Chennai Super Kings’ playoff hopes for IPL 2025 diminished further after their eighth loss of the season against Punjab Kings by four wickets at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The match saw PBKS successfully chase down CSK’s total of 190 with two balls remaining, despite a brilliant 88 from Sam Curran.
“When Dhoni gave up the captaincy a few years ago, I don’t think he thought he’d have to deal with all this again. But it hasn’t gone CSK’s way this season. MS is 43, not playing much cricket, just turning up for the IPL — but every moment he’s on the field is magical,” said former Australia captain and JioStar expert Aaron Finch.
“The noise when he walks out of the dressing room… when he comes out to bat… it’s unbelievable. I urge every cricket fan — if you can, you must go to a CSK game while MS Dhoni is still playing,” Finch added, highlighting Dhoni’s enduring popularity.
PBKS won the toss and chose to bowl first. CSK struggled early, falling to 48/3 before Sam Curran and Dewald Brevis (32 off 26 balls) formed a crucial 78-run partnership.
Curran continued his impressive performance, scoring 88 runs off 47 balls with nine fours and four sixes. However, Yuzvendra Chahal’s hat-trick (4/32) triggered a collapse, with CSK going from 172/4 to being all out for 190 in 19.2 overs.
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PBKS’s chase began strongly with Priyansh Arya (23 off 15) and Prabhsimran Singh putting up a 44-run opening stand. Prabhsimran (54 off 36) then partnered with captain Shreyas Iyer for a 72-run partnership.
Iyer dominated the chase with 72 runs off 41 balls, including five fours and four sixes. He found support in Shashank Singh, who contributed 23 runs off 12 balls. Despite late wickets, PBKS secured the victory with two balls remaining.
Khaleel Ahmed (2/28) and Matheesha Pathirana (2/45) were the leading wicket-takers for CSK. Arshdeep Singh also impressed for PBKS with figures of 2/25.
The victory propelled PBKS to second place in the points table with 13 points from six wins, three losses, and one no-result. CSK remains at the bottom with just four points from two wins and eight losses.
