(Image source from: x.com/ChennaiIPL)
In the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Monday, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) interim captain, MS Dhoni, showcased a remarkable performance against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). His late-game heroics propelled CSK to a thrilling victory, marking the team's second win of the season. Dhoni unleashed a powerful display, racking up 26 runs off a mere 11 balls as he guided CSK to successfully chase down a target of 167 runs. His exhilarating performance at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow earned him the title of Player of the Match. Although Dhoni expressed his disagreement with the organizers' decision, the accolade enabled him to set a remarkable all-time record in IPL history.
With this achievement, Dhoni has now become the oldest recipient of the Player of the Match award in the league's history, reaching this milestone at 43 years and 280 days. In doing so, he broke a record that had stood for 11 years, overtaking Pravin Tambe to claim the top position. Dhoni uniquely becomes the first player in IPL history to receive this honor at the age of 43. Tambe held the previous record until Monday, having been awarded Player of the Match at 42 years and 208 days during IPL 2014 while playing for the Rajasthan Royals.
After the game, Dhoni reflected on the team’s performance, emphasizing the need for the batting lineup to improve in subsequent matches if CSK is to overcome its current struggles. He stated, "Our bowling has been solid, but we should enhance our batting. We frequently discuss roles and responsibilities. If someone gets a solid start and can sustain their innings, they should go for it. I believe he batted exceptionally today. Shaik Rasheed has been with us for several years and has been performing well in practice against both pace and spin this season. This is just the beginning; he possesses the talent to wield authentic shots effectively." Regarding his Player of the Match award, he suggested that Afghan spinner Noor Ahmed was more deserving of the recognition. "Today I found myself questioning, 'Why am I receiving this award?' Noor bowled excellently," Dhoni remarked during the post-match presentation.
