IPL 2025: CSK vs LSG – Rasheed-Rachin’s ‘Bombastic’ Opening! Young Guns scored 52 runs in 29 balls, gave Turbo Start to 167 chase!
Chennai Super Kings showed their real dumbness! Tasted victory by defeating LSG by 5 wickets (but some shortcomings remained)
In an emotional clash of IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 5 wickets in a match played at Ekana Stadium. This match was a “phoenix moment” for CSK – just like the engine of an old bike suddenly roars after kicking it, Dhoni’s team surprised everyone by making a comeback through its batting, bowling and fielding. But will this victory be able to stop their “struggle bus” permanently?
LSG Innings: Pant’s fightback, but CSK’s fielding took the lead
At the start of the match, CSK fans were in a state of “Monday blues”. After 5 back-to-back defeats, their hopes were like a “half-empty tea cup”. But when Rahul Tripathi took a “blinder catch” of LSG opener Aiden Markram (6) off Khaleel Ahmed’s bowling, it seemed that CSK had started coming out of its “zombie mode”. Tripathi’s catch gave a new life to the team as if someone had applied a “compressor on the heart”! Nicholas Pooran (8) was trapped lbw by Anshul Kamboj and here “Captain Cool” Dhoni’s strategy impressed everyone. To trap Pooran on the leg side, Dhoni posted 6 fielders on the off-side. Result? Pooran got trapped and lost his wicket. LSG’s Mitchell Marsh (30) created a stir in the beginning with 2 sixes and fours but Ravindra Jadeja clean bowled him with a “skidder delivery” the ball came so fast that Marsh’s talk became as useless as the “final over of the movie Lagaan”!
LSG was led by Rishabh Pant (63 off 49 balls). His “one-legged scoops” and “helicopter shots” troubled the CSK bowlers but the team got stuck between 160-170. Despite Pant’s numerous efforts, LSG could only reach 162/8 but it was a competitive score but not much considering the “slow pitch of Ekana”.
CSK’s Batting: Rachin-Dube’s Swag, Dhoni’s Vintage Finish (But Middle-Order’s Worst)
CSK openers Shaik Rasheed (27) and Rachin Ravindra (37) made a great start, scoring 52 runs in just 29 balls! Rachin’s “no-look sixes” and Rasheed’s “cheeky cuts” put LSG in a panic. But then middle-order collapsed! Shivam Dube (43) and Dhoni (26) got a target of 56 runs in 30 balls.
Here CSK’s “hidden weakness” came to the fore after the top-order, dependency rested only on Dube-Dhoni. Experienced players like Jadeja (7) and Rahul Tripathi (9) failed, which increased the pressure. If this trend continues, now CSK will have to do “middle-order fixing” for the playoffs.
Last Over Drama: Dhoni’s “Vintage Swag” and LSG’s Butter Fingers
In the 19th over, Dhoni hit a “one-handed helicopter six” to Shardul Thakur as if that shot of the 2011 WC final had come alive again! LSG’s fielding also did not support: Ravi Bishnoi dropped an easy catch to Dhoni on 20 runs. Then, Dube hit a monster six over third man on a no-ball. CSK needed 5 runs in the last over and Dhoni made his name in the match by hitting a “cheeky boundary” at deep midwicket.
Negative Point: CSK’s “Yo-Yo Performance” is still a matter of concern
Even after the win, CSK will have to work on its “middle-order instability”. The form of players like Tripathi (9) and Jadeja (7) is worrying. If these players don’t perform in the playoffs, the pressure on Dhoni and Dube can get overloaded. On the other hand, LSG’s death bowling (Avesh and Shardul) is also weak they will have to make better plans to stop the “pinch hitters” here.
Final Verdict:
CSK won by showing their “never-say-die spirit”, but still many questions are being raised on their game plan. Will Dhoni be able to solve the “middle-order puzzle” of his team? We will find out in the next matches!
Also Read : Mumbai Indians made a team hat-trick against Delhi Capitals by making three run outs!