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Legendary cricketer MS Dhoni's return as the Chennai Super Kings captain was spoiled as Ajinkya Rahane's Kolkata Knight Riders defeated them by 8 wickets in match 25 of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which is being played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as the Chepauk, on April 11 (Friday). This is the fifth consecutive loss for the CSK side and a big dent in their hopes to qualify for the playoffs despite the tournament being in its early stages.
Dhoni on loss vs KKR
MS Dhoni said that they did not manage to put enough runs on the board. However, he backed his batting and told them to stick to their strengths and play the shots that they can. He suggested that they do not match someone else's style. He said there is a challenge in front of them and they gotta accept it and come out on top.
"It has been quite a few nights that has not gone our way. The challenge has been there, we have to accept the challenge. Today I felt we did not have enough runs on the board. It has been the case over there, when we bowled in the 2nd innings it stopped a bit, today it did in the first innings. When you lose too many wickets, there is pressure and with quality spinners it is difficult. We never got any partnerships and bit more partnerships, application and we would be fine," said Dhoni in the post-match presentation.
"(on getting just 31 in the powerplay) What is important is to see the conditions, couple of games we have done decently well, back your strengths and play the shots you can play. Not match to someone's else play. Our openers are good openers, play authentic cricket shots, they don't slog or look to hit across the line. It is important not to get desperate seeing the scorecard. If we start looking for 60 with our lineup it will be very difficult for us. Get partnerships going, maybe capitalise in the middle and later overs and if we lose wickets, the middle order has to do their job differently. And the slog will be delayed for quite a while," he added.
CSK register their lowest home score
The Chennai Super Kings' batting collapsed once more, scoring the lowest score in IPL history at Chepauk. The bowlers for the Kolkata Knight Riders were spot on from the first over, giving the hitters nothing. CSK could only generate 103 runs in their 20 overs at a cost of nine wickets, while Sunil Narine claimed figures of 3 for 13 in his four overs. Moeen Ali, a former member of CSK, took out Devon Conway to claim the opening wicket of the evening.
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The CSK batters were swiftly reduced to 71 for 6 in the 15th over after falling like nine pins. After the eighth over, CSK went for 63 balls without hitting a boundary. In the powerplay overs, they also failed to hit a six. In the powerplay, Chennai also used 17 dot balls. They would have been bowled out for 79, which would have been their lowest IPL total, had it not been for Shivam Dube's 31.
KKR comfortably complete chase
The defending champions were off to a start which were opposite to the hosts. Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine joined a 46-run opening partnership. They joined these runs in the first four overs itself. However, Anshul Kamboj struck on the very first ball of the fifth over and sent back De Kock to the dugout. He scored 23 runs off 16 balls.
However, CSK could not capitalise this breakthrough as well as Sunil Narine kept on progressing the scoreboard at a good pace. He smashed 44 runs off just 18 balls before Noor Ahmad removed him in the 8th over. Although this breakthrough came really late, as KKR already had 85 runs on board. The remainder was done by Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh, who took the Knights over the line with 59 balls still remaining.
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