Speaking to the Chennai Super Kings, Shivam Dube has revealed MS Dhoni’s prediction admitting him as one of the greatest readers of the game during the IPL 2025 game against Lucknow Super Giants.
Chennai Super Kings secured a five-wicket victory on April 14 with an unbeaten 57-run partnership from MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube.
Dube revealed how MS Dhoni masterminded the chase when the asking rate was soaring. Despite a strong start from Shaikh Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra in the powerplay, CSK needed 56 runs from last five overs.
Lucknow Super Giants made a tactical mistake by not bowling spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the death overs.
The leg-spinner concede only 18 runs after picking two wickets, yet Rishabh Pant did not give him the fourth over. In the end, Dhoni targeted the pacers and got the job done.
Shardul Thakur leaked 19 runs in the penulitmate over which led 5-wicket victory for CSK.
Despite changing the wet ball on a dew-filled evening, it was suprising to see Rishabh Pant not trust his lead spinner to bowl an over in the death overs.
“Some things Mahi bhai told me – there was one over left for Bishnoi – so I was there in the end, because he told me that if you play till the end, he won’t bowl, so from our side, he was hitting the fast bowlers really well – and I used that as well,” Dube said in the interview.
Dhoni has used the opposition captain’s reluctance to bowl Bishnoi against Dube, who has a reputation for smashing spinners into the stands at will. Shivam Dube was struggling to get his rhythm but hung around and got the job done, hitting 43 runs off 37 deliveries.
It was a much needed victory for the Chennai Super Kings have slipped to the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table with two wins from seven games in the season.
CSK will play their next match against Mumbai Indians on April 20 at Wankhede Stadium.
