Watch Video: Yuzvendra Chahal Takes Hat-trick After Dismissing MS Dhoni in Chennai

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Yuzvendra Chahal produced a moment of pure magic in the IPL yet again, claiming his second career hat-trick in the league - and this one will be remembered for a long time as it included the prized scalp of MS Dhoni.

Bowling against Chennai Super Kings in front of their roaring home crowd, Chahal turned the game on its head in dramatic fashion, removing three key batters in successive deliveries. His final strike - Dhoni - silenced the Chepauk faithful and sent Rajasthan Royals into a frenzy.

Chennai were cruising at one stage, thanks to a spectacular knock from Sam Curran who slammed 88 - the highest score by a CSK player this season. His innings, along with Dewald Brevis' support in the middle overs, lifted the hosts to a commanding position, eyeing a total beyond 200. However, Punjab Kings' late surge, spearheaded by Chahal, ensured CSK were bowled out for 190 in 19.2 overs.

Chahal, who was relatively quiet earlier in the innings, was brought back for his third over when CSK were eight down. The over began with a wide, followed by a monstrous six from Dhoni that sent the Chepauk crowd into a frenzy. But the joy was short-lived. Chahal's next delivery invited Dhoni to clear the boundary again, but he mistimed the lofted shot and was caught on the boundary by Nehal Wadhera. That dismissal ignited the spark.

From there, Chahal struck two more times in consecutive balls - first getting Deepak Hooda caught at backward point, and then sneaking one through Anshul Kamboj's defense to bowl him for a golden duck. With the hat-trick on the line, Chahal floated one up to Noor Ahmad who miscued his lofted attempt and was caught at long-on by Marco Jansen. The leggie celebrated in his trademark fashion - lying flat on the ground and striking a pose, etching his name once again into IPL history with his second career hat-trick.

The defining moment of the night, however, was his dismissal of MS Dhoni. It was the fourth time Chahal had dismissed the CSK legend in the IPL. Across 82 deliveries, Dhoni has scored just 108 runs against Chahal, at a strike rate of 131.7, with three fours and eight sixes. But more importantly, Chahal has dismissed him four times - a significant record against one of the most experienced batters in T20 cricket. It reaffirms Chahal's stature as a bowler who thrives under pressure and against the very best.

CSK's innings, despite Curran's brilliance, ended in a collapse with Chahal finishing with figures of 4 for 32 in three overs. His hat-trick not only stalled Chennai's progress but also tilted the momentum firmly in Punjab's favour heading into the chase.