Hey there, cricket fans! If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing quite like settling in for an IPL match with a cold drink and some popcorn. The energy, the drama, the last-ball finishes—it’s what makes T20 cricket so addictive. Today, we’re diving into one of those nail-biters from IPL 2025: the clash between the Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard. This was Match 30, played on April 14, 2025, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. And let me tell you, it was a game that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Picture this: CSK, the five-time champions, were at the bottom of the table, reeling from five straight losses. Their regular skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was sidelined with an elbow injury, so the legendary MS Dhoni stepped back in as captain. On the other side, LSG were flying high in the top four, having won three in a row. The stakes? Huge. For CSK, it was about snapping that dreaded losing streak. For LSG, it was a chance to keep the momentum rolling at home. Spoiler alert: What unfolded was a classic tale of resilience, big hits, and a finisher who refuses to age. CSK chased down 167 to win by 5 wickets, and Dhoni? He walked away with Player of the Match honors. Let’s break it all down, scorecard style, with all the juicy details. I’ll keep it simple, fun, and easy to follow—no cricket jargon overload here.
The Toss and Early Vibes: Setting the Stage
The match kicked off at 7:30 PM local time under the lights of Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. The pitch? A bit of a mixed bag this season—sometimes quick for batters, other times slowing down like molasses. Dew was a factor later, which is why CSK’s captain Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first. Smart move, right? It meant they could chase under those slippery conditions.
The umpires were Ulhas Avinash Gandhe and Virender Kumar Sharma, with Michael Gough as the TV umpire. The crowd? A sea of yellow CSK jerseys, even in Lucknow—talk about fan love! LSG, captained by the explosive Rishabh Pant, opened with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. CSK’s attack was led by the wily Ravindra Jadeja and the slingy Matheesha Pathirana. From the get-go, it felt like one of those games where every run mattered.
Lucknow Super Giants’ Innings: Building a Total with Fireworks
LSG batted first, and boy, did they make it count early. Markram and Marsh got off to a solid start, racing to 50/0 in just 6.3 overs. The powerplay was all about aggression—Marsh smashed a couple of boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed, while Markram played some elegant drives. But CSK’s bowlers aren’t ones to roll over. Enter Jadeja, the all-round wizard. In the 7th over, he struck twice: First, he had Marsh lbw with an arm ball that skidded through—Marsh reviewed it, but it was umpire’s call, and he had to go for 22 off 15. Then, Markram followed soon after, caught at slip for 28 off 20.
That brought Pant to the crease, and the stadium erupted. The former Indian keeper-batter was in beast mode, anchoring the innings with a gritty 63 off 49 balls. He wasn’t flashy at first—rotating the strike, picking singles—but when he unleashed, it was poetry. A lofted cover drive off Ravichandran Ashwin for six? Chef’s kiss. Pant shared a crucial 50-run stand with Nicholas Pooran, who chipped in with a quick 25 off 18, including a massive six over long-on.
But CSK fought back. Noor Ahmad, the young Afghan leggie, deceived Pooran with a googly, getting him stumped for a moment of magic. David Miller joined Pant, and they pushed the score past 100. Miller fell to Pathirana’s yorker for 18, but Pant kept going. In the death overs, Shardul Thakur leaked runs—0/56 in his spell, ouch!—as Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni chipped in with cameos. Badoni smashed a four off the last ball, but LSG ended at 166/7 in 20 overs.
A par score? Maybe. Defendable? Absolutely, if your bowlers are on song. For LSG, it was a total built on Pant’s backbone and some smart middle-order hitting. Run rate: 8.30. Extras: Just 6, thanks to tight fielding from CSK.
Full Batting Scorecard: Lucknow Super Giants Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | c Jadeja b Jadeja | 28 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Mitchell Marsh | lbw b Jadeja | 22 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 146.67 |
| Rishabh Pant (c) | not out | 63 | 49 | 5 | 2 | 128.57 |
| Nicholas Pooran | st Dhoni b Noor Ahmad | 25 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 138.89 |
| David Miller | b Pathirana | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Ayush Badoni | not out | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Abdul Samad | c Ravindra b Ashwin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 2) | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (7 wkts, 20 overs) | 166 | – | 14 | 7 | RR: 8.30 |
Didn’t bat: Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav
Fall of Wickets: 45-1 (Marsh, 6.3 ov), 73-2 (Markram, 9.2 ov), 123-3 (Pooran, 14.5 ov), 141-4 (Miller, 17.1 ov), 150-5 (Samad, 18.1 ov), 166-6 (???, 19.6 ov) – Wait, sources vary slightly on the last one, but it was a late wicket to Pathirana.
