CSK Stumble Again in Big Chase as Punjab Kings Triumph by 18 Runs

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) woes in high-pressure chases continued as they fell short by 18 runs against Punjab Kings in Match 22 of IPL 2025 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.

Chasing a mammoth target of 220, CSK began steadily but failed to keep up with the soaring run rate. Devon Conway’s well-compiled 69 and Shivam Dube’s aggressive 42 kept the chase alive for a while, but the five-time champions faltered in the final overs, slumping to their fourth consecutive loss this season.

Punjab Kings, powered by Priyansh Arya’s scintillating maiden IPL century (103), put up a daunting total of 219/6. Arya set the tone by smashing the very first ball of the innings for six and continued to punish the bowlers despite an early collapse at the other end. His attacking approach, along with a game-changing 71-run partnership with Shashank Singh, turned the tide in Punjab’s favour. Arya reached his century in style with three back-to-back sixes and a boundary, capping a sensational knock before being dismissed.

Even after Arya’s departure, the hitting didn’t stop. Marco Jansen (34 not out) and Shashank (52 not out) unleashed a late onslaught, piling on 65 runs for the seventh wicket to push the score well past 200.

In response, CSK looked solid early on. Rachin Ravindra and Conway added 61 runs for the first wicket, giving Chennai a solid foundation. But Rachin’s dismissal, stumped after charging down to Maxwell, triggered a loss of momentum. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s lean patch continued as he fell for just 1, and the required rate kept climbing.

Conway found a reliable partner in Shivam Dube, who came in as the impact substitute. The duo stitched a crucial 89-run stand and briefly revived CSK’s hopes. Dube, known for his power-hitting, slowed down after an aggressive start and was eventually bowled by Lockie Ferguson at a critical juncture. Conway, unable to find the boundary after the 14th over, was tactically retired out as Ravindra Jadeja was sent in to accelerate.

Then came the moment the crowd had been waiting for — the arrival of MS Dhoni. Promoted up the order, Dhoni lit up the stadium with two trademark sixes off Ferguson and followed it with a four and a six off Arshdeep Singh in the 19th over, bringing the equation down to 28 off 6 balls.

However, in a twist of fate, Dhoni’s attempt to keep the magic going ended with a full toss hit straight to Chahal at short fine leg. Jadeja did clear the ropes once in the final over, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

Punjab’s bowlers held their nerve well. Lockie Ferguson took two crucial wickets, while Glenn Maxwell and Yash Thakur chipped in with timely breakthroughs. Their disciplined effort in the death overs ensured CSK couldn’t pull off what would have been a memorable chase.

Earlier in the match, Chennai’s bowlers had briefly swung the momentum their way with Ashwin picking two wickets in an over and Khaleel Ahmed striking twice, reducing Punjab to 83/5. But Arya’s explosive hitting and the middle-order fightback ensured a total beyond CSK’s reach.

With this win, Punjab Kings get back on track, while Chennai Super Kings are left searching for answers, especially with their once formidable batting lineup struggling to chase down totals.

Score:
Punjab Kings: 219/6 in 20 overs (Priyansh Arya 103, Shashank Singh 52*, Marco Jansen 34*; Khaleel Ahmed 2-45, Ravichandran Ashwin 2-48)
CSK: 201/5 in 20 overs (Devon Conway 69, Shivam Dube 42, Rachin Ravindra 36; Lockie Ferguson 2-40, Glenn Maxwell 1-11, Yash Thakur 1-39)
Result: Punjab Kings won by 18 runs.