That's a wrap for our live coverage of the IPL 2025 clash between LSG and CSK! A closely-fought contest, ending in victory for the team in yellow and long last. Join us tomorrow, on NDTV Sports, as Punjab Kings host Kolkata Knight Riders in Mullanpur!

Thank you! Goodnight.

MS Dhoni expresses surprise at being awarded the 'Player of the Match' award! Says that he thought Noor Ahmad bowled superbly and could've had it instead. First POTM award for MS Dhoni since IPL 2019!

After five consecutive losses, Chennai Super Kings are victorious once again in IPL 2025. A game where many players stepped up. Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad bowled well, Shaikh Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra gave a flying start, and Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni finished it off.

They stay bottom of the table, but every team has won at least 2 games now.

Ravi Bishnoi had an over left that he never got to bowl. Once Dhoni walked in, Rishabh Pant went with all pace. Avesh did well, but Shardul couldn't deliver in the crunch moment. Pant admits that it crossed his mind to give Bishnoi an over, but he opted otherwise.

Walked in with CSK needing over 11 runs an over on a tough pitch. Leaves having delivered victory, smashing 26 runs off just 11 balls. Four 4s and a 6. CSK pull off a run chase at long last. A much-needed win for the men in yellow, and the first one under Dhoni's captaincy again.

VICTORY FOR CSK! Shivam Dube hammers it through the off side, nails the cover drive, and CSK complete the run-chase with 3 balls to spare! A superb knock by MS Dhoni as well. Second victory of IPL 2025 for CSK!

CSK 168/5 (19.3) beat LSG 166/7 (20) by 5 wickets.

Dhoni, 4! Gem of a knock this is turning out to be. Full toss by Shardul, whipped through mid-wicket for a boundary. 25 runs off 10 balls, this has been classic Mahendra Singh Dhoni. CSK need just 5 runs off 6 balls now.

CSK 162/5 (17)

Ravi Bishnoi puts MS Dhoni down! The CSK captain slams it hard, straight towards Bishnoi at cover. Tough chance, Bishnoi gets a hand but not enough to hold on. And then Shardul bowls a wide! Equation down to 10 off 9 for CSK. 

CSK 157/5 (18.3)

Shivam Dube, what a shot under pressure! He struggled to time it off Avesh, but he nails the slice on this occasion off Shardul. Pant hasn't given it to Bishnoi, and this is going all wrong! Full toss, no-ball and 6! Oh dear, oh dear.

CSK 154/5 (18.1)

MS Dhoni is doing the business here. What a shot again. Avesh goes for the wide yorker, Dhoni slashes and gets an edge for 4! Dhoni is up to 20 runs off 8 balls, CSK are chasing this down bit by bit!

CSK 142/5 (17.4)

MS Dhoni, one-handed! What a shot. Over mid-wicket for a maximum. Shardul had bowled a good over until then, but Dhoni clears the ropes on the final delivery. Sweet sound off the blade!

CSK 136/5 (17)

Shivam Dube drives Shardul Thakur through the covers for a boundary. Brilliant shot. He had tried that on the first ball too, but it was stopped by a fielder. Shardul comes back well, draws a dot on the third delivery.

CSK 127/5 (16.3)

Driven through the covers by MS Dhoni! Slapped! First boundary for the CSK captain. The last ball of the over also goes for 4! Edged and it runs through third man. MS Dhoni, are you going to serve us a special tonight?

CSK 123/5 (16)

MS Dhoni is out to bat! Listen to Ekana roar, it's a vibe that only Dhoni can create. CSK need 56 off 30 balls, can this be a captain's special from the 43-year-old? Avesh Khan will be the first bowler to test him.

CSK 111/5 (15)

CSK ARE 5-DOWN! What a collapse this is turning out to be for CSK. Vijay Shankar is gone, he skies it and a simple catch for Avesh! What a turnaround this is proving to be for LSG. Digvesh Rathi bowls a gem of an over, 2 runs and a wicket.

CSK 111/5 (15)

A superb spell by Aiden Markram comes to an end. Brilliant tactic by Rishabh Pant to enforce him through the middle overs, and he has delivered with flying colours. Picked up the wicket of Rachin, ends with figures of 1/25.

The asking rate nearly 10 now for CSK.

CSK 109/4 (14)

Vijay Shankar off the mark, first ball 4! Excellent shot, down the ground. No MS Dhoni yet, Shankar has come in ahead of him. 8 runs comes off Bishnoi's over, but the crucial wicket of Ravindra Jadeja.

