The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a festival of cricket that brings fans together to celebrate high-octane matches, and the clash between Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard on April 14, 2025, was no exception. Played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, this 30th match of the IPL 2025 season was a rollercoaster of emotions, skill, and drama. CSK, led by the legendary MS Dhoni, faced off against a spirited LSG side captained by Rishabh Pant. The match ended with CSK snapping their five-match losing streak, defeating LSG by 5 wickets with just 3 balls to spare. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting encounter, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and what made this game unforgettable.

The Stage is Set

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard, let’s set the scene. CSK, a team with a rich IPL legacy, was struggling at the bottom of the points table after five consecutive losses. Their fans, known for their unwavering support, were desperate for a turnaround. On the other hand, LSG was riding high with four wins in seven games, sitting comfortably in fourth place. The Ekana Stadium was buzzing with energy, with the crowd heavily favoring CSK, especially cheering for their beloved “Thala” Dhoni. The pitch was tricky, slowing down as the game progressed, and dew was expected to play a role in the second innings, making the toss crucial.

MS Dhoni won the toss for CSK and elected to bowl first, banking on the dew factor to make batting easier later. LSG, despite the loss of the toss, was confident with their balanced squad, featuring in-form players like Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh. The stage was set for a classic IPL showdown.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Innings: A Competitive Total

LSG’s batting lineup took to the crease with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening the innings. The CSK bowlers, led by Ravindra Jadeja and Matheesha Pathirana, were disciplined from the start, keeping the scoring rate in check on a challenging surface.

Early Setbacks

The innings got off to a rocky start for LSG. Markram, looking to get things going, managed only 6 runs before being caught by Rahul Tripathi off Khaleel Ahmed in the first over. Nicholas Pooran followed soon after, trapped lbw by Anshul Kamboj for 8 runs in the 4th over. At 23/2 after 3.6 overs, LSG was in trouble.

Pant’s Gritty Fifty

Captain Rishabh Pant anchored the innings with a well-crafted 63 off 49 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes. He shared a crucial 50-run partnership for the third wicket with Mitchell Marsh, who contributed 30 off 25 balls before being bowled by Jadeja in the 9th over. Pant’s innings was a mix of caution and aggression, showing signs of his return to form, though he played a few dot balls that slowed the momentum.

Middle-Order Contributions

Ayush Badoni chipped in with 22 off 17 balls, including a six and a four, before being stumped by Dhoni off Jadeja’s bowling. Abdul Samad’s quickfire 20 off 11 balls, with two sixes, provided a late boost. However, LSG kept losing wickets at critical moments, preventing them from building substantial partnerships. Pant fell in the 19th over, caught by Dhoni off Pathirana, and Shardul Thakur’s brief 6 off 4 balls ended with a catch to Shaik Rasheed.

CSK’s Bowling Brilliance

CSK’s bowlers were on point. Ravindra Jadeja was the standout, finishing with 2/24 in 3 overs, breaking partnerships at crucial junctures. Matheesha Pathirana also picked up 2 wickets for 45 runs, striking twice in the final over. Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj took one wicket each, while Noor Ahmad’s wicketless spell was economical, building pressure. LSG finished at 166/7 in 20 overs, a competitive total but one Pant later admitted was 10-15 runs short.

Chennai Super Kings’ Chase: A Dramatic Finish

Chasing 167, CSK needed a solid start to break their losing streak. The openers, Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra, provided just that, setting the tone with an aggressive powerplay.

Powerplay Fireworks

CSK raced to 45/0 in 4 overs, with Shaik Rasheed, making his IPL debut, looking confident with 27 off 17 balls, including six boundaries. Rachin Ravindra supported with 16 off 7 balls. By the end of the powerplay, CSK was 52/1, with Rasheed falling to Ravi Bishnoi for 27. Ravindra continued his fluent knock, scoring 37 off 22 balls before being dismissed in the 8th over, leaving CSK at 74/2.

