Chennai Super Kings’ Crushing Defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders Sparks Debate over MS Dhoni’s Stay at the Crease
Virender Sehwag, a seasoned cricket expert, didn’t mince words when discussing MS Dhoni’s brief stay at the crease during Chennai Super Kings’ dispiriting loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday night. Speaking on a post-match show, Sehwag dismissed the notion that Dhoni’s decision to see out the innings could have salvaged CSK’s dwindling total. “I don’t think so,” Sehwag said bluntly. “If he didn’t get out, they could’ve scored a maximum of 130. KKR chased this target down in 10.1 overs. That would’ve been the only difference.”
Sehwag’s candid assessment underscored the hapless performance of CSK’s top-order batsmen, who failed to build on the early starts provided by Shivam Dube (31*) and Vijay Shankar (29). Their combined effort of 60 runs in the first 10 overs was woefully insufficient, leaving the tail-enders to struggle in vain. Dhoni, making his first appearance as captain since Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, was dismissed for a paltry one run off four balls in the 16th over, a decision that met with widespread disappointment in the packed Chepauk stadium.
CSK’s 103/9, their lowest-ever total at the venue and the third-lowest in IPL history, was a far cry from the side’s illustrious past. The five-time IPL champions have now suffered three consecutive defeats at home, their worst stretch in the league’s history. Furthermore, their fifth-successive loss in IPL 2025 has pushed them down to ninth spot in the points table, with only one win to date. KKR, meanwhile, capitalized on CSK’s collapse, easing to a 10.1-over chase with Sunil Narine leading the way with 44 off 18 balls.
The KKR victory was built on the back of a ruthless spin attack, led by Sunil Narine (3/13) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/18), who kept CSK’s batsmen in a stranglehold. Rinku Singh’s towering six off Ravindra Jadeja wrapped up the chase, further denting CSK’s already bruised confidence. Sehwag’s withering assessment of Dhoni’s stay at the crease served as a stark reminder of CSK’s batting woes, which, if left unchecked, could prove catastrophic in their quest for a return to glory.
Original Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sehwags-unforgiving-jab-on-live-tv-over-whether-ms-dhoni-couldve-saved-csk-we-would-be-on-air-at-11-30pm-instead-101744421217997.html
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Publish Date: 2025-04-12 07:26:00