100 up for CSK in 12.3 overs.

CSK 104/4 (13)

Ravindra Jadeja is gone! CSK's decision to send him up the order hasn't work. CSK are digging a hole for themselves here, a run chase that looked well within reach is slowly slipping away. Ravi Bishnoi gets a second wicket.

CSK 96/4 (12.2)

Shivam Dube slams CSK's first maximum of the innings. We know he has the power and capability to do this on a consistent basis. Otherwise, another tidy over by Markram, 8 coming off it. CSK's required run rate now up to 9.

CSK 95/3 (12)

Just six runs off Digvesh's third over. He has bowled another economical spell today. Yes, he hasn't delivered a wicket, but he's playing his part in turning the game in LSG's favour. Aiden Markram will be given a third over. 

CSK 87/3 (11)

LSG are squeezing out CSK in the middle overs here. The spinners - Digvesh, Bishnoi and Markram - have done a phenomenal job. CSK are a little bit stuck at the moment, but they have two experienced batters at the crease.

CSK 83/3 (10.2)

One more departs! Rahul Tripathi flops yet again, caught and bowled by Ravi Bishnoi! LSG are roaring back into this contest. Two wickets in six balls lost by the visitors, and this run chase is now stuck in some mud.

CSK 76/3 (9)

LSG get Rachin Ravindra! Aiden Markram has done the trick! What a fabulous move, to give the part-timer the ball, and that has paid dividends. Rachin went for the sweep, missed it, trapped on the pads and LBW! 

CSK 74/2 (8)

Oh my word, Abdul Samad has dropped a complete sitter. Ravi Bishnoi shouts in frustration, Zaheer Khan in the LSG dugout can hardly believe it. Rahul Tripathi gets a massive lifeline, huge error made by LSG. They cannot afford to drop these!

CSK 67/1 (7)

CSK have won both powerplays today. Tricky score in front of them, a host of boundaries from Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra gave them a great start. The platform is set for them to go on and win this contest.

CSK 59/1 (6)

Rahul Tripathi off the mark with a boundary. Great sweep shot, through square leg for 4. Excellent timing, with no fielder out there in the deep. The veteran has not had a good IPL 2025, can he step up today?

CSK 57/1 (5.3)

Shaikh Rasheed is gone! Skies one, and a simple catch taken by Pooran. A gem of a debut innings, laced with 6 glorious boundaries, comes to an end. Avesh Khan has often been a middle overs trump card for Pant, and delivers in his first over for LSG.

CSK 52/1 (5)

50 up for CSK in just 4.2 overs. And the 50-run opening partnership too. Rasheed and Rachin both playing at a really good pace, they've timed the boundaries brilliantly in the powerplay. Can they handle the middle overs though?

CSK 51/0 (4.2)

Shaik Rasheed is playing an absolute blinder today! Digvesh had bowled a really tidy over, but Rasheed once again with sweet timing and getting another boundary! This one between fine leg and square leg. 

CSK 45/0 (4)

Rachin Ravindra, glorious! What a shot, through the covers for 4. CSK are off to an excellent start, they're going at more than 12 runs an over! Pant has no choice but to hand the ball to Digvesh Rathi to try and make a difference.

CSK 37/0 (3)

Fourth boundary for Shaik Rasheed! Stroke of luck on this occasion too. Leading edge as Shardul's ball swung in, but it goes right between two fielders for 4. Next ball, whipped over mid-wicket for a boundary.

CSK 32/0 (2.4)

That's the best of the lot from Shaik Rasheed. Pitched short, and pummelled through mid-wicket. One bounce and into the fence. Confident strokeplay by the youngster, who is repaying the faith shown by CSK.

CSK 23/0 (2)

Shaikh Rasheed's first boundary! Deft touch, flicked through mid-wicket for 4. Good shot by the debutant, just one ball after he was beaten by Akash Deep's pace. Two balls later, beautifully down the ground for 4 more!

CSK 19/0 (1.5)

Rachin Ravindra off the mark with a boundary! Beautiful cover drive. Next ball, elegant flick! Two fours in as many balls. Ravindra making a mark early on, can this be the innings he scores big again?

CSK 9/0 (0.4)

CSK's 20-year-old batter Shaik Rasheed is opening on IPL debut! A big, big call by the Chennai Super Kings management. Alongside him, of course, it is Rachin Ravindra. Rasheed will face the first ball, against Shardul!

