Why Dhoni and Jadeja are no longer a reliable insurance for CSK; latest game against RCB shows

For many years, whenever MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja were batting during a close chase, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans always felt hopeful. These two were like a safety insurance for the team, always there to step up in tough times with their cool heads and strong finishing ability.

Jadeja famously hit the winning runs against the Gujarat Titans in 2023 to help CSK lift their fifth IPL trophy. Dhoni, too, has played finishing knocks on several occasions. But Saturday night in Bengaluru showed that things have changed and it’s perhaps time to accept that relying only on them is no longer enough.

Dhoni-Jadeja duo fails to deliver in crunch moment again

In a high-scoring IPL 2025 clash at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, CSK needed 15 runs off the last over against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). With both Jadeja and Dhoni in the middle, fans expected yet another magical finish. But it didn’t happen. Dhoni was dismissed for 12 off 8 by Yash Dayal on the third ball, while Jadeja struggled to find boundaries at the end, managing just singles as CSK fell short by two runs.

The heartbreak became worse when one saw how close it was. Even after a no-ball six by Shivam Dube, and 4 needed off the final ball, CSK could only get a single. In total, the last 6 balls produced just 13 runs and the side suffered a narrow 2-run defeat, their ninth in 11 games so far.

After the match, Dhoni himself admitted he should have converted a couple more shots and took the blame. This isn’t the first time this season that CSK have faltered while chasing in the death overs. Earlier this season, CSK couldn’t chase down 220 runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and lost by 18 runs. Jadeja was still batting at the end of that match too.

Before that, they also lost a close game against the Rajasthan Royals while chasing 183 runs. CSK fell short by just 6 runs. Jadeja stayed till the end again but couldn’t finish the job, and Dhoni got out in the final over while trying to hit a big shot.

Yash Dayal shines as CSK stumble at the finish line

Meanwhile, the match against RCB was a thriller. Bengaluru, powered by Virat Kohli’s 62, Jacob Bethell’s 55, and Romario Shepherd’s explosive 53 not out off 14 balls, posted a daunting 213/5 in 20 overs. Shepherd even hit Khaleel Ahmed for 33 runs in an over. In reply, CSK rode on a magnificent 94 from 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre and 77 not out from Jadeja.

But after Ayush Mhatre got out in the 17th over and Dewald Brevis was dismissed on the very next ball, CSK lost their momentum. Still, they were very much in the game, needing just 29 runs from the last 12 balls. Dhoni and Jadeja managed to hit a couple of boundaries to keep the chase alive, but in the end, Yash Dayal kept his cool and stopped CSK from getting the 15 runs they needed in the final over.