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'We understand exactly what he'll try to do': Yuzvendra Chahal's message to MS Dhoni ahead of PBKS vs CSK game

IPL 2025, PBKS vs CSK: Yuzvendra Chahal said that MS Dhoni knows what he will do most of the times but he has plans in place for the big-hitter.

Sports Tak

• Mon • 07 Apr 2025

Punjab Kings' Yuzvendra Chahal in action; CSK's MS Dhoni plays a shot during IPL 2025.

Highlights:

Yuzvendra Chahal has just 1 wicket in IPL 2025.

Chahal has 19 wickets against CSK in IPL history.

Chahal is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the IPL.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MS Dhoni has been the centre of criticism for his inability to win games for the team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. His batting position and struggle to keep up with the required run rate have a few former cricketers talking about the 43-year-old's retirement. The five-time IPL-winner will have a point to prove as CSK go to Chandigarh and lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 8. Ahead of the clash, PBKS star leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal says that he understands two to three per cent of what Dhoni is thinking. While Dhoni has watched Chahal grow from behind the stumps on international circuit, the highest wicket-taker in league's history has plans in place for his former captain.

“Mahi bhai has watched me bowl from behind the stumps for years. He knows how I bowl, what I think, and what I’m likely to do. I can read — maybe 2 or 3 per cent — of what Mahi bhai is thinking. I know the kind of situations he comes into bat. If he walks in between overs 1–10, we know we have to attack. But if he comes in the later stages of the match, we understand exactly what he’ll try to do. We plan accordingly," Chahal said on JioHotstar.

"You can’t give him an easy ball — if you do, he’ll send it out of the park," the 34-year-old added.

Dhoni not at his best

Dhoni has scored 76 runs from four innings in the tournament so far. His knocks have ended up in losing cause. He was criticised for batting at no.9 in the run chase against RCB as he walked out to bat after Ravichandran Ashwin when the required run rate was already out of the grasp.

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Chahal yet to fire in IPL 2025

Chahal who was roped in for a whopping Rs 18 crore hasn't been in good form either. He has taken just one wicket from three games. Against Gujarat Titans in PBKS' campaign opener, he was wicketless and conceded 34 runs from three overs. In the match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he got the prized wicket of Nicholas Pooran and conceded 36 runs from four overs. He was impressive against Rajasthan Royals, conceding 32 runs from three overs in PBKS' first defeat of the season.

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Chahal's record against CSK

Chahal has a decent record against CSK. He has 19 wickets from 17 games at an average of 23.26. His economy rate against the five-time champions is 6.90 runs per over which is very impressive considering he played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for several years and bowled at batter-friendly M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.