CSK 0/0 (0.1)

Rishabh Pant stepped up today when the LSG batting failed. The might of Pooran, Marsh and co. could not work, and it was Pant who had to play a patient 63 to get LSG to a total they can fight with. Can he marshall his bowlers well now to win a fourth successive game.

Chennai Super Kings have a good shot at victory today. No 180+ total to chase would be a major relief for the men in yellow. The spinners were excellent, Jadeja ending with figures of 2/24 and Pathirana 0/13. Now, it is up to the batters!

Lucknow Super Giants end on 167. Matheesha Pathirana picks up a wicket on his final ball, as Shardul Thakur sends a catch to debutant Shaik Rasheed. Applause from MS Dhoni, this is a good effort with the ball by CSK.

LSG 166/7 (20)

CSK Target: 167

MS Dhoni is in the action once again! Pant's resilient knock comes to an end. 63 off 49 balls. Pant slices it straight up off Pathirana, Dhoni takes a simple catch. LSG losing a couple of late wickets, turning into a good final over for CSK.

LSG 158/6 (19.2)

That is utterly incredible from Mahendra Singh Dhoni! Wide ball by Pathirana, Samad and Pant try to sneak a single. Dhoni throws it all the way with a looping throw and makes a direct hit at the non-striker's end! Genius.

LSG 158/5 (19.1)

Rishabh Pant survives, catch dropped by debutant Shaik Rasheed. A difficult chance for the youngster, running back. And Abdul Samad ends the over in style, one more six! Brilliantly placed over fine-leg. 18 off the over.

LSG 155/4 (19)

Rishabh Pant continues his merry flow! Six more, this time off Khaleel. Clears the ropes over long-on, brilliant shot. Up to 61 now off 45 balls. He's going berserk in the final stages of the LSG innings.

LSG 148/4 (18.3)

Excellent batting by Rishabh Pant against Pathirana. The Sri Lankan pacer concedes 18 runs, he's had a tough IPL 2025. Pant switching gears at the end here, reaches his half-century in 42 balls, his second-slowest in IPL.

LSG 139/4 (18)

Rishabh Pant, what a shot! Helicopter shot for a maximum over mid-wicket off Pathirana! That is outrageous timing. Pant has gotten slow in this innings, and now he's picking it up! AND A ONE-HANDED SIX! 

First half-century for Pant in LSG colours!

LSG 137/4 (17.3)

MS Dhoni tries to catch Rishabh Pant off-guard by dismantling the bails when his bat was slightly above the ground. Umpire goes for a replay, and while Pant is safe, it was a cheeky attempt by Dhoni. Shows how alert he is at all times.

Noor, meanwhile, finishes a miserly spell. 0/13 in 4 overs.

LSG 121/4 (17)

A possible injury concern for CSK? Matheesha Pathirana landed on his ankle running up for the last ball. He does bowl it in the end, and a good over on the whole, but CSK would be hoping it isn't anything serious.

LSG 118/4 (16)

First maximum for Abdul Samad! Over extra cover for a six, off Matheesha Pathirana. Samad has proven his capabilities as a finisher on a few occasions this season. This is a great platform for him to showcase his skills again.

LSG 117/4 (15.5)

As CSK make further inroads into the LSG batting order, can they capitalize on this low phase and take over the game completely? Rishabh Pant is still there, he is on 36 - his highest score of the campaign - and will hope to take LSG to a respectable total.

LSG 108/4 (14.3)

Jadeja finally get his man! Third time lucky for CSK, Ayush Badoni is back to the dugout. Perfect tactic, Badoni comes down the track, misses it and MS Dhoni does the rest behind the stumps. CSK get their man at last.

LSG 105/4 (13.4)

Ayush Badoni, this is your lucky day! He survives once more. Jadeja had trapped him on the pads, umpire gave out for LBW, but the DRS review shows that he had gloved it, and it is overturned!

LSG 103/3 (13.1)

NO BALL denies wicket! Matheesha Pathirana got Ayush Badoni's wicket with a smart ploy from CSK, but is the second bouncer of the over, and hence it's called a no-ball! Umpire confirms that the ball is above the shoulder!

LSG 103/3 (13)

Ayush Badoni gets his first six! Pitched very wide by Overton, slower ball, Badoni just slams it over the covers for a maximum. Top, top shot by the young batter. And 6 more! This one is over fine-leg, pick-up shot!

