IPL 2024: MS Dhoni’s Late Heroics Not Enough as LSG Cruise to Easy Win

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) put up a good fight at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a dominant performance by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 34 of the IPL 2024.

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Chennai, batting first on a tricky pitch, got off to a shaky start, losing their openers early. However, a fighting half-century by Ravindra Jadeja (57*) and some late fireworks from MS Dhoni (28*) helped them post a respectable total of 176 runs.

In reply, Lucknow’s openers, KL Rahul (82) and Quinton de Kock (54), took the game away from Chennai with a solid 134-run partnership. They played sensibly, taking calculated risks against the CSK bowlers and capitalizing on the big outfield at the Ekana Stadium.

Turning Point of the Match

At the halfway mark, Chennai seemed to be in control. Their bowling attack had restricted Lucknow to a modest score, and with a tricky pitch to bat on, a target of 177 looked challenging.

However, Rahul and de Kock had other plans. They started aggressively from the very first over, putting pressure on the CSK bowlers, particularly the struggling Deepak Chahar. They scored freely in the Powerplay, ensuring they were well ahead of the required run rate.

A comprehensive victory, capped off by Nicky P 💪💙#LSGvCSK #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema #IPLinHindi pic.twitter.com/c0Zsj2YEJ7

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 19, 2024

This aggressive approach by the Lucknow openers completely shifted the momentum of the match. Chennai’s bowling attack, which looked good in the early stages, suddenly looked ineffective. With wickets in hand and a comfortable run rate, Lucknow never looked in danger of losing the match.

CSK’s Experimentation Backfires

Chennai surprised many by making some changes to their playing XI. They dropped in-form batter Daryl Mitchell and brought in Moeen Ali. Additionally, they continued with Ajinkya Rahane at the top of the order despite his inconsistent form.

The decision to promote Jadeja at number 4 after losing their openers also raised eyebrows. While Jadeja has a decent record against leg-spinners, he generally struggles against other bowling variations in T20 cricket.

While Jadeja managed to overcome his limitations against spin to an extent, Chennai’s batting overall lacked fluency. The loss of wickets at crucial junctures meant they had to focus on consolidation for a large part of their innings.

MS Dhoni’s Late Blitz Provides a Glimmer of Hope

Chennai’s innings was looking bleak until the arrival of MS Dhoni at the crease. With Moeen Ali departing after a quickfire cameo, the responsibility fell on Dhoni’s shoulders to take his team to a competitive total.

Dhoni, known for his finishing prowess, did not disappoint. He hit some lusty blows in the death overs, including a six over the wicketkeeper’s head, putting pressure on the Lucknow bowlers for the first time in the match.

Unfortunately for Chennai, Dhoni’s heroics came a bit too late. They managed to score 63 runs in the final four overs, but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap created by Lucknow’s dominant batting performance at the start.

This match exposed some vulnerabilities in the Chennai Super Kings’ batting lineup. Their over-reliance on Dhoni in the later stages and the lack of consistent contributions from other batsmen continue to be a concern. On the other hand, Lucknow displayed a clinical performance, with their openers laying the foundation for a comfortable victory.