Imperfect CSK find a way through small moments

There were instances scattered all over Monday night in Lucknow that would tell you why Chennai Super Kings are where they are on the points table this season.

Two vital points were gained to put them on level with three teams above them, and that's all that truly matters at this stage, but not all wrongs were righted along the way. Yet, CSK's expectations of channelling all the hurt of the last two weeks into something meaningful was achieved through some switch-flicking moments and one-upping LSG in a few other passages of play to break their longest-ever rut in a season.

The PowerPlay flip - Part I

Rahul Tripathi spun around and tore across from cover-point in the first over as one pocket of the Ekana crowd, all yellow and expectant, willed him on, perhaps believing that their rising volume would add speed to his legs. They'd want to believe it did because he ate up ground in front of him, lunged forward and held onto a sensational catch. Aiden Markram, one of LSG's batting architects this season, was snuffed out and with that moment, the burden of being poor catchers (13 drops before this game) lightened a touch.

The reversal in PowerPlay fortunes took a real big turn in the fourth over, when Anshul Kamboj was confident he'd brought a premature end to the innings of the best batter of the season with an LBW. MS Dhoni signalled to his bowler that the ball could've gone down the leg side - usually the final word when it comes to a review. But Kamboj persisted for his conviction to override Dhoni's instinct and came away with a massive prize - Nicholas Pooran's exit for just eight runs. This went a long way in keeping LSG down to a sub-50 total in that phase.

The Spinphony ft. Noor & Jadeja

Ravichandran Ashwin's match-up gains against left-handers was not considered worthy enough for him to stay in the XII in what has been a disappointing season for the offspinner. Ravindra Jadeja too has been rather middling with the ball, but stepped up in conditions where spinners across both teams treated themselves to miserly spells. In conditions CSK would love to have at home, Dhoni turned spin conductor again and Jadeja his obedient artist, sticking to the tunes and rhythms by the book. The wicket delivery to Mitchell Marsh came off muscle memory - bowled from round the stumps, skidding from length at pace to sneak under the horizontal bat and disturb the stumps.

Noor Ahmad was a bigger menace from the other end. He preyed on Rishabh Pant's spin vulnerabilities to bowl 10 of his 13 dots at the LSG captain. Every attempt to make room and cut Noor away through the off-side was futile as Pant repeatedly hit to the cover fielder or just flayed at air. Noor also tied down Mitchell Marsh and Ayush Badoni in a spell worth just 13 runs and no fours or sixes. Badoni resorted to premeditation against the other bowlers and became Jadeja's second victim.

"In a game like this, that [4-over spell for 13 runs] sets up a win in many ways," CSK's bowling consultant Eric Simmons said of Noor. "So, certainly from a bowling coach perspective, you recognise the fact that it's not always wickets that you take, but it's the wickets that you earn for your team, the role that you play. What I saw today was him bowling a lot more accurately. He bowled a little slower, which normally shows good confidence."

The PowerPlay flip - Part II

The bigger demons in CSK's closet have been their batting inefficiencies. Fleming didn't subscribe to the need for specialist six-hitters in a tournament full of them, and a 20-year-old Shaik Rasheed offered him a vindication of sorts. Rasheed took Devon Conway's spot at the top and gave a glimpse of the early intent that has been missing all season. He got the CSK faithful going in the chase with a gorgeous flick to the mid-wicket fence off Akash Deep, followed by expert field manipulation as he hit one straight over the bowler's head. Rasheed ended the same over with a whip over mid-wicket once more. The flicks - and a cover drive - came out against Shardul Thakur too in what was CSK's fastest start to an innings (37/0 in 3 overs). Rachin Ravindra matched his opening partner - the youngest-ever for CSK - shot-for-shot in a chase-setting PowerPlay.

"I think he was ready about a year ago," Simmons said of Rasheed. The Andhra batter has been in the CSK ranks since the 2023 season, but form and injuries have allowed CSK to roll the dice with him only in 2025.

"He's a wonderful player. A lot of guys talk about how he reminds them of a young Ruturaj. Just the way he plays, his shot making," Simmons added. "I am very happy for him. We have a cap-handing ceremony, and the applause that he received was a testament to the popularity of the young guy. His work ethic in the nets... he's always smiling. He hasn't played for a few years, and he's never stopped working, never stopped smiling, never stopped being a positive guy in the room."

The Dhoni crescendo

A thick fog of anticipation hung in the air in Lucknow as Vijay Shankar exited after 15 overs of the chase. LSG players made a beeline towards Justin Langer on the side of the pitch and Shivam Dube waited. A couple of dramatic seconds later, Dhoni strode in. The 43-year-old's hitting power - particularly against pace - has shown no signs of decline, even as his entry points have remained a talking point all season. LSG's smart spin maneuvers through the middle gave them control going into the death overs, but the energy shifted with each step he took towards the centre.

Fans quickly changed track from 'CSK...CSK' to 'Dhoni... Dhoni' after just one booming shot through extra cover. A cheeky dab to third man fence then sent them into another tizzy, as LSG felt the heat of the situation. Shardul Thakur began to bowl wides in search of the perfect full-length ball outside the off-stump - the extras gnawing at the deficit. Pant turned around in disgust and shook his head as a slower one from Thakur flew over deep square leg off a one-handed shot. This feeling of helplessness festered for the rest of the chase for LSG, while the Dhoni faithful hit crescendo.