New Delhi: In a high-voltage IPL 2025 clash at Lucknow, Chennai Super Kings edged past Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets with just three balls to spare, chasing down a competitive 167 in 19.3 overs. It was a composed and calculated run chase anchored by the experienced Shivam Dube and the ever-reliable MS Dhoni, after early hiccups in the middle overs.
Opting to bat first, LSG got off to a stuttering start as Aiden Markram (6 off 6) was dismissed in the opening over by Khaleel Ahmed. Nicholas Pooran (8 off 9), expected to provide early fireworks, fell cheaply too, trapped leg-before by Anshul Kamboj in the fourth over.
Mitchell Marsh (30 off 25) was the lone bright spot early on, playing some crisp strokes, but he too perished to Ravindra Jadeja just as he looked set to anchor the innings. From 73/3 at the halfway mark, the onus was on the middle order to accelerate.
Pant, Samad Inject Momentum
Skipper Rishabh Pant (63 off 49) played a captain’s knock, striking the ball cleanly and guiding LSG towards a fighting total. He was well supported by Abdul Samad (20 off 11), whose cameo ensured LSG crossed the 160-run mark. Matheesha Pathirana, though expensive, came back well in the death, picking up two vital wickets including Pant and Thakur, who chipped in with a quick 6-ball 9.
Jadeja, Pathirana Shine With the Ball
Ravindra Jadeja was miserly with the ball, taking 2 for 24, including the scalps of Marsh and Ayush Badoni, while Pathirana’s late strikes curtailed the run flow and restricted LSG to 166/7—an above-par score given the slightly slow nature of the surface.
CSK’s Chase: Steady But Stuttering
Chennai’s chase began positively, with young Shaik Rasheed impressing again with a breezy 27 off 19 balls before falling to Avesh Khan. Rachin Ravindra was in sublime touch, hammering 37 off just 22 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes, before falling LBW to Markram.
However, the middle order faltered as Rahul Tripathi (9), Jadeja (7), and Vijay Shankar (9) failed to capitalise on starts. Ravi Bishnoi’s twin strikes put CSK under pressure at 111/5 in the 15th over.
Dube and Dhoni Calm the Nerves
With the game hanging in balance, Shivam Dube took charge. Displaying excellent composure, he struck an unbeaten 43 off 37 deliveries, rotating the strike well and dispatching the occasional loose ball to the fence.
MS Dhoni, coming in with 58 needed off 36, once again proved why he’s still the heart of CSK’s batting unit. The veteran wicketkeeper stayed unbeaten on 26 off 11 balls, finishing the chase in style with a four over point to seal the win in 19.3 overs.
