MS Dhoni Shatters 11-Year-Old IPL Record with Vintage Finish Against LSG
NEW DELHI: In a breathtaking display of timeless class, former India captain MS Dhoni turned back the clock to deliver a match-winning performance for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2025 at the Ekana Stadium on Monday. The 43-year-old maestro smashed an unbeaten 26 off just 11 balls, guiding CSK to a dramatic five-wicket victory and snapping their disheartening streak of five consecutive losses.
Stepping in as captain in the absence of the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dhoni walked out to bat at No. 7 with CSK needing a spark. What followed was pure magic. The master finisher unleashed a barrage of boundaries—four fours and a towering six—lighting up the Lucknow night and silencing doubters who questioned his form at this stage of his illustrious career. Alongside Shivam Dube, who remained unbeaten on 43, Dhoni stitched an unbroken 57-run partnership to chase down the target of 167 with three balls to spare.
For his explosive cameo, Dhoni was adjudged the Player of the Match, a feat that etched his name deeper into IPL folklore. At 43 years and 280 days, he became the oldest player in IPL history to win this coveted award, surpassing the long-standing record held by Pravin Tambe, who was 42 years and 208 days old when he claimed the honor in 2014.
Oldest Players to Win Player of the Match in IPL:
– 43 years, 280 days – MS Dhoni vs LSG, Lucknow, 2025
– 42 years, 208 days – Pravin Tambe vs KKR, Ahmedabad, 2014
– 42 years, 198 days – Pravin Tambe vs RCB, Abu Dhabi, 2014
This award marked Dhoni’s 17th Player of the Match honor as a captain in the IPL, reinforcing his record as the most decorated skipper in the tournament’s history. Notably, this recognition came after a staggering gap of 2175 days—nearly six years—since his last such award in 2019 against Delhi Capitals at the iconic Chepauk Stadium. In that game, Dhoni had scored a blistering 44 off 22 balls and effected two stumpings, showcasing his dual prowess as a batter and wicketkeeper.
Dhoni’s latest heroics are a testament to his enduring legacy in the IPL, where he has led CSK to five titles and continues to inspire with his calmness under pressure. His strike rate of 236.36 in this innings against LSG underlines why he remains one of the most feared finishers in T20 cricket, even in the twilight of his career. Fans on social media erupted with nostalgia, hailing ‘Thala’ for proving that age is just a number.
As CSK celebrates this morale-boosting win, the spotlight remains firmly on Dhoni. With every boundary, he doesn’t just win matches—he wins hearts, reminding the cricketing world why he is regarded as one of the greatest captains and finishers the game has ever seen. Will this be the spark that reignites CSK’s campaign in IPL 2025? Only time will tell, but for now, the legend of MS Dhoni continues to grow.