IPL 2025: MS Dhoni magic powers new-look as CSK defeat LSG by 5 wickets

MS Dhoni was the star of the show as the new-look Chennai Super Kings secured their second win of the season against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, April 14. Dhoni scored 26 off just 11 deliveries as he delivered a late cameo in an intense run chase at the Ekana stadium on Monday. Rishabh Pant starred for his side with 63 runs, but it was Chennai's night in Lucknow as they returned to winning ways with a 5-wicket win.

CSK won the toss on the day and elected to field first and they made a couple of changes to the lineup. The big news was R Ashwin and Devon Conway dropping out and Shaik Rasheed and Jamie Overton coming in to the team. Chennai found early success as they Khaleel Ahmed dismissed Aiden Markram in the first over. Nicholas Pooran, who has been sensational this season, also struggled to get off to a flyer as the Dhoni Review System came back and Anshul Kamboj trapped him infront of the stumps.

Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh were able to get a couple of shots away but LSG scored just 42 runs in the powerplay overs. The duo put on 50 runs before Jadeja claimed the wicket of Marsh. The onus was on Pant at that point and Ayush Badoni came in to give him support. It seemed like the duo were able to build up a partnership as Badoni had luck go his way on two occasions, one with Pathirana bowling a third bouncer in the over and him getting some glove on Jadeja delivery that had him trapped infront of the stumps.

However, Badoni's stay was ended soon after as Dhoni was able to stump him. Noor Ahmad went through his overs quickly and ended with figures of 0 for 13 in his four overs as LSG were 121 for 4 by the 17th over. Pant would go after Pathirana and hit two sixes to get to his fifty, his first 50-plus score for Rishabh Pant after 19 innings in T20 cricket. Pant and Abdul Samad were able to get 16 runs off Khaleel's 19th over to set up a big finish.

The final over saw some Dhoni magic as he first was able to run out Samad with a fine underarm throw, before holding on to a catch to



dismiss Pant and get past 200 dismissals in the IPL. While Shardul got a boundary, LSG ended at 166 for 7 in their 20 overs.

The CSK chase began with some confidence being shown from the new opening combination of Rachin and Rasheed. Rachin started with 2 boundaries off the first over before Rasheed got 3 in the next one. 3 more boundaries came in the next over as CSK were 37 for 0 in 3 overs.

Rasheed looked comfortable on his debut, but a false shot brought about his demise for 27. CSK ended the powerplay with 59 on the board, the third time they had a 50-plus score in the powerplay in the last 7 innings.

Pant needed to make some changes and he made the bold call to bring Markram for his off-spin. The South African got the big wicket of Rachin, who was dismissed for 37. Bishnoi got the wicket of Tripathi in the next over as LSG slowly came back into the contest and started to put the brakes on the scoring.

Jadeja's move to No.4 failed as he got just 7 off 11 balls as Bishnoi got his second. Dube was kept silent by the LSG spinners and when Digvesh got Shankar, the game was evenly balanced with 56 needed in the final 5 overs.

This brought Dhoni to the middle as the noise levels at the Ekana stadium went up. And the CSK legend obliged with two boundaries to ensure his side remained in the hunt. Shardul bowled a tight over but Dhoni came in with a one-handed six as 31 was needed off the final three. The next over started with some luck in favour of Dhoni as he got a boundary from Avesh Khan's over.

Dube, who was silent till then, came to life as he hit a boundary and six off Shardul to put the equation in favour of CSK as Dhoni came back on strike. The CSK skipper was given another life as Bishnoi dropped a straightforward catch. He made LSG pay for it with a boundary off the final ball as CSK needed just 5 in the final over.

Dube sealed the game with a boundary as he remained unbeaten on 43 off 37 deliveries in the end.