Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) IPL 2025 run was brought crashing down as they were knocked out of the playoff contention after suffering a thrilling four-wicket defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.
It is a record low for the MS Dhoni team, who have now failed to make the playoffs for the second season running — a first in the franchise's rich history.
CSK batted first on their home turf, and Sam Curran played a sensational knock of 88 from 47 balls with nine fours and four sixes. Following a nervous beginning, with CSK at 48 for 3 in the powerplay, Curran took the reins, compiling a key 78-run partnership with Dewald Brevis (32) to shore up the innings and push CSK towards a competitive score.
Curran was in form during the 16th over, tearing into Suryansh Shedge for 26 runs off two sixes and two fours. With his destructive batting, CSK appeared set to go over 200 but Curran's stay was ended in the 18th over when he glove-punched a bouncer off Marco Jansen.
Just when CSK seemed to be staging a comeback for a good finish, Yuzvendra Chahal changed things around. The leg-spinner, who had bowled only two overs till then, was brought back to bowl the 19th over and produced a game-altering show.
After MS Dhoni hit a six off Chahal, the leg-spinner struck back, dismissing him the very next ball. What followed was a rapid collapse, as Chahal took a remarkable hat-trick, his second in the IPL, removing Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, and Noor Ahmad in quick succession. CSK were restricted to 190 all out.
In response, PBKS got off to a good start, with opener Prabhsimran Singh taking the lead with a 54 from 36 balls. He was ably assisted by captain Shreyas Iyer, who anchored the innings with a measured 72 from 41 balls.
Even after losing a couple of wickets in the middle overs, like the well-settled Prabhsimran and Shashank Singh (23), PBKS never showed any signs of nervousness. Iyer's tranquility while accelerating in the end, along with some luck, paved the way for them to win, as they chased down the target in 19.4 overs.
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