The 49th match of the IPL 2025 saw Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hosting the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 30, 2025, at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. PBKS won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Sam Curran starred with 88 in 47 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes. He got support from Dewald Brevis (32) as CSK posted 190 in 19.2 overs. For PBKS, Chahal starred with 4/32, while Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen picked up two wickets each.
In response, Priyansh Arya (23) and Prabhsimran Singh added 44 runs in 4.4 overs. Singh made 54 in 36 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. He also added 72 runs for the second wicket with captain Shreyas Iyer.
Iyer commanded the innings, holding up one en,d and got Shashank Singh going after the bowling. Shashank made 23 in 12 balls, while Shreyas Iyer made 72 in 41 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes. Though CSK managed to take the match into the last over, PBKS prevailed, scoring 194/6 in 19.4 overs.
CSK lost to PBKS by 4 wickets and became the first team to be eliminated from the IPL 2025 playoffs race. They now have only 4 points from 2 wins in 10 games. PBKS, on the other hand, moved to the second spot with 13 points from 6 wins in 10 games.
MS Dhoni was a somber figure after the match ended and had a chat with commentators on the official broadcasters.
“I think the batting - yes, it was the first time we put enough runs on the board. But was it a par score? I feel slightly short. Yes, a bit demanding from the batters, but I feel we could've got slightly more. I feel we need to take our catches. The partnership between Brevis and Sam was excellent. We didn't play the last four deliveries, and the second last over four batters got out. In close games, those 7 deliveries mean a lot,” Dhoni said in post-match chat with official broadcasters.
MS Dhoni called Sam Curran a fighter, but also explained why he got limited chances in this IPL 2025 season in the CSK XI.
“Well, he's a fighter. That's something we all know. Whenever he turns up, he wants to contribute. Unfortunately, so far, whenever we tried to give him a chance, the wicket was on the slower side, and he found it slightly difficult. But today's wicket was one of the best we've got at home in this tournament. That's the reason I felt we needed another 15 runs,” Dhoni said of Sam Curran.
Talking about Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni indicated that the young South African batter will be part of the CSK fold for future as well.
“He's also a very good fielder; he has power, and he can hit good balls for boundaries. And he brings good energy. Happy with the way he's playing. He can be an asset going ahead,” Dhoni said of Brevis.
CSK will next travel to Bengaluru to face RCB in the return match on May 3rd, while PBKS will move homes to Dharamshala, where they will face LSG on May 4.
