Chennai Super Kings' struggling season continued as they faced their fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2025, falling short by 18 runs against Punjab Kings. This setback occurred despite a commendable late effort from their former captain, MS Dhoni. Coming in at No. 5 with 25 balls remaining and 69 runs still required, Dhoni found himself in a challenging position once again. The 42-year-old showcased his enduring talent by scoring a rapid 27 runs off just 12 balls, including three sixes and a four. However, the target of 219 runs proved too daunting, and even his aggressive play was insufficient to secure a victory for CSK.

Dhoni's presence instilled a renewed sense of hope in the Chennai camp, but the sluggish performance of Devon Conway significantly hampered their chances. Although Conway opened the batting and was the top scorer with 69 runs off 49 balls, he struggled to accelerate during the chase, leaving the CSK lineup with an overwhelming task.

His decision to retire out with just over two overs remaining seemed more like a strategy to mitigate damage. Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull suggested that Dhoni, who demonstrated his ability to hit big, might have made a greater impact had he batted earlier, possibly at No. 4.

“Dhoni hit three sixes in 12 balls, while the rest of the team managed only five in total. This indicates that he still possesses the capability and power to score those sixes. That’s why we’ve been advocating for him to bat higher in the order. Scoring 27 off 12 balls when the team is two wickets down can indeed make a difference. It’s not his fault,” Doull remarked to Cricbuzz.

Doull also criticized the timing of Conway's retirement, noting that it did not provide Ravindra Jadeja with enough time to acclimate to the pitch.

“Retiring Conway was a curious choice. He had the pace of the pitch on his side, but his strike rate was too low. In a match where a strike rate of 190 is needed to win, he was only scoring at 140. However, he was retired out too late, leaving Jadeja with insufficient time to assess the situation,” Doull explained.

“But if Dhoni had batted at No. 3 or 4, with his 27 off 12 balls, it could have changed the outcome.”

PBKS' brilliant performance

For Punjab Kings secured their third victory of the season, thanks to Priyansh Arya's remarkable century off just 39 balls, which set a strong foundation for the team's innings. Following a collapse in the middle order, Shashank Singh delivered a crucial late innings boost, remaining not out with a score of 52 from 36 balls. After a challenging start that saw them at 83/5 within the first 8 overs, Arya's powerful hitting, along with Shashank's composed performance, propelled the home team past the 200-run threshold.

Meanwhile, CSK's top and middle order continue to struggle under pressure, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad's disappointing performance, scoring only 1 run, further exacerbating their difficulties.

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