IPL 2025: Against all odds, MS Dhoni scripts CSK win against ‘chela’ Rishabh Pant’s LSG

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The hug before the match was more than symbolic, Rishabh Pant, embracing MS Dhoni. Seen on TV and cell phone apps, this one visual sent a million hearts aflutter, that sports is not just about cut-throat rivalry, cursing, and showing disrespect.

After all, the ugly incident on Sunday (April 13) night at the Kotla, where BOOM - Jasprit Bukrah - had his run-in with Karun Nair at the Kotla, after being carted out of the park for a six had hurt the MI fast bowler's pride.

Of course, Bumrah and Karun Nair, later, kissed and made up. By then, the damage was done, of a 'fight' between two veterans, and Rohit Sharma watching, full of smirk.

If the Indian Premier League 2025 edition be a stage for emotions and feelings, that tight hug, that embrace between Dhoni and Pant was defining. Massive respect, an acknowledgement of gratitude and love.

In a weird world where some fans will still lambast Pant for having got Rs 27 crores from Lucknow Super Giants team owner Sanjiv Goenka at the auction, that is not the southpaw's fault. It also was not just Pant turned a sinner where LSG lost by five wickets to Chennai Super Kings on Monday night.

Ah, emotions, romantic relics at work and past masters returning to haunt like superstars in an old movie. These were not myriad memories, but Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja still showing the tandem can outfox a batter like Ayush Badoni.

If you had not watched how Badoni was snaffled by Dhoni, see the clip again. It shows where and in what frame of mind Dhoni still is and why the CSK team management stills sees in him so much as a leader, player, and mentor. His sharp reflexes, hand speed and presence are magic. Add to it peripheral vision and a sense of visualising, the glovework is glory.

We live in an age where IPL contests are hyped up as one-on-one. Pant versus Dhoni is a wrong title. These two men are from different age groups. Pant at 27, is still learning, but the dirt called social media portrays him as a wastrel.

Why, just why? Just because in a few second one can type bilge and hit the push button on social media and get 'views' in thousands, it becomes fashionable to lampoon Pant. No way, don't do it. Pant tried hard in every possible way.

For someone who has been pushing himself up and down the order in the LSG team and for the sake of the team, his 63 runs at a strike rate of 128.57 did not leave many happy. The other way of looking at it is, had Pant not scored even those runs, LSG would not have been able to score 166/7 in 20 overs. The runs on board were short but Pant alone did not ruin it.

For LSG, the openers were not able to provide the kind of turbo boost starts seen in IPL. Pant is said to throw his wicket away many times. On Monday (April 14), he was there, realised as captain he had to play anchor and hold the innings. If he is still described as a profligate, don't worry, Pant knows inwards he puts in his best effort.

To be sure, the runs which CSK had to chase was not too high. How would CSK approach this? Well, the shrewd and cunning Dhoni had made a few big decisions before the match itself, when he had rested R.Ashwin and Devon Conway.

The 'new' opener who played at the top with Rachin Ravindra, Shaik Rasheed was energetic. The 20-year-old from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh Shaik is unsung but not unheard. He scored 27 off 19 balls where the flurry of fours was enchanting. A good start for CSK was a job half done, though if one problem area can be identified for LSG, it is their bowling.

Having picked an unfit Mayak Yadav, who seems to have taken a room on lease at the Centre For Excellence (rehab In Bengaluru) he has become the butt of ridicule. Mayank is unfit, has done nothing by way of performance and yet been hyped. Like a recovery ward filled with soldiers injured in war, the LSG bowlers look unfit.

Shardul Thakur had started well this season but looks jaded suddenly. Add to it Akash Deep, who has been hyped more than a B grade star in Bollywood, he looks pathetic. Imagine, coach Gautam Gambhir took him to Australia for the BGT Series. Even now, Akash is returning from an injury and looks flat like stale beer. Avesh Khan, again hyped, was whacked for runs

Imagine, for those who say the wicket eased out in the second innings and this was typical 'twin pace,' Dhoni had read it better. The sea of yellow, which is backing from the CSK fans, was visible even at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

For the statistically minded, CSK bouncing back from five losses to buck the trend and bleed LSG was not scripted. And the men who had been portrayed as spent forces, Shivam Dube (43 off 37 balls) and Master Dhoni, unbeaten on 26 off 11 balls ensured CSK won a contest of Himalayan proportion.

For those who had buried CSK and were ready to even write the epitaph after the string of losses in IPL 2025, the Yellow Brigade has bounced back. It is still early days before Easter Sunday, but if CSK had been crucified like Jesus Christ on Good Friday, it is time for resurrection.

CSK winning is oxygen for their fans. And what does on say about Dhoni smashing a few records, to complete 200 dismissals in the IPL, and uncapped player turning captain to win the Player Of The Match Award.

Well, sport loves characters. In old Hindi movies where the lead actor made you cry by portraying emotions with tears minus glycerine, Dhoni remains the evergreen IPL hero. Thala for every reason, who talked of God on Monday night, for he felt the Player Of The Match Award was not for him, really.

The Jharkand maverick will be 44 soon and is worshipped like a deity. Don't forget, those who say Pant is brash and pampered is like an ardent devotee of Dhoni.

History tells us, even though Lord Hanuman was always at the Lotus feet of Lord Ram out of respect, their famous embrace makes the devout teary-eyed. Forget the IPL match result, if Dhoni and Pant could transport fans into a world of divinity in ecstasy cricket, Lucknow was the chosen place.