MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings ended their five-game losing streak with a five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.

After electing to field first, Chennai got off to a dream start, dismissing the in-form Aiden Markram (six) off the last ball of the first over.

Lucknow’s innings stalled further when Nicholas Pooran, the IPL’s highest run scorer so far, was trapped LBW by youngster Anshul Kamboj in the fourth over, having scored just eight runs.

LSG’s last in-form batter Mitchell Marsh (30) also fell after the powerplay having failed to accelerate on a tacky wicket, leaving the hosts in a state of bother.

With captain Rishabh Pant at the crease, LSG needed something special to drag them to a respectable total, and Pant managed just that, though his innings of 63 off 49 lacked his usual fluency.

An excellent last over from Matheesha Pathirana (2-45) saw CSK pick up three wickets for just 11 runs as LSG were limited to 166-7.

Chennai’s openers, Rachin Ravindra (37) and debutant Shaik Rasheed (27) got off to a positive start, the latter taking Akash Deep for 13 runs off the second over of the chase.

Rasheed was dismissed shortly after and CSK’s middle order troubles looked to resurface as Rahul Tripathi (nine), Ravindra Jadeja (seven) and Vijay Shankar (nine) fell cheaply.

But a tempered knock from designated spin-hitter Shivam Dube (43) put CSK in a good position before 43-year-old Dhoni, now captaining the team after Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury, provided some of his vintage heroics to take them over the line with just three balls to spare.

Dhoni came in to bat at number seven and scored 26 runs off just 11 deliveries at a strike rate of 236.6. On a very tricky wicket with little pace on offer, Dhoni’s innings was the turning point for CSK, who picked up only their second win of the season.

CSK remain in last place, owing to their horrific start, while LSG stay in fourth having suffered little damage to their net run rate.

Doing what he does best 

For his brilliant finishing act of 26*(11) and yet another  effort behind the stumps, #CSK skipper MS Dhoni is the Player of the Match 

Scorecard  https://t.co/jHrifBkT14 #TATAIPL | #LSGvCSK | @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/Xcw0whVQo4

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 14, 2025

Data Debrief: Evergreen Dhoni makes the difference

Age is just a number, and Dhoni continues to prove it.

The Chennai captain became the first player in IPL history to record 200 fielding dismissals, having caught Pant behind off Pathirana, stumped Ayush Badoni off Jadeja, and inflicted the run out of Abdul Samad.

While batting, too, Dhoni is proving that he still has the power game despite his age. Since the start of IPL 2024, Dhoni has struck at 222 against pace bowling, and he showed off some of his power-hitting against Lucknow, plundering four fours and one six to pull CSK over the line.

His overall performance earned him the Player of the Match award, his first in the IPL since 2019.