Chennai Super Kings’ Disappointment: MS Dhoni Blames Batters After Loss to Punjab Kings
Chennai, India – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has blamed the batters for their team’s four-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 T20 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.
Despite a competitive 190 all out, CSK was unable to secure a spot in the playoff race. The match was a tough one, with Punjab Kings’ Yuzvendra Chahal taking a hat-trick and Sam Curran scoring 88 runs off 47 balls, including 9 fours and 4 sixes.
Dhoni, who led CSK to this point, expressed his disappointment with the batting performance. "I think the batting – yes, it was the first time we put enough runs on the board. But was it a par score? I feel slightly short," he said. "Yes, a bit demanding from the batters, but I feel we could’ve got slightly more. I feel we need to take our catches," he added.
Dhoni praised Curran and Dewald Brevis for their partnership, which saw them put on a 78-run fourth-wicket stand and turn up the heat on the PBKS bowling. "The partnership between Brevis and Sam was excellent," he said.
However, the match was not without its share of controversy. Yuzvendra Chahal, who was wicketless until the penultimate over, was hit for a six by MS Dhoni (11), but the bowler had him caught at long-off on the second delivery. On the fourth ball, Deepak Hooda (2) played one meekly towards backward point, while on the fifth, impact substitute Anshul Kamboj (0) was clean-bowled. Noor Ahmad (0) tried to hit one away but ended up miscuing his shot, and Jansen came in from long-on to complete the hat-trick.
Dhoni mentioned that not being able to play the full quota of overs kind of hurt CSK. "We didn’t play the last four deliveries, and in the second-to-last over, four batters got out. In close games, those seven deliveries mean a lot," he said.
Dhoni had a special message for Sam Curran, calling him a fighter. "He’s a fighter. That’s something we all know. Whenever he turns up, he wants to contribute. Unfortunately, so far, whenever we tried to give him a chance, the wicket was on the slower side, and he found it slightly difficult. But today’s wicket was one of the best we’ve got at home in this tournament. That’s the reason I felt we needed another 15 runs. It’s the momentum in the middle order," he said.
Dhoni also called Brevis an asset that CSK can bank on in the future. "He’s also a very good fielder; he has power, and he can hit good balls for boundaries. And he brings good energy. Happy with the way he’s playing. He can be an asset going ahead," he said.
The loss to PBKS has eliminated CSK from the playoff race, leaving them with no chance of making it to the final. The team now faces a tough challenge in the remaining matches to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Who’s That IPL Player?
Who’s that IPL player? – MS Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings captain, has been the subject of much speculation and debate in the IPL 2025 season. With his team’s recent loss to Punjab Kings, Dhoni’s performance has come under scrutiny. His comments on the match and his interactions with other players have added to the intrigue surrounding his role in the team.
Dhoni’s comments on the match have been particularly interesting. He mentioned that the batting was not as strong as it could have been, and he felt that the team could have scored slightly more runs. He also praised his teammate Sam Curran, who scored a crucial 88 runs off 47 balls, including 9 fours and 4 sixes. Dhoni also highlighted the partnership between Curran and Dewald Brevis, which saw them put on a 78-run fourth-wicket stand.
Dhoni’s comments on the match have been met with mixed reactions. Some fans have praised his honesty and transparency, while others have criticized his criticism of the batters. However, it is clear that Dhoni’s performance has been a topic of discussion in the IPL 2025 season.
In conclusion, MS Dhoni’s comments on the match have added to the intrigue surrounding his role in the Chennai Super Kings. His performance has been a topic of discussion, and his interactions with other players have added to the excitement of the IPL 2025 season.
Reference : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/ms-dhoni-blames-batters-after-csk-bow-out-from-playoff-race-in-ipl-2025/articleshow/120782823.cms