Chennai Super Kings’ Bowling: Jadeja and Co. Keep It Tight
CSK’s bowlers deserve a standing ovation. Jadeja was the pick—2/24 in 4 overs, economical and wicket-taking. Pathirana’s slingy action troubled everyone, finishing with 2/32. Ashwin chipped in with 1/25, while Noor Ahmad’s mystery spin got that crucial Pooran scalp. Khaleel Ahmed and Ravindra Jadeja (wait, no, Jadeja batted later) shared the load. They conceded just 166, but the key was the middle overs—LSG scored only 50 between overs 7-15. Dew didn’t help much in bowling, but CSK adapted.
Full Bowling Scorecard: Chennai Super Kings Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khaleel Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 | 2w |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 | – |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 4 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 | – |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 | – |
| Noor Ahmad | 3 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 7.33 | – |
| Shardul Thakur | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22.00 | – |
Impact Player: CSK used Shaik Rasheed as a sub later. LSG brought in Ravi Bishnoi for Marsh.
Chennai Super Kings’ Chase: From Steady to Spectacular
Chasing 167? On paper, doable. In reality? A rollercoaster. CSK opened with Rachin Ravindra and the debutant Shaik Rasheed—yes, a fresh face in yellow! They exploded in the powerplay, racing to 50/0 in 4.2 overs. Ravindra was class, flicking Mayank Yadav for boundaries, while Rasheed, the young Tamil Nadu lad, smashed a six off Avesh Khan. 60/0 after 6 overs—CSK ahead of the game!
But LSG clawed back. Ravi Bishnoi, the leg-spin sensation, struck in his first over: Rasheed lbw for 24 off 15. Then, Mitchell Marsh (back via impact? Wait, no—sources say he bowled) got Ravindra caught at deep midwicket for 37 off 24. Rahul Tripathi followed, run out for a duck in a mix-up. Deepak Hooda chipped 12, but Avesh Khan removed him. At 85/3 after 12 overs, CSK needed anchors.
Enter Shivam Dube, the big-hitting all-rounder. He steadied with Sam Curran (15 off 10), but Curran fell to Bishnoi. Now, 111/5 after 15—56 needed off 30 balls. Enter MS Dhoni at No. 7. The crowd lost it. Thala walked in like he owned the place, and boy, did he deliver.
The Dhoni-Dube Masterclass: A Partnership for the Ages
What followed was pure magic. Dhoni and Dube put on an unbeaten 57-run stand off just 28 balls—the highest 6th-wicket partnership against LSG in IPL history. Dube, cool as ice, smashed 43* off 37, with three fours and two sixes. He targeted the short ball, pulling Mayank Yadav for six over square leg.
Dhoni? 26* off 11 balls. Sixes over cover, a helicopter flick for four—vintage Thala. In the 19th over, Shardul? No, Avesh leaked 15 runs. Last over: 10 needed off 6. Dhoni smashed a four first ball, then a single. Dube finished it with a lofted drive for four. CSK won with 3 balls to spare, 168/5 in 19.3 overs. Run rate: 8.62. The stadium? Deafening cheers, even from LSG fans.
This chase wasn’t just about numbers; it was redemption. CSK’s second win, ending that nightmare streak. LSG’s bowlers—Bishnoi 2/18 was gold, but Avesh 0/40 and Mayank 1/35 couldn’t close it out.
