MS Dhoni took full responsibility after Chennai Super Kings’ disappointing loss in the IPL. The legendary captain admitted his mistakes and said the defeat was on him. Fans praised his honesty, even as CSK struggles to stay in playoff contention.
Chennai’s Tough Season Continues
The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a difficult one for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The five-time champions, known for their strong history in the league, have not performed well this year. Despite changing their captain in the middle of the tournament, the results have not improved. With repeated losses, CSK became the first team to be knocked out of the playoff race in IPL 2025.
Heartbreaking Loss Against Bengaluru
Chennai Super Kings faced Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday in a high-scoring match. Bengaluru batted first and set a huge target of 213 runs. Even though it looked difficult, CSK fought hard and came very close. At one point, it seemed like they could win. But in the end, they lost the match by just 2 runs in a tense finish. (More Sports News)
With only 14 runs needed in the final over, Chennai had two experienced players at the crease — Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. On the first ball, Jadeja gave Dhoni the strike. Dhoni returned the strike to Jadeja on the second ball. However, on the third delivery, Dhoni was trapped lbw and had to walk back. Chennai couldn’t recover after that and fell short by a narrow margin.
Dhoni Accepts Blame for the Defeat
After the close loss, CSK’s legendary player Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that he felt responsible. Speaking to the broadcasters after the match, he said, “I feel like I should have hit a few more shots and reduced the pressure. So I take responsibility for this loss. It’s my fault.”
Dhoni’s honest reaction showed how much he still cares about the team’s performance, even though it has been a tough season.
Romario Shepherd’s Game-Changing Innings
One of the main reasons for Chennai’s loss was a brilliant performance by Bengaluru’s Romario Shepherd. The West Indian all-rounder came in to bat late in the innings and changed the game completely in the final two overs. After Rajat Patidar was dismissed in the 18th over, Shepherd came to bat at number seven and launched an incredible attack on the CSK bowlers.
He smashed 33 runs in the 19th over alone, hitting fast bowler Khalil Ahmed all around the ground. Then, in the final over, he added 26 more runs against Mathisha Pathirana. Shepherd reached his fifty in just 14 balls — one of the fastest in this year’s IPL. Without his powerful hitting, Bengaluru would likely have ended with a much lower total of 170-180 runs.
Dhoni Says Bowlers Must Improve Yorker Skills After Loss
After the match, Dhoni praised Shepherd for his outstanding batting. “Shepherd batted brilliantly in the death overs. No matter how we bowled, he kept scoring maximum runs,” said Dhoni.
He also highlighted the importance of bowling yorkers in the final overs. “We need to practice yorkers more. If you can’t bowl yorkers, then a low full toss is the next best option,” he explained. Dhoni added that bowlers like Pathirana have the pace and bounce to trouble batsmen, but they must learn to be more accurate.
Where Do the Teams Stand?
After this match, Royal Challengers Bangalore climbed to the top of the points table with 16 points from 11 matches. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings remained at the bottom with just 4 points from the same number of matches. Their chances of making the playoffs are over, and fans are left disappointed in what has been a tough campaign.
Despite the struggles, CSK’s spirit and leadership from Dhoni continue to inspire fans across the cricket world.
