Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
On Tuesday, April 8, Punjab Kings (PBKS) returned to winning ways, handing five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) their fourth straight defeat of the season. During the 220-run chase, CSK fell short by 18 runs and lost the match to drop down to ninth place in the IPL 2025 standings. Devon Conway did play a crucial inning of 49-ball 69, along with a quickfire knock from Shivam Dube (42 off 27), the collective effort from the batting lineup did not click for them.
Former India and CSK skipper MS Dhoni also played a 12-ball 27, but was dismissed off Yuzvendra Chahal’s over with Yash Thakur taking a comfortable catch. Seeing MS Dhoni also struggle to get a big score, his batting position was once again in talks as this time he was promoted up the order came out to bat after the fall of fourth wicket.
I don’t think there was ever a lack of intent from MS Dhoni: Robin Uthappa
Speaking after the conclusion of the match, former India and CSK cricketer Robin Uthappa clarified that the Yellow Army is going through a transition phase and in this, he would like to see MS Dhoni bat up the order. The former CSK batter also opined that there wasn’t any kind of lack of intent in the veteran cricketer’s batting while putting his opinions to the front.
“I don’t think there was ever a lack of intent from MS Dhoni. Even outside the IPL, I believe Dhoni has passed on responsibility to others and given them a clear understanding of what to expect in the coming years as CSK rebuilds into a championship-contending side. That transition is happening, and while we would love to see MS bat the way he is right now, perhaps a little higher up the order, I don’t think the problem lies at the end,” Uthappa said while speaking on Star Sports.
He further went on to say, “They started well, scoring almost 9.8 or 9.9 runs per over, which is as good as you can expect with the kind of openers they have. But you can’t let the game slip in the middle overs, especially when chasing a big total. Approach in the overs from 7 to 12 were very quiet.”
The 39-year-old further continued, “You need big overs right after the powerplay to keep the pressure on the opposition. Winning the powerplay is one thing, but owning the middle overs is what wins you games and they failed to do that, again. In the last two overs, they needed 42 runs, which is just too many. Had they managed a couple of 15 to 20 run overs in the middle, that equation could have come down to needing just 22 to 25 runs at the end. The intent just wasn’t there.”
Although, the 43-year-old might not have helped CSK end their jinx, but in the match, Dhoni etched his name in history books as he became the first player in the world to take 150 catches in he IPL as wicketkeeper. It is to be noted that Dhoni and Dinesh karthil are the only glovesman in the IPL history to have more than 100 catches.
