Match 52 of IPL 2025 lived up to its billing, delivering a pulsating contest between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 3. The high-stakes clash went right down to the wire, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final ball.
Chasing a formidable 214-run target set by RCB, CSK began their innings with an aggressive approach. The opening duo got off to a fiery start before Shaik Rasheed’s dismissal at 51 slightly derailed the momentum. From there, it was 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre who stole the spotlight with a breathtaking knock. His 94 off just 48 balls had CSK cruising at one stage.
However, despite Ravindra Jadeja holding fort at the other end, CSK’s middle-order faltered under pressure. Wickets continued to tumble at crucial moments, and in a tense final over, CSK ultimately fell short by a mere two runs.
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After the match, it wasn’t just the thriller that made headlines—MS Dhoni’s humility did too. The CSK skipper, known for his calm demeanour, took full responsibility for the narrow defeat. Rather than pointing fingers at teammates, Dhoni admitted that his own batting could have made a difference. He believed that converting a few dot balls or singles into boundaries might have swung the match in CSK’s favour.
“I felt I should have converted a couple more shots and eased the pressure, so I’ll take the blame for it,” said MS Dhoni at the post-match presentation. He also acknowledged the brilliance of RCB’s Romario Shepherd, who had earlier dismantled CSK’s bowling at the death with a brutal cameo.
Dhoni went on to emphasise the importance of execution in crunch moments, especially with the ball. He spoke about the need to master yorkers during the death overs, highlighting that even a skilled bowler like Matheesha Pathirana can be punished if he misses his mark.
“We need to practise more yorkers. If you cannot nail the yorker, a low full toss is your next best bet,” he explained. He pointed out that while Pathirana has the variations, any miss in execution allows batters to capitalize—particularly when they are well set.
ALSO READ: Dinesh Karthik Hails Yash Dayal’s Outstanding Final Over in RCB’s Thrilling Win Over CSK
Reflecting on the evolving demands of T20 cricket, Dhoni also touched upon the significance of unorthodox strokes like the paddle sweep. While Jadeja plays it occasionally, Dhoni noted that most CSK batters are still not comfortable with such shots. He called for more practice and adaptability to thrive in modern T20 scenarios.
“Batting was slightly behind, but today, I feel we did well as a unit. There are learnings we can take forward,” MS Dhoni concluded.
It was a night of fine margins and fierce contests, where youth shone bright, experience spoke humbly, and cricket offered yet another thrilling chapter in this IPL season.
