In what was expected to be a momentous night for Chennai Super Kings legend MS Dhoni, the Chepauk crowd witnessed a rare heartbreak as the defending champions slumped to their first-ever home defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Match 43 of the IPL 2025 marked a significant personal milestone for Dhoni-his 400th T20 match-but the occasion was dampened by a collective failure from the CSK camp, ending in a five-wicket defeat.

Opting to bat first, CSK faltered early despite a promising start from teenager Ayush Mhatre. The top order collapsed under pressure from SRH's pace attack, with Harshal Patel leading the charge with a fiery 4/28. As CSK lost wickets at regular intervals, the responsibility of stabilizing the innings eventually fell to Dhoni when he walked out amid thunderous applause from the home crowd.
However, what was hoped to be a vintage Dhoni rescue act turned into a brief and disappointing time with the bat. The former CSK skipper couldn't make an impact with the bat, falling cheaply and leaving fans stunned in silence with just 6 runs. It was a subdued end to what could have been a celebratory moment in his illustrious career.
While Dewald Brevis showed some spark with an aggressive 42, the rest of the lineup failed to convert starts into a commanding total. CSK were bundled out for a modest 154 in 19.5 overs.
In response, SRH's chase wasn't without hiccups, but a calm and composed knock from Kamindu Mendis sealed the deal for the visitors. The all-rounder starred with both ball and bat, guiding SRH to a landmark victory-their first-ever in Chennai.
For MS Dhoni and CSK, the loss not only marked the end of an unbeaten home streak against SRH but also raised concerns about consistency in key moments. With the playoffs approaching, CSK will need to regroup quickly, while Dhoni's 400th T20 match remains a bittersweet chapter in an otherwise storied career.
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 140 | 30* | 28 | 142.85 | 11 | 8 |
CSK Full Squad: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Hooda, Matheesha Pathirana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shaik Rasheed, Jamie Overton, Shreyas Gopal, Sam Curran, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Andre Siddarth C, Vansh Bedi, Ayush Mhatre.