Synopsis: On a Lucknow pitch, which was played as per their choice, after restricting their bowlers by 166, Chennai Super Kings overhale the target in the finals to get back the victory methods.
As Shivam Dubey hit Seema who won the third ball of the final, Chennai Super Kings Dugout had a collective sigh of relief. After undergoing five gradual losses, they began on a good note before removing all the hard work done in the middle-over with the bat. However, MS Dhoni’s company, whose 11-balls came to a significant turn at 26 ends, gave Chennai the result that he had sought strictly.
Flight under radar
So far, amidst his frightening performance, the impact of his two bowlers has not been noticed to a large extent. While the mastery of Noor Ahmed has attained relatively more traction, the story of the left -arm seamar Khalel Ahmed is different. The Tall Semen, which can generate movement, has been the most successful pace in the powerplay overs this season.
In his first season in Chennai, he has sent three out of his four overs to the powerplay more or less, when there is still a movement on the proposal. This means, in almost every game, he has been able to unload the early blasts. But where Chennai has struggled, it is in finding it right support from the other end. In Lucknow, there was another skilled seamor in Anashul Kamboj on his behalf, which can transfer the ball both ways.
This meant Lucknow opener Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh did not start what they wanted. For a wonderful catch from Rahul Tripathi, he departed in the first over of South African Khalel. Then in the last ball of the fourth over, Kamboj brought Nicholas Gorn with the help of DRS.
Noorology
And beyond the powerplay, on this two-two-verand pitch, Chennai played only two spinners because they dropped R Ashwin, who were struggling late. However, many people expected their old spin formula to achieve success, not any of them other than Noor. When the tailor’s status was visible for him, Noor did what he knows the best-a fire in his delivery by mixing it.
The impact player does it with the maximum effect 🤩
Shivam Dubey 🤝 MS Dhoni with a match winning partnership 💛@Chennaiipl Are 🔙 Ways to win 😎
Scorecard ▶ #Tataipl , #LSGVCSK pic.twitter.com/ai2hjkt9dt
– Indianpremierleague (@IPL) 14 April, 2025
Most of the 90 km per hour, he took the 9th, 11th, 15th and 17th position and scored only 13 runs. The main attraction of that mantra was his 17th, where he bowled four consecutive dot delivery for pants. There were no wickets to show, but it was eligible for the Player of the Match Award. His sad mantra meant that Jadeja also benefited from it. In one night where he once again got a chance to finish the overs quota, he still managed to look behind Marsh and Ayush Badoni.
Pant fight
Rishabh Pant, the most expensive player in the league, has started a forgetful for his tenure with Lucknow, 21 is the highest score before Monday’s stability. With Gorn departing early, he went to number 4, and looked straight into the mood, bringing out a reverse-lap over the third man, which cleaned the border ropes.
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Even cuts and bridges were given time well, signal with intent. The base was determined for an explosive finish, instead Noor would strangle him as he managed just 6 runs from 15 delivery faced by left-arm wrist-spinner. He scored 34 runs in 25 delivery, when he hit Mathisha Patirana for his second six, he was 40 out of 39 delivery. But it came at the right time for Lucknow as he scored three and sixes in the last overs as 63 off 49 of the pants did not look very bad in the end. With the competition to heat the spot for India’s T20 World Cup squad, Pant knows that such efforts are required.
No less to chase
Since the beginning of 2021, Chennai has chased 175+ yogas only once. He may have won two titles during this time, but it is in this season where he looks completely unworthy. While most of the teams have gone to natural power-hitters in the middle order, Chennai has been particularly decreased in this regard, in which Shivam Dubey is the only exception.
MS Dhoni scored 11 runs, helping CSK win his second match in IPL 2025. (Sportspix for IPL)
Therefore, in each of his chases, even though he managed to keep the check rate under the check at the half-way phase of the chase, in the second-half of his innings, he has always allowed it to climb, often to the levels beyond their reach.
The story repeated itself again until Dhoni and Dube managed to turn around.
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For a change, Rachin Ravindra and Debutant Sheikh Rashid – their third opening pair this season – provided they were in dire need. Rashid, with its compact technique, is more than a touch player, which depends a lot on time rather than power. After spending three seasons on the bench, he was going with three borders in the second over, when Rachin chose two in the first over of Chase.
However, Rashid cannot stay around until the powerplay is over, there were 59 boards in Chennai as they had maintained the rate of asking within their reach. Rachin and Tripathi ended in gradual overs, but Chennai was 80/3 by the end of 10 overs, the final 10 only required 87 more. Such margin is done comfortably and dusty, but it has been challenging for Chennai, especially since Dube has gone missing in batting because the Lucknow spinner brought him back.
It came down to Dube and Dhoni without much contribution with Ravindra Jadeja and Vijay Shankar. Out of the last four overs, 44 were needed, with some limitations and a six, Dhoni took the equation below 12 runs before he found a big, which he was bowling by Shardul Thakur at 19th. Dub started it with a border and Dhoni hit one and four before six.
Brief score: Lucknow Super Giants 166/7 in 20 overs (Pant 63; Jadeja 2/25, Noor 0/13) Chennai Super Kings lost 168/5 to 19.3 overs (Dube 43, Rachin 37) by five wickets.
