In a much-needed turnaround, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 5 wickets in the 30th match of the IPL 2025 season, chasing down a target of 167 with just five balls to spare. With this win, CSK secured only their second victory in seven matches, finally ending a five-match losing streak.
Batting first, Lucknow Super Giants posted 166/7 in 20 overs, with skipper Rishabh Pant top-scoring with a gritty 63 off 49 balls—his first half-century in LSG colors. Despite Pant’s resilience, he admitted post-match that the team was “10–15 runs short” on a pitch that offered balance between bat and ball. CSK’s bowlers kept things tight, with Ravindra Jadeja shining through with figures of 2 for 24.
Chennai’s chase looked shaky early on, but the momentum shifted in the final five overs when MS Dhoni joined Shivam Dube at the crease. Dhoni rolled back the years with a blazing 26 off just 11 deliveries*, while Dube anchored the innings with an unbeaten 43 off 30 balls*. Their unbroken 57-run partnership off 28 balls proved match-winning.
Though Ravi Bishnoi (2/18) and Digvesh Rathi gave LSG hopes with sharp spells, a crucial 19-run over from Shardul Thakur in the penultimate over sealed their fate.
This thrilling encounter not only displayed MS Dhoni’s finishing brilliance once again but also gave CSK a crucial lifeline to stay in contention for the playoffs.