Middle-Overs Wobble

The middle overs saw CSK lose momentum. Rahul Tripathi, given a lifeline after a dropped catch, couldn’t capitalize, falling for 9 off 10 balls. Ravindra Jadeja, promoted to No. 4, and Vijay Shankar struggled to keep the run rate up as LSG’s spinners, including Bishnoi and Digvesh Rathi, tightened the screws. By the 15th over, CSK was 111/5, needing 56 runs off the last 30 balls. The required run rate climbed above 11, and the game seemed to be slipping away.

Dhoni and Dube to the Rescue

Enter MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube, the heroes of the chase. With the crowd roaring, Dhoni walked out in the 16th over, and the atmosphere at Ekana Stadium was electric. Dube, who had been slow initially (26 off 30 balls), found his rhythm, while Dhoni played a vintage cameo, scoring 26 not out off just 11 balls, including two fours and a six. Their 57-run partnership for the sixth wicket was the turning point.

In the 19th over, bowled by Shardul Thakur, Dhoni smashed a full toss for a boundary and followed it with a one-handed six over mid-wicket, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Dube sealed the victory with a boundary in the 19.3rd over, finishing unbeaten on 43 off 37 balls. CSK reached 168/5, winning by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare.

LSG’s Bowling Effort

LSG’s bowlers fought hard but couldn’t hold their nerve in the final overs. Ravi Bishnoi was the pick, taking 2/18 in 3 overs, while Digvesh Rathi bowled tightly for 1/23 in 4 overs. Shardul Thakur had a tough night, conceding over 50 runs, including a costly no-ball that went for six. Avesh Khan bowled the final over but couldn’t defend the 4 runs needed, hampered by a slow over-rate penalty that restricted LSG to four fielders outside the circle.

The Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard: A Detailed Look

Below is the full scorecard for the Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard, capturing the key performances:

Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard: IPL 2025 Match 30 Scorecard

Match Details

Date: April 14, 2025
Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Toss: Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Chennai Super Kings won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: MS Dhoni (CSK) – 26* (11 balls)

Lucknow Super Giants Innings: 166/7 (20 overs, RR: 8.30)

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Aiden Markram	c Tripathi b Khaleel Ahmed	6	6	1	0	100.00
Mitchell Marsh	b Ravindra Jadeja	30	25	2	2	120.00
Nicholas Pooran	lbw b Anshul Kamboj	8	9	2	0	88.89
Rishabh Pant (c & wk)	c Dhoni b Matheesha Pathirana	63	49	4	4	128.57
Ayush Badoni	st Dhoni b Ravindra Jadeja	22	17	1	2	129.41
Abdul Samad	run out (Dhoni)	20	11	0	2	181.82
David Miller	not out	0	0	0	0	0.00
Shardul Thakur	c Shaik Rasheed b Matheesha Pathirana	6	4	1	0	150.00
Extras	(b 1, lb 1, w 8, nb 1)	11
Total	(7 wickets, 20 overs)	166

Did Not Bat: Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi (Impact Player)

Fall of Wickets:

6/1 (Markram, 0.6 ov)
23/2 (Pooran, 3.6 ov)
73/3 (Mitchell Marsh, 9.3 ov)
105/4 (Ayush Badoni, 13.4 ov)
158/5 (Abdul Samad, 19.1 ov)
158/6 (Pant, 19.2 ov)
166/7 (Thakur, 19.6 ov)

Bowling:

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Khaleel Ahmed	4	30	1	7.50
Anshul Kamboj	4	32	1	8.00
Noor Ahmad	4	25	0	6.25
Ravindra Jadeja	3	24	2	8.00
Matheesha Pathirana	4	45	2	11.25
Jamie Overton	1	10	0	10.00

Chennai Super Kings Innings: 168/5 (19.3 overs, RR: 8.62)

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Shaik Rasheed	c Badoni b Ravi Bishnoi	27	17	6	0	158.82
Rachin Ravindra	lbw b Digvesh Rathi	37	22	4	1	168.18
Rahul Tripathi	c Marsh b Ravi Bishnoi	9	10	1	0	90.00
Ravindra Jadeja	c Pant b Avesh Khan	7	10	0	0	70.00
Vijay Shankar	c Badoni b Digvesh Rathi	12	14	1	0	85.71
Shivam Dube	not out	43	37	4	1	116.22
MS Dhoni (c & wk)	not out	26	11	2	1	236.36
Extras	(b 0, lb 2, w 5, nb 2)	9
Total	(5 wickets, 19.3 overs)	168

