After a string of disappointing results, Chennai Super Kings finally gave their fans something to cheer about with a much-needed win in the Tata IPL 2025. Even though CSK remains at the bottom of the points table, they're now level on points with three other teams—signaling that a turnaround could be on the cards.

It was a game filled with drama, tension, and tactical battles, and Time Out’s post-match breakdown featuring Ian Bishop, Wasim Jaffer, and Abhinav Mukund explored all the key moments. One hot topic: Should Rishabh Pant have bowled Ravi Bishnoi? The DC skipper admitted, “There was a lot of time I thought about bowling Bishnoi but I discussed with other players and thought let’s take it deeper…” Pant also reflected on their batting struggles: “We feel we were 10-15 runs short. We kept losing wickets, couldn’t get a solid partnership. The pitch was good but slightly stopping—still, ten more runs could’ve made a difference.”

As for CSK, Shivam Dube played a calm and calculated knock, holding one end and finishing the game with Dhoni by his side. “This win means a lot. Losing five in a row, that's not CSK,” Dube said. “When MS came in and started smashing, it made my job easier. I just focused on not throwing my wicket away.”

But it was MS Dhoni who truly stole the show. In a throwback to his vintage best, Dhoni smashed his way to the Player of the Match award—his first since 2019. “It feels good to finally get a win. We've struggled in the first six overs with the ball and haven't had the best starts with the bat either,” Dhoni said. “We made some changes to bring more bowling options in the powerplay, and this looks like a better combination. As a batting unit, we can still improve.”

He also had special praise for youngster Shaik Rasheed, who stepped up in the reshuffled batting order. “Rasheed has been with us a while, improving steadily. He’s been excellent in the nets, and today he showed that he can dominate with proper cricketing shots.”

With this morale-boosting win, CSK fans can breathe a little easier. The road to the playoffs is still tough, but if there's one team that knows how to bounce back, it’s the Men in Yellow. And with Thala leading from the front again, hope is far from lost.

Catch every twist in CSK’s playoff journey live on Winexch—your ultimate destination for streaming and cricket action this IPL 2025. Sign up now and never miss a moment of the thrill!