LSG 95/3 (12)

CSK have put all the pressure on LSG at the moment. Noor Ahmad concedes just 3 runs in his second over. The home side are batting at just over 7 runs an over. Pant is well-settled, while Badoni has hit a boundary. But can they get to a score of 170 or so?

LSG 81/3 (11)

BOWLED! Mitch Marsh is gone, Ravindra Jadeja makes the difference! Huge wicket for CSK, as they break the partnership. Jadeja has struggled for form this season, but this could be a vital wicket to help CSK towards victory.

LSG 73/3 (9.3)

CSK have turned to Noor Ahmad to try and make a difference, and the Afghan spinner bowls out a tidy over, conceding only 5 runs. Unfortunately, we won't see a Pooran vs Noor contest today, but Pant looks well-settled now.

LSG 68/2 (9)

Beuatiful timing by Rishabh Pant. Picks up his third boundary, this one off Jadeja. Played it so late, but perfectly placed as it runs away for 4 between third man and point. Marsh also hits a boundary. This pair is settling in well.

LSG 63/2 (8)

Rishabh Pant, wow! That is classic Rishabh Pant. Audacious, bold, unorthodox, and clinical. Reverse scoop for six, and that was hit with supreme class. This is the best Pant has looked all season, can today be the day for a big score?

LSG 52/2 (6.4)

A great powerplay for Chennai Super Kings comes to an end. They've picked up two huge wickets, in the form of Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran. Khaleel and Kamboj bowled 3 overs each, and excellently too. Onus on Pant and Marsh to take LSG out of trouble.

LSG 42/2 (6)

Shot of conviction by Rishabh Pant! Thundered through square-leg, one bounce and into the fence. Pant is off the mark. With 2 wickets down early, a lot of responsibility on Pant today to make a big contribution.

LSG 39/2 (5.2)

Mitch Marsh is getting into rhythm here. It's as if he did not miss a match at all. First, he pummells a boundary through square-leg, and then sends it over mid-wicket all the way for a maximum. Marsh on song.

LSG 34/2 (4.4)

Massive wicket for CSK! Nicholas Pooran is gone! Anshul Kamboj trapped him on the pads, huge appeal but the umpire said no. Kambj convinces Dhoni to go for the DRS review, and guess what? It works! Three reds shows hawkeye, and the dangerous Pooran is gone for just 8.

LSG 23/2 (4)

First maximum of the day for Lucknow Super Giants! Mitch Marsh is back in the playing XI, and back playing the big shots. Sends it over long-off, straight bat for 6. Can these two stitch a big partnership once again?

LSG 18/1 (3.2)

FOUR! Nicholas Pooran does not connect incredibly, but well enough to send it back for 4. First boundary of the day for Pooran. Otherwise, it's another great over by Khaleel, as he concedes just five runs in the over.

CSK have started off very well here.

LSG 12/1 (3)

Khaleel strikes! Aiden Markram is gone in the very first over. Terrific, terrific catch by Rahul Tripathi. Running at full pace, and collects a superb diving catch. Reminds you of Kapil Dev's iconic catch to dismiss Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup Final. Early wicket for CSK and they've disrupted the in-form opening duo.

LSG 6/1 (1)

Aiden Markram off the mark, LSG up and running! Two dots to start, Khaleel swinging the ball away. But Markram gets on top of the third delivery, and slaps it away through the covers for 4. 

LSG 4/0 (0.3)

LSG are opening with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram at the top of the order. With Marsh back, Rishabh Pant is back down to the middle order, as LSG stick to their tried and tested combination at the top.

20-year-old batter Shaik Rasheed hails from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. He was the vice-captain for India in the 2022 U-19 World Cup, which India won. The youngster usually bats at No. 3 or 4, and has been in the CSK camp since 2023.

This is his IPL debut.

Today is a battle between the highest run-scorer and the highest wicket-taker of IPL 2025. Nicholas Pooran and Noor Ahmad are likely to face-off during the innings at some point. Can Noor stop the rampaging Pooran tonight?

Lucknow Super Giants XI vs CSK: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Digvesh Singh Rathi.

Mitch Marsh is back! Expect Ravi Bishnoi to come in as the Impact Player when LSG bowl.

Chennai Super Kings XI vs LSG: Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shaikh Rasheed, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.

Shivam Dube is expected to come in as an Impact Sub.

