The 25th match of the 2025 IPL saw the Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Fans were eager to see MS Dhoni back at the helm, stepping in for an injured Ruturaj Gaikwad. But despite the legendary skipper’s return, CSK’s struggles continued as they posted a disappointing 103/9, with KKR chasing it down effortlessly by eight wickets in just over 10 overs.
Let’s break down the match, key performances, and what it means for the Yellow Army moving forward.
Dhoni Back as Captain: Can the Midas Touch Work?
With Ruturaj Gaikwad sidelined, Dhoni returned to captain CSK, bringing hope to fans that the team might revive its vintage form.
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Current Standing: CSK sits in the bottom half of the table.
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Challenge Ahead: With only a few matches left to make a playoff push, Dhoni’s leadership is under the microscope.
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First Assignment: CSK’s first full-time match under Dhoni’s 2025 captaincy was against KKR on April 11.
The Yellow Army will need more than just nostalgia; they’ll need consistent performances to climb back into playoff contention.
Match Summary
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Date: April 11, 2025
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Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
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Toss: KKR won and chose to field
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Result: KKR won by 8 wickets
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Time: 7:30 PM LOCAL, 2:00 PM GMT
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Umpires: Chris Gaffaney, Parashar Joshi
CSK Innings: Struggles with the Bat
Chennai’s batting lineup never got going. Here’s a closer look at how the Yellow Army crumbled to 103/9:
Top Performers
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Shivam Dube: 31* off 29 balls – the only steady contributor.
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Vijay Shankar: 29 off 21 balls, showing glimpses of aggression.
Other Contributions
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Devon Conway: 12 (lbw)
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Rahul Tripathi: 16 (bowled)
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Rachin Ravindra: 4 (caught)
Extras: 5 (1 leg bye, 4 wides)
Fall of wickets highlights:
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Conway out at 16 runs (3.1 overs)
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Ravindra out at 16 runs (4.1 overs)
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Shankar out at 59 runs (9.4 overs)
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Dube remained unbeaten at 103/9
Despite Dhoni at the crease, CSK couldn’t push past the 100-run mark.
KKR Bowling Heroics
KKR’s bowlers were clinical, dismantling the CSK lineup with ease:
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Sunil Narine: 4 overs, 3 wickets, 13 runs (economy 3.2)
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Varun Chakravarthy: 4 overs, 2 wickets, 22 runs
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Harshit Rana: 4 overs, 2 wickets, 16 runs
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Moeen Ali: 4 overs, 1 wicket, 20 runs
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Vaibhav Arora: 4 overs, 1 wicket, 31 runs
Narine’s spin and Chakravarthy’s variations were key in keeping CSK under 105.
Also Read : Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Bangladesh National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
KKR Innings: A Comfortable Chase
With a modest target of 105, KKR’s batters made light work of it:
Top Contributors
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Sunil Narine: 44 off 18 balls, with 5 sixes – absolute fireworks.
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Quinton de Kock: 23 off 16 balls, aggressive start.
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Ajinkya Rahane: 20* off 17 balls, stabilizing the innings.
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Rinku Singh: 15* off 12 balls, finishing it off in style.
Extras: 5 (1 leg bye, 2 wides, 2 no-balls)
Result: 107/2 in just 10.1 overs, run rate 10.52 – KKR dominated from ball one.
CSK Bowling Under Pressure
Chennai’s bowlers struggled to contain the Knight Riders:
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Khaleel Ahmed: 3 overs, 40 runs, economy 13.3
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Ravichandran Ashwin: 3 overs, 30 runs
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Anshul Kamboj: 2 overs, 1 wicket, 19 runs
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Noor Ahmad: 2 overs, 1 wicket, 8 runs
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Ravindra Jadeja: 0.1 over, 9 runs
KKR’s aggressive approach exposed CSK’s weak bowling attack, making the match a one-sided affair.
Key Takeaways from the Match
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Dhoni’s Leadership Tested: The “Midas Touch” wasn’t enough this time. CSK needs better batting performances to support him.
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KKR’s Dominance: Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy showed why KKR is a serious playoff contender.
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CSK’s Batting Woes: Posting 103/9 at home is alarming. Consistency is missing at the top order.
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Death Bowling Matters: KKR chased easily due to weak execution in CSK’s death overs.
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Fan Expectations: CSK fans hope the Yellow Army rises back, but improvements are urgent.
Looking Ahead: CSK’s IPL 2025 Campaign
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CSK has a tough road ahead, but Dhoni’s experience could still turn things around.
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Focus areas: top-order stability, aggressive middle-order, and better death bowling.
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Next matchups will be crucial in determining whether CSK can climb into the playoff spots.
Conclusion
The April 11 clash between CSK and KKR was a reality check for Chennai Super Kings. While MS Dhoni’s return brought hope, the team’s performance highlights ongoing struggles with batting depth and bowling consistency.
For KKR, it was a commanding victory, with brilliant contributions from Narine, de Kock, and Rahane, showcasing why they’re a force in IPL 2025.
As the tournament progresses, CSK fans will be keeping a close eye on whether the veteran skipper’s experience can turn the tide for the Yellow Army, bringing them back into contention for the playoffs.
