14-04-2025 Mon 22:01 | Sports | Ap7am Desk

With Chennai Super Kings’ regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad sidelined from the tournament due to injury, Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped in to lead the team and demonstrated his strategic captaincy once again. In today’s match against the Lucknow Super Giants, Dhoni effectively rotated his bowlers, which played a crucial role in restricting the home team to a modest total.

After winning the toss, Chennai Super Kings opted to bowl first. Lucknow Super Giants, batting first, posted 166 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Among Chennai’s bowlers, Matheesha Pathirana and Ravindra Jadeja each claimed two wickets, while Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj took one wicket apiece.

The final over of the innings, bowled by Matheesha Pathirana, proved decisive as Lucknow lost three wickets. The over began with Abdul Samad being run out for 20 runs. Following this, Pathirana dismissed Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur, who scored 6 runs.

Rishabh Pant was the top scorer for Lucknow Super Giants, making 63 runs off 49 balls, including four fours and four sixes. Opener Mitchell Marsh contributed 30 runs, while Ayush Badoni added 22. Other top-order batsmen, including Aiden Markram (6) and Nicholas Pooran (8), failed to make an impact.