The 57th match of the IPL 2025 saw Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosting Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 7, 2025. Ajinkya Rahane won the toss, and KKR batted first.
Sunil Narine (26) and Ajinkya Rahane (48 in 33) set up a good platform for KKR. But then Noor Ahmad struck, and KKR slowed a bit. But Manish Pandey (36*) and Andre Russell (38 with 4 fours and 3 sixes) propelled KKR to 179/6. For CSK, Noor Ahmad took 4/31.
In response, CSK's top order crumbled, with openers Ayush Mhatre and Devon Conway getting out for ducks. Debutant Urvil Patel made 31 in 11 balls with 4 fours and one four, while R. Ashwin, promoted to no.4, made only 8. Ravindra Jadeja looked good for his 19 before he got out.
But then a 67-run partnership between Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube brought CSK back in the match. Dube made 45 in 40 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours, while Brevis hit his maiden IPL fifty, scoring 52 in 25 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. This included a 30-run over in which Brevis hit Vaibhav Arora for 3 sixes and 3 fours.
However, the finish was left to MS Dhoni, and the CSK talisman hit Andre Russell for a six with 8 runs needed in the last over. This six from Dhoni was a throwback from his prime, and the CSK fans in Eden Gardens shouted their lungs out at the shot.
Here is the video:
Then Anshul Kamboj hit the next ball for a four as CSK won the game by 2 wickets. CSK finished on 183/8, and this was their third win in 13 games, and they now have 6 points.
KKR’s hopes for playoff qualification took a huge hit as they now have 11 points from 12 games and can only reach a maximum of 15 points if they win their remaining two games.
After the match, MS Dhoni has some thoughts to share on the CSK’s win, as he praised Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube for setting up the platform for the win.
“We have won a few? (Smiles) It is only the third game we have won. It is good to be on the winning side. Quite a few things have not gone our way. What is important is to be practical. Identify what has gone wrong. We have 25 players who can fill, and I was focusing on that. We want answers for the next year: which batter can slot in where, and which bowler can bowl where, according to the conditions.
Hardly anyone was scoring runs. Yes, you will get out sometimes, but you back yourself and play the shots you feel you can do. These are the players who are part of the squad now. You may see them in the nets, in the practice games. Give them a chance and see how they react. You don't look at the cricketing aspect or the technique, but at their mental strength and game awareness. If he can figure out what the bowler is doing, what his bluff ball is, he will do well,” MS Dhoni said after the match.
“You have to keep their spinners out of the game. Thanks to Brevis, he gave us that luxury. Don't give wickets to Sunil and Varun, and then we will see. This is not a big ground, I said, take it slightly to the end, not to forget, I was the last batter; that was the thinking. He played calculated shots, and he hit two sixes, and that brings the rate down,” he added.
He also shared an update about his future in IPL and stated that he still has 6-8 months to decide whether he’ll play the next IPL season or not.
“That's the love and affection I have gotten throughout, not to forget, I'm 43, and I have played for a long time. They don't know when it will be my last year; it is a fact I play only 2 months a year. After this IPL gets over, I have to work hard for another 6-8 months to see if my body can take this pressure. There is nothing to decide now, but the love and affection I have seen is excellent,” Dhoni stated.
CSK’s next match will be against RR in Chennai, their last home match this season, to be played on May 13.