Did Not Bat: Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana

Fall of Wickets:

52/1 (Shaik Rasheed, 4.5 ov)
74/2 (Rachin Ravindra, 7.6 ov)
76/3 (Rahul Tripathi, 8.5 ov)
96/4 (Ravindra Jadeja, 12.2 ov)
111/5 (Vijay Shankar, 14.6 ov)

Bowling:

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Akash Deep	3	30	0	10.00
Avesh Khan	3.3	34	1	9.71
Shardul Thakur	3	50	0	16.67
Digvesh Rathi	4	23	1	5.75
Ravi Bishnoi	3	18	2	6.00
Mitchell Marsh	3	11	0	3.67

Match Notes

LSG Innings:
- 50 runs in 6.3 overs
- Strategic Timeout: 68/2 in 9.0 overs
- 100 runs in 12.3 overs
- Strategic Timeout: 118/4 in 16.0 overs
- Rishabh Pant: 50 off 40 balls
- 150 runs in 18.1 overs
- Impact Player: Ravi Bishnoi in for Mitchell Marsh (19.6 ov)
CSK Innings:
- 50 runs in 4.2 overs
- 100 runs in 12.3 overs
- Strategic Timeout: 111/5 in 15.0 overs
- 150 runs in 18.1 overs
- 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 25 balls (Dube 21, Dhoni 25)
- Ball change due to dew (16.1 ov)

Key Moments That Defined the Match

Dhoni’s Cameo: MS Dhoni’s 26* off 11 balls, including a one-handed six, was the game-changer. His ability to stay calm under pressure and finish the game earned him the Player of the Match award, making him the oldest player to win it in IPL history.
Jadeja’s All-Round Show: Ravindra Jadeja’s 2/24 with the ball and his brief stint at No. 4 showed his versatility. His fielding and wicketkeeping support for Dhoni were also crucial.
Pant’s Fightback: Rishabh Pant’s 63 off 49 balls kept LSG in the game, but his dismissal in the 19th over swung the momentum back to CSK.
CSK’s Powerplay: The 52-run opening stand by Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra set the chase up beautifully, giving CSK a strong foundation despite the later wobble.
LSG’s Bowling Missteps: Shardul Thakur’s expensive spell, including a no-ball six, and the slow over-rate penalty hurt LSG’s chances in the final overs.

What the Captains Said

MS Dhoni (CSK): “It’s always good to win a game, and a result like this gives a lot of confidence to the entire team. It was a tough contest, but I’m glad we ended up on the winning side. We’ve struggled with starts at home, maybe because of slower wickets, but we did well in the powerplay today.”

Rishabh Pant (LSG): “We were probably 10-15 runs short. We kept losing wickets at crucial moments, which hurt us. The pitch was good but stopped a bit. We considered bringing Bishnoi back at the death but went with a different plan. The bowlers pulled things back well after CSK’s start, which is a positive.”

The Bigger Picture

This win was a lifeline for CSK, boosting their confidence after a string of losses. For LSG, the defeat was a setback, but their balanced squad showed they remain a strong contender. The match highlighted the importance of adaptability on a tricky pitch and the impact of experienced players like Dhoni in high-pressure situations.

Final Thoughts

The Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard on April 14, 2025, was a reminder of why the IPL is so loved. From Pant’s gritty fifty to Dhoni’s explosive finish, the game had it all—strategy, skill, and heart-stopping moments. CSK’s victory, sealed by Dube’s boundary and Dhoni’s magic, gave their fans hope for a turnaround. For LSG, it was a learning curve, a chance to regroup and come back stronger. This match will be remembered as one where the veterans shone, and the Ekana Stadium echoed with the cheers of CSK’s loyal fans.

The Stage is Set