Veteran captain MS Dhoni shouldered the responsibility for Chennai Super Kings’ agonizing two-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-octane IPL 2025 clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Despite being in a dominant position at 172/2 in pursuit of 214, CSK faltered in the final stretch and slipped to their 10th defeat of the season.
Dhoni didn’t shy away from accepting his role in the loss. "When I went into that with the kind of deliveries and the runs needed, I felt I should have converted maybe a couple of more shots, and that would have eased the pressure. So, I would take the blame for it. Other than that, I thought they got off to a good start in between, but we pulled it back," he said during the post-match interview.
Dhoni praises Ayush Mhatre
Despite standout performances from Ayush Mhatre (94) and Ravindra Jadeja (77*), CSK couldn't get over the line. Mhatre was particularly impressive and narrowly missed out on a maiden IPL century. Dhoni lauded the young batter’s efforts: "He batted really well and it's one of those games, where we batted really well as a unit. It was very good when it comes to the batting department."
CSK's misery continues in IPL 2025
RCB posted a commanding total of 213/5 in 20 overs, thanks to blistering half-centuries from Virat Kohli (62 off 33 balls, 5 fours and 5 sixes) and Jacob Bethell (55 off 33 balls, 8 fours and 2 sixes). The duo powered RCB through the middle overs, setting a daunting target for the visitors.
Chasing a stiff target of 214, CSK were in a dominant position at 172/2. With 15 runs needed off the final over, the equation turned against them quickly after Dhoni was dismissed on the third ball, having managed just 12 runs from 8 deliveries. Though Shivam Dube managed to clear the ropes on a no-ball, it wasn’t enough as CSK fell just short, ending their innings at 211/6.
With this crucial win, RCB ascended to the top of the points table, while CSK’s struggles continue. They now sit at the bottom with just 4 points from 11 matches
