MS Dhoni once again showcased his finishing touch as he guided Chennai Super Kings to a nerve-wracking two-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The former India captain remained unbeaten on 17 off 18 balls and struck a six in the final over, helping CSK chase down a 180-run target with two balls and as many wickets in hand.
CSK appeared on the brink of their 10th loss this season after slipping to 60/5, but Dewald Brevis and Urvil Patel revived hopes with explosive batting. Brevis smashed 52 off 25 deliveries, including a blistering 30-run over off Vaibhav Arora, while Urvil chipped in with 31 off 11 to keep the chase alive.
Noor Ahmad’s four-wicket haul restricts KKR
Earlier in the match, left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad was the pick of the bowlers for CSK, returning figures of 4/31. His effort ensured that KKR, despite promising starts, could not breach the 200-run mark. They eventually settled for 179.
‘Mental toughness matters’: Dhoni reflects on win
Post-match, Dhoni praised his team’s resilience and attitude under pressure.
“When we started, hardly anyone was scoring. Good to see the batters have intent, important to back yourself and play the shots that you think are your shots. These are the players that are part of our squad right now, so we have an opportunity test them. We are out of the tournament, so you give them a chance, see how they react. It is the approach, the mental toughness that you want to check,” said Dhoni.
He acknowledged Brevis’ contribution in giving the team room to stretch the chase deep.
“Thanks to Brevis, he gave us that luxury (to take it deep). Did not want to give wickets to Sunil and Varun. It was holding for the spinners, but for the pacers, it was not that great and difficult for them to get away. Not to forget that I was the last batter, the tension becomes a lot (if I get out), so rotating strike (gets tougher),” he added.
Dhoni coy on retirement, thanks fans
With speculation rife about whether this IPL might be his last, Dhoni remained vague, instead focusing on the support he receives from fans across the country.
“That’s the love and affection I have got throughout, not to forget, I’m 43 and I have played for a long time. They don’t know when it will be my last year, it is a fact I play only 2 months a year. This IPL gets over, then I have to work for the next six-eight months to see if my body is able to take this kind of pressure,” Dhoni said.
“Nothing to decide as of now, but the love and affection I get everywhere is excellent,” he added.
KKR’s playoff hopes dented after sixth loss
With this defeat, KKR now face a tough route to the playoffs. This was their sixth loss in 11 games, and they must win both remaining fixtures to stay in contention—possibly depending on other results as well.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted they fell short with the bat and could’ve posted a higher total. “It’s a tough thing to be on the losing side, I think we were 10-15 runs short. We thought 185-195 would have been an ideal total on this wicket, but I think it was a great game,” said Rahane.
He credited Brevis and Dube for turning the game in CSK’s favour. “Brevis and Dube they took their chances and it really paid off. No complaints but I think our bowlers bowled really well. It is pretty simple, now we have to win two out of two, let’s see what happens from here on,” Rahane added.
With CSK officially out of the playoff race, the team looks to finish the season on a high note, while fans continue to wait for clarity on Dhoni’s IPL future.