Chennai Super Kings have dropped Devon Conway and R Ashwin! Two stalwarts of the franchise have been left aside, Shaikh Rasheed and Jamie Overton replace them. Massive call taken by CSK, specially to drop Ashwin who has 765 international wickets and for whom they'd paid Rs 9.75 crore!

MS Dhoni wins the toss and decides to bowl vs LSG! So it will be the home team who come out to bat first. Dhoni wins a toss for the first time in IPL 2025, having lost it in their previous match. "Blessed" he says, at the amount of yellow in the crowd.

Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni are at the pitch for the toss! The duo share an embrace. This will be interesting to see, who wins the toss and what they decide.

LSG are set to bring back Mitch Marsh back in their playing XI today. He should take the place of Himmat Singh, who did not bat in their last game. On the other hand, CSK could choose to bring middle-order power-hitter Vansh Bedi in place of Rahul Tripathi.

We are 10 minutes away from toss time at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant will be leading CSK and LSG respectively. Win the toss, bowl first, is the decision expected to be taken by the toss-winning captain.

Chennai Super Kings probable XII vs LSG: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c/wk), R Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana.

Lucknow Super Giants probable XII vs CSK: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Rathi.

Nicholas Pooran has been in the form of his life in IPL 2025. Pooran has smashed 349 runs in six games at a strike rate of 215 this year, sparing no bowling attack. However, Pooran has only 249 runs in 10 previous encounters against CSK, with a best of 64*.

What is the head-to-head record between LSG and CSK? In 5 matches, LSG have won three while CSK have won one. One match between the two franchises also finished as a no-result, but that is unlikely today.

The pitch at the Ekana Stadium today is expected to be a mix of red soil and black soil. As a result, it should equally favour spinners and pacers, and we should get a balanced game between bat and ball.

For Chennai Super Kings to do well, their Kiwi opening pair needs to succeed. Rachin Ravindra has failed to fire ever since he slammed a half-century in their first game, while Devon Conway hasn't been able to accelerate freely. 

LSG captain Rishabh Pant has led his team to three victories on the trot, but somehow, he has scored only 40 runs with the bat in IPL 2025 so far. Pant tried opening the batting in their previous match, but couldn't strike well, making 21 off 18 balls. Can today finally be the day he comes good with the willow in hand?

Two of CSK's heaviest investments for IPL 2025 have flopped badly this season. Ravindra Jadeja has scored only 85 runs in six games and picked up 2 wickets, while R Ashwin has taken 5 wickets but conceded nearly 10 runs per over.

The duo cost the franchise a combined Rs 27.75 crore, and MS Dhoni needs to find a way for them to click.

Mitchell Marsh is set to return for LSG tonight. The Australian opener has been in sensational form this season, having amassed 265 runs in 5 games, but missed out on their last match due to his daughter being unwell. Now, the Australian should return.

If Marsh returns, expect Rishabh Pant to go back to the middle order.

Against KKR, MS Dhoni walked out to bat at No. 9 yet again, raising questions once more regarding the mess of CSK's batting order. In an ideal world, CSK fans would like to see their captain come out to bat much higher. It will be interesting to see at what position Dhoni walks in today.

CSK's Achilles' Heel has been to not have many power-hitters in their batting line-up. Except Shivam Dube and at times MS Dhoni, no other CSK batter is of the type to hit sixes from ball 1. Youngster Vansh Bedi built a reputation as a power-hitter in the Delhi Premier League 2024, and has been touted by many to get a game for the men in yellow this season.

Chennai Super Kings have a massive headache - their batting unit. CSK's batting fell apart and were skittled out for 103 by KKR at the Chepauk in their previous match. If they want to win, the batting must perform significantly better than it has done at any match this season.

So what are the changes they can make?

Lucknow Super Giants have experienced a contrasting fate to that of CSK. LSG have won three in a row, and now find themselves sitting in the Top 4 of the IPL 2025 table. They have only one concern: Captain Rishabh Pant's form with the bat.

Chennai Super Kings are now rooted to the bottom of the IPL 2025 table, having lost five matches in a row. To make matters worse, CSK's regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the season due to an elbow fracture. So, with MS Dhoni back, can CSK finally win again?

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of yet more IPL 2025 action. It is Match no. 30 today, as Lucknow Super Giants hosts five-time champions Chennai Super Kings! It is a clash between two of the elite wicket-keeper batters of India.