MS Dhoni Surprised by Player of the Match Award: 'Why Am I Receiving This?'

Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni was left stunned after being awarded the Player of the Match for leading his team to a win over Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. Dhoni was at his best in the nail-biting run chase, hammering 26 runs in just 11 balls, with 4 fours and one six.

His effort made him the oldest player in IPL history to be awarded the Man of the Match. But Dhoni modestly said that he did not anticipate the award, as he thought others, such as CSK spinner Noor Ahmad, deserved it more for their efforts.

"Even today I was like, 'Why are they giving me the award?' Noor bowled really well," Dhoni said during the post-match presentation.

CSK's Struggles and the Significance of the Victory

Even after the victory, CSK is still at the bottom of the 2025 IPL standings with just two wins. Dhoni admitted the team was not performing well but stated that the victory was crucial for confidence and morale building.

"It's nice to win a game. When you play a tournament like this, you want to win. Unfortunately, the previous matches didn't go in our favor. It's nice to have a win on our side. It gives confidence to the entire team and helps us improve in areas we want to improve," Dhoni said.

He also indicated the powerplay and batting department weaknesses of the team, citing that the team had not been able to get off on a good note.

The Team's Performance Analysis

Dhoni provided a realistic assessment of CSK's overall performance, pointing out that the team had put too much pressure on the bowlers, especially Ash, who was made to bowl two overs during the powerplay. However, he was hopeful the changes would better the bowling unit in the future.

"We were overloading Ash too much. He was bowling two overs in the first six. We made a few changes, and this looks like a more balanced attack. As a bowling unit, we've done a good job. As a batting unit, we can improve," Dhoni said.

Appreciation for Shaik Rasheed

In the future, Dhoni also complimented the young Shaik Rasheed, who has been performing well. Dhoni said that Rasheed had been impressing the team in the nets against pacers and spinners and was confident about his future prospects.

"He has been with us for a few years now. This year, he has been batting extremely well in the nets against pacers and spinners. It's just the beginning. He has the ability to dominate with genuine shots," Dhoni added.