Mumbai:

It must have been unsettling for the devoted fans of Chennai Super Kings to witness MS Dhoni’s 30 runs off 26 balls and Vijay Shankar’s 69 runs off 54 balls during their seemingly routine sixth-wicket partnership against Delhi Capitals at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Delhi Capitals, having chosen to bat first, scored 183 runs, leaving CSK 25 runs short at their home ground, managing only 158 for 5.

When CSK’s iconic player stepped onto the field in the 11th over, the team required 110 runs from 56 balls. Shankar was at 24 runs, maintaining a run-a-ball pace with half the team already dismissed.

This was a daunting challenge on a sluggish pitch, yet the crowd remained hopeful that Dhoni might deliver a remarkable performance from his extensive experience, despite not having done so this season. The loudest cheers and whistles were reserved for him, as the sea of yellow welcomed Dhoni once more. This has been a familiar scene over the past three years, with the understanding that his retirement from IPL could be approaching.

At 43, Dhoni has consistently defied age and met expectations over the last two years. However, based on his performances in the first four matches of IPL 2025, it seems that his boundless ambition is struggling to keep pace with the demands of T20 cricket.

With Dhoni’s parents making a rare appearance at Chepauk Stadium, speculation about his potential retirement was rampant throughout the day. “It’s not my place to address those speculations,” remarked Stephen Fleming, the head coach of CSK, following the match.

DC were smart to use up more overs of spin from Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-30-1) and Vipraj Nigam (4-0-27-2) against Dhoni. The former captain didn’t even attempt to look for a boundary. Shankar at the other end, living a charmed life with four misses in the field from DC, was also struggling to find the rope.

CSK’s asking rate climbed to 18 runs per over in the final four overs. When the time out was called, batting coach Mike Hussey offered a few options for Shankar to exploit. Dhoni wasn’t even engaged in the conversation. Almost as if the man knew his big hitting days against bowling matchups who are at the top of their craft were past him. That he could only do so much.

The situation was exacerbated by the fact that only R Ashwin and the lower order remained. This highlighted a flaw in CSK's squad structure and selection, resulting in a batting lineup that appeared outdated and disjointed.

Ultimately, Shankar managed to score a few boundaries. The partnership between Shankar and Dhoni, which totaled 84 runs off 57 balls, concluded respectably but never posed a real threat to the target. As Dhoni and Shankar faced the final over with 41 runs still required for victory, many spectators began to exit the venue.

CSK initiated a batting adjustment by substituting Rahul Tripathi with Devon Conway. The left-handed batsman had previously formed a strong opening partnership with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. However, Conway's recent form was lacking, as evidenced by his unimpressive 14-ball innings of 13 runs, which lacked both power and timing. Following Mitchell Starc's dismissal of the in-form Gaikwad, who fell to an awkward pull for just five runs, it was left to CSK's spin hitter Shivam Dube to make an impact during the middle overs. Unfortunately, Dube could only manage a couple of decent hits before being caught out against Nigam’s leg spin, scoring 18 runs.

DC's batting strategy centered around KL Rahul, who scored 77 runs off 57 balls, including six fours and three sixes. Initially slated to bat in the middle overs at the start of the season, Rahul had made a notable contribution in his first match. However, after opener Faf du Plessis sustained an injury, Rahul was flexible enough to return to the opening position.

Rahul displayed his intent early, hitting a straight boundary off Mukesh Choudhary on the fifth ball he faced, a bowler he would later exploit significantly. By the end of the Powerplay, DC was at 51 for 1. Crucially, the right-handed batsman managed to score several boundaries off CSK's most potent spin threat, Noor Ahmad, who conceded 12 runs per over and bowled only three overs.

In the closing overs, Rahul showcased impressive aggression, executing boundaries with a reverse scoop and a sweep against Choudhary’s left-arm deliveries, while quick runs from Tristan Stubbs (24 not out off 12 balls) enabled DC to establish a target exceeding nine runs per over, ultimately leading to a comfortable victory for the Delhi Capitals.

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