The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) needed a spark after five straight IPL 2025 defeats, and the famous captain MS Dhoni provided it—not just with his bat and glove performance behind the stumps, but also with some astute selections. In addition to breaking the losing trend, CSK’s five-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) signaled a shift in attitude and approach.
CSK was battling at the bottom of the table after losing five straight games going into the clash at Ekana Stadium. Poor bat and ball beginnings during the powerplay were the cause of previous losses. As a result, MS Dhoni and the management had to make some important choices.
In favor of younger players, Dhoni decided to bench veteran players Devon Conway and Ravi Ashwin. The adjustment was successful when Anshul Kamboj and Khaleel Ahmed were given important responsibilities in the powerplay. Both bowlers claimed a wicket each, including the vital removal of Nicholas Pooran, as LSG was held to just 42 runs in the opening six overs.
“We made a few changes because we wanted to make sure our first six overs are slightly better because we need more bowlers in the first six. We were actually putting too much pressure on Ash, he has bowled two overs on wickets that were not doing a lot and the batsmen were just expressing themselves. We made a few changes where we could have more bowlers who could bowl in the first six and, if needed – if the fast bowlers, somebody goes for runs – we have Noor [Ahmad], who can drop in with one over. I feel this looks like a better attack, there’s more manoeuvrability for the captain. I feel, as a bowling unit we have done well. As a batting unit, I think we can do even better.”
Don’t pick an option that is not good for that wicket: MS Dhoni
LSG’s momentum was interrupted in the middle overs by the outstanding skillful execution of Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad. Noor gave up just 13 runs in his four overs, while Jadeja took the crucial wickets of Ayush Badoni and Mitchell Marsh.
They appeared different at bat as newcomer Shaik Rasheed helped CSK to 59/1 in the first six overs with six boundaries in the powerplay, almost matching the 60+ starts Dhoni had claimed the side needed. Shivam Dube and Dhoni came in with 56 needed off 30 balls as the chase faltered in the middle. The game was elegantly ended by Dhoni’s cameo of 26 off 11 balls.
“We were not getting the kind of starts that we wanted when it came to us as a batting unit. And the fall of wickets at the wrong time [has hurt us] to some extent, but one of the reasons could be that the Chennai wicket’s slightly on the slower side. So, out of the first five or six games that we have played, we have played more games [four out of six] over there. The starts of the batting unit has done slightly better when you actually played outside. So, maybe we need to play on wickets that are slightly better, it will give the batsmen the confidence to play their shots because you don’t want to play timid cricket. But at the same time, you want to figure out what is your release shot and back yourself and hit that shot. Don’t pick an option that is not good for that wicket, but at the same time, it’s very important to express [yourself].”