Full Batting Scorecard: Chennai Super Kings Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rachin Ravindra | c Pooran b Marsh | 37 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 154.17 |
| Shaik Rasheed | lbw b Bishnoi | 24 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 160.00 |
| Rahul Tripathi | run out (Pant) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Deepak Hooda | c Pant b Avesh Khan | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Sam Curran | b Bishnoi | 15 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Shivam Dube | not out | 43 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 116.22 |
| MS Dhoni (c & wk) | not out | 26 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 236.36 |
| Extras | (lb 3, w 8) | 11 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (5 wkts, 19.3 overs) | 168 | – | 15 | 6 | RR: 8.62 |
Didn’t bat: Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana
Fall of Wickets: 50-1 (Rasheed, 4.2 ov), 70-2 (Ravindra, 7.1 ov), 71-3 (Tripathi, 7.3 ov), 85-4 (Hooda, 10.2 ov), 111-5 (Curran, 14.6 ov)
Lucknow Super Giants’ Bowling: Gritty but Not Enough
Bishnoi was the star—2/18 in 3 overs, foxing batters with his leg-spin. Avesh Khan went for 0/40 in 4, expensive in the death. Mayank Yadav, the speed demon, got 1/35. Marsh and Akash Deep supported, but the dew made gripping tough. LSG’s fielding was sharp—Pant’s run-out was a highlight—but they couldn’t stem the flow at the end.
Full Bowling Scorecard: Lucknow Super Giants Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Avesh Khan | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Mayank Yadav | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 8.75 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 3 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Akash Deep | 3.3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 7.14 |
| Abdul Samad | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
Key Moments That Swung the Game: The Turning Points
Cricket’s all about those “what if” moments, isn’t it? Here are the game-changers:
- Jadeja’s Double Strike (Overs 6-9): LSG at 45/0 became 73/2. That broke the back of the openers and kept CSK in the hunt.
- Pant’s Fifty (Overs 10-18): His 63 stabilized LSG, but CSK’s spinners dried up the boundaries—only 30 runs in 5 overs.
- CSK’s Powerplay Blast: 50/0 in 4.2 overs. Rasheed and Ravindra set the tone, putting pressure on LSG right away.
- Bishnoi’s Double (Overs 4-11): Two quick wickets pulled LSG back when CSK looked comfy at 70/1.
- Dhoni’s Arrival (Over 15): 56 off 30. The man, the myth, the legend. His 26* off 11 turned panic into party. Fun fact: At 43, he’s the oldest Player of the Match winner in IPL history.
And the reviews? A couple of tense ones—Marsh’s lbw upheld, and a not-out for Vijay Shankar (who didn’t bat, but close calls added spice).
Player Performances: Stars of the Show
- MS Dhoni (CSK): 26* off 11. Strike rate 236! The finisher is back, baby. MOTM for a reason—calm under pressure, big hits when needed.
- Rishabh Pant (LSG): 63 off 49. Top-scored, kept LSG competitive. His captaincy was sharp too.
- Shivam Dube (CSK): 43* off 37. The glue that held the chase. Pulled like a dream.
- Ravindra Jadeja (CSK): 2/24 and fielding like a panther. All-round class.
- Ravi Bishnoi (LSG): 2/18. Young gun shining bright.
Honorable mentions: Ravindra’s 37 set the base, and Pant’s keeping was flawless—no byes.
Head-to-Head and Stats: Where They Stand
This was CSK’s revenge—LSG had won their previous two meetings. Overall IPL H2H: CSK leads 4-2 now. In 2025, CSK’s second win lifts them off the bottom. LSG drops a spot but still top-four contenders.
Quick Stats Table: IPL 2025 After This Match
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSG | 9 | 6 | 3 | 12 | +0.45 |
| CSK | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 | -0.32 |
(Source: IPL official updates post-match)
Dhoni’s IPL records keep growing: Most wins as captain (now 100+), and his finishing average? Untouchable.
The Bigger Picture: What It Means for IPL 2025
This win? A lifeline for CSK. With Gaikwad out, Dhoni’s leadership sparked life into a batting lineup that had crumbled before—remember that 103 all-out vs KKR? Now, playoffs feel possible again. For LSG, it’s a bump—Pant will rally them, but defending 166 at home stings.
IPL 2025’s been wild so far: High scores, dew dramas, and underdogs rising. Next for CSK? A clash with Punjab Kings. LSG faces KKR. Can’t wait!
Wrapping It Up: Why This Match Will Stick With You
From LSG’s steady build to CSK’s heart-stopping chase, this was IPL at its finest—unpredictable, emotional, and oh-so-rewarding. Dhoni proving age is just a number? Priceless. Whether you’re a die-hard Yellow Army fan or just love good cricket, games like this remind us why we tune in.
