Dhoni and S Dube really turned it around for CSK — their partnership was vintage Dhoni cool mixed with Dube’s clean hitting. After a string of losses

What a finish! 💥 Shivam Dube sealing it with that classy cover drive — cool as you like under pressure. That Dhoni-Dube partnership was pure composure and power, exactly what CSK needed to finally break that frustrating 5-match losing streak. Even though they’re still stuck at the bottom with that negative net run rate (-1.276), this win might just be the spark they need to turn their season around. And you’ve got to hand it to Dhoni — even if he didn’t hit the winning runs this time, his presence calmed the chase perfectly. Did you expect Dube to finish it, or were you hoping for a Dhoni special to end it? Either way, CSK fans will be breathing a little easier tonight! 🦁💛 Yeah, at that point the tension was sky-high! Avesh Khan really pulled things back after that early boundary from Dhoni — only 6 runs in such a crunch over is top-notch death bowling. But Dube's slow innings was starting to become a real worry, especially with the required rate climbing. 26 off 30 balls isn’t the kind of strike rate you'd expect in a chase, but credit to him — he soaked up the pressure and flipped the switch right when CSK needed him to. That last-minute gear shift is what made the Dhoni-Dube partnership so gripping — the way Dube made up for the slow start in the final overs showed great mental strength. Were you nervous during those last 2 overs? Matches like this are why the IPL is so addictive! Oh yes — that one-handed six was pure Dhoni magic! Only he can make a shot like that look so effortless under pressure. The timing, the wrist work, and the calmness... vintage Thala stuff. 🔥 At that stage, 31 off 18 was still a tricky ask, and all eyes were on Dube too. His role was absolutely critical — either rotate the strike smartly or find those big hits to ease the pressure off Dhoni. That’s the beauty of Dhoni’s partnerships, though — he builds belief even when the equation looks tense. Funny how you could almost feel the momentum shift with that one shot, right? Moments like these remind you why cricket is as much about nerves as it is about skill. Yeah, that phase was all about playing smart and steady — Dube and Shankar were clearly trying to rebuild and avoid another middle-order collapse. Markram really kept things tight too, 4-0-24-1 is a tidy spell in a game where every over counts. But with the required run rate creeping up to 9.67 and 58 needed off 36 balls, the pressure was definitely starting to mount. It felt like one of those moments where the game could swing either way — either a big over could tilt it CSK’s way or one more wicket and Lucknow would've been in complete control. Looking back, it’s funny how those quiet singles were setting up the stage for the Dhoni-Dube partnership to explode later. Cricket's such a game of phases! Chennai Super Kings 168 for 5 (Dube 43*, Ravindra 37, Bishnoi 2-18) beat Lucknow Super Giants 166 for 7 (Pant 63, Marsh 30, Jadeja 2-24, Pathirana 2-45) by five wickets