. The ball came at him rapidly; it was a legal catch, but it flew through Bishnoi's hands.
Dhoni punished Lucknow for its error by hitting a four in the penultimate over, finishing with an astonishing 19 runs. Dube scored the winning runs as CSK ended its five-match losing streak.
Earlier in the encounter, LSG struggled after being set to bat first by CSK. Khaleel Ahmed resumed his first-over heroics this season, dismissing opener Aiden Markram for six in six balls at the end of the first over, thanks to a brilliant diving catch by Rahul Tripathi.
CSK threw another stumbling stone in LSG's progress when Anshul Kambhoj took the big wicket of an in-form Nicholas Pooran for eight in nine balls. LSG scored 23/2 in four overs.
Mitchell Marsh and captain Rishabh Pant rebuilt the innings, both going on the attack against pacers. After six overs, LSG was 42/2, with Mitchell (22*) and Rishabh (6*) unbeaten.
LSG reached 50 runs in 6.3 overs, owing to Pant's reverse scoop, which went for six.
The 50-run stand between the two ended when Ravindra Jadeja clean bowled Marsh for 30 in 25 balls, including two fours and two sixes. LSG scored 73/3 from 9.3 overs. After 10 overs, LSG was 78/3, with Ayush Badoni (5*) joining Pant (28*).
Badoni attempted to relieve some pressure by hitting Jamie Overton for two consecutive sixes at the conclusion of the 12th over. LSG reached 100 runs in 12.3 overs. MS Dhoni's brilliant stumping ended Badoni's innings (22 in 17 balls, with a four and two sixes), and Jadeja took his second wicket. LSG scored 105/4 from 13.4 overs.
Pant relieved some pressure by hitting Matheesha Pathirana for two sixes, completing his maiden IPL 2025 fifty in 42 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes. Pathirana's 18th over produced 18 runs for LSG.
Khaleel's following over helped LSG score 16 runs, including sixes by Pant and Samad. LSG scored 150 runs in 19 overs.
The final over yielded some results for CSK, as they had Abdul Samad run out for 20 in 11 balls, with two sixes, and Dhoni caught Pant (63 in 49 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) off Pathirana. LSG finished at 166/7 in 20 overs, with Pathirana dismissing Shardul Thakur (6) with the penultimate ball.
