Image: CSK chased 167 vs LSG with 3 balls left, with Dhoni named Player of the Match / © India Today
The 30th match of IPL 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow witnessed the return of a familiar script: MS Dhoni finishing a tense run chase with his trademark calm. After five consecutive defeats, Chennai Super Kings clawed their way back with a thrilling 5-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants, with Dhoni’s unbeaten 26* off 11 balls proving decisive.
Put in to bat by CSK, the Super Giants began cautiously and never really found the fluency required on a two-paced surface. Aiden Markram fell early, caught by Tripathi off Khaleel Ahmed for just 6, while Nicholas Pooran’s scratchy stay ended on 8 (9 balls), trapped lbw by young Anshul Kamboj.
Mitchell Marsh held the fort for a while, striking 30 off 25 balls with two sixes, but his dismissal to Ravindra Jadeja triggered a phase of stagnation. Captain Rishabh Pant, however, kept the innings together with a brilliant 63 off 49 balls, anchoring the innings and lifting the tempo late. Pant mixed flair with caution, hitting 4 boundaries and 4 sixes, and built vital partnerships with Ayush Badoni (22 off 17) and Abdul Samad (20 off 11).
The late flourish from Pant and Samad propelled LSG to 166/7, a total that looked competitive but not daunting. Matheesha Pathirana, despite going for 45 runs, picked two crucial wickets. Jadeja also chipped in with 2/24, while Noor Ahmad was miserly, conceding just 13 runs in 4 overs without taking a wicket.
Chennai’s reply began with a flurry of boundaries. Rachin Ravindra continued his promising season, unleashing a 22-ball 37 that included 5 crisp fours. Shaik Rasheed complemented him with a brisk 27 off 19, striking six boundaries. The pair added 52 runs in just 4.5 overs, making the target look easier than it was. However, the LSG spinners pulled things back in the middle overs. Ravi Bishnoi struck twice in quick succession, removing Rahul Tripathi (9 off 10) and Ravindra Jadeja (7 off 11), both failing to accelerate. At 96/4, the chase was in balance, especially with the surface slowing down.
Vijay Shankar fell soon after for 9, and it seemed the match would go down to the wire. But that’s when Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni stepped up. Needing 56 off the last 5 overs, Dube (43* off 37) held one end, but it was Dhoni’s cameo that stole the spotlight. Walking in at 118/5, he unleashed vintage fireworks, a blistering assault on Thakur and Avesh Khan that turned the game on its head. Dhoni’s knock included four boundaries and a towering six, as he raced to 26* in just 11 balls with a strike rate of 236.36. His presence ensured that CSK crossed the line with 3 balls to spare, ending on 168/5 in 19.3 overs.
Lucknow’s bowlers began well but faded at the death. Shardul Thakur endured a forgettable evening, leaking 56 runs in 4 overs. Digvesh Rathi was impressive with 1/23 in his 4 overs, and Bishnoi (2/18) stood out as LSG’s best bowler. Markram and Avesh picked a wicket apiece but couldn’t contain Dhoni in the final overs.
Dew was a significant factor, prompting a ball change in the 17th over. The wet ball and CSK’s calm batting ensured the chase stayed on course. CSK smartly brought in Shivam Dube as their Impact Player for Pathirana, a move that paid rich dividends with his 43* anchoring the chase. LSG, meanwhile, replaced Marsh with Bishnoi, who delivered two key wickets but lacked support from the seamers.
The veteran’s nerves of steel and clean finishing under pressure fetched him the Player of the Match award. At 43, Dhoni proved once again why he’s regarded as one of the finest finishers in the game. With this crucial win, Chennai Super Kings finally broke their five-match losing streak and are at the 10th position on the points table, still giving their playoff hopes a fresh breath of life.
They now have 4 points from 7 games and will look to build momentum heading into the second half of the tournament. On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants remain in the top 4, but the loss saw them slip to 4th position, with 8 points from 7 games. They’ll be keen to bounce back quickly to avoid getting caught in the mid-table tussle.
The TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day came in the 17th over when the Chennai Super Kings were in a critical stage of the chase, needing 31 runs from 18 balls. Shardul Thakur was brought back into the attack, and MS Dhoni was at the crease, looking to up the ante. On the very last ball of the over, Thakur bowled a slower delivery, and Dhoni, ever so destructive in the final overs, was ready. With his eyes fixed on the ball, Dhoni swung hard with one hand coming off the bat, yet he made perfect contact, sending the ball soaring over the square leg boundary for a massive six.
The timing and power behind the shot were exceptional, as Dhoni’s signature style came to the fore, even without a full grip on the bat. It was a moment of sheer class from the CSK captain, helping to boost the team’s momentum as they neared the target. With Dhoni on 15 from just 6 balls, the scoreboard read 136/5 after 17 overs. The required run rate was still high at 10.33, but with Dhoni at the crease, CSK remained in the hunt for a thrilling finish.
Noor Ahmad’s performance with the ball in the match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) was crucial to the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) success, even though he did not take a wicket. The Afghan left-arm wrist spinner bowled with remarkable control and accuracy, finishing his four overs for just 13 runs, giving him an outstanding economy rate of 3.25. His ability to dry up the runs and create pressure on the LSG batsmen played a key role in the success of the other bowlers, who picked up wickets at vital moments.
Ahmad’s tight bowling forced the batsmen into playing dot balls and restricted the flow of runs, especially in the middle overs. His presence in the attack allowed CSK to stay on top, creating opportunities for the other bowlers, such as Jadeja and Pathirana, to take wickets. Though he didn’t have the figures of a match-winner, Ahmad’s disciplined performance made him the unsung hero of the day. For his exceptional contribution, Noor Ahmad was named TCNI’s Hero of the Day. MS Dhoni, in the post-match press conference, took a moment to praise Ahmad’s efforts, highlighting his control and ability to build pressure, which was critical to the team’s overall strategy.