Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni minced no words after the team faced its seventh loss in nine games during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Following a crucial 5-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Dhoni openly criticized the team’s batting unit for failing to deliver under pressure.

Despite making notable changes, including bringing in Dewald Brevis and Deepak Hooda while dropping Rachin Ravindra, CSK’s batting woes continued. The team suffered an early setback with Shaik Rasheed getting dismissed on the first ball of the match, setting a disappointing tone for the innings.

“We kept losing wickets, and in the first innings the wicket was slightly better and 155 is not a justifiable score,” Dhoni said, reflecting on CSK’s inability to post a competitive total. He acknowledged that while the pitch became slightly two-paced later, it was nothing extraordinary to excuse the low score.

Debutant Dewald Brevis provided a glimmer of hope, scoring a brisk 42 off 25 balls. However, apart from him, CSK’s middle order failed to gain momentum. Highlighting Brevis’ effort, Dhoni said, “He batted really well and we need something like that in the middle order where we have struggled when spinners come in.”

Dhoni further pointed out CSK’s consistent struggles against spin bowling in the middle overs, an area he believes is costing them crucial runs.

While CSK’s spinners staged a commendable fightback to stretch the match, the lack of runs eventually cost them the game. Dhoni stressed that if a majority of players underperform, it becomes impossible to maintain consistency in team selections, forcing frequent changes.

“In a tournament like this, if majority are not doing well, it becomes very difficult,” he noted. The captain emphasized the importance of adapting to conditions and setting competitive targets, noting that while it may not always require 180-200 runs, assessing the pitch and conditions correctly is critical.

As CSK now faces the threat of early elimination, the team’s top order will need urgent rectification to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

In a dazzling display of skill and charisma, Rohit Sharma powered Mumbai Indians to a commanding victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in the IPL 2025. The star batter’s explosive 70 off 46 balls steered his team to chase the target in just 15.4 overs, securing their fourth consecutive win. This triumph not only boosted Mumbai Indians’ net run rate but also catapulted them to third place on the points table, solidifying their playoff prospects.

The celebration that followed was nothing short of electric. Mumbai Indians shared a vibrant Instagram video capturing Rohit grooving to the rhythmic beats of dhols and nagadas alongside Bollywood icon Jackie Shroff, fondly known for his love for plants. Captioned “Jaggu Dada is all of us when RO starts hitting them out of the park!” the clip showed Rohit posing with his bat while Jackie danced around him, clutching a flowerpot. Fans in the background joined the revelry, adding to the festive mood.

Rohit soon jumped into the dance, twirling his bat to the music before playfully borrowing Jackie’s flowerpot to sway with the crowd. The infectious energy of the duo lit up social media, with netizens showering love on the unexpected collaboration. “Mumbai cha Raja Ro-Hitman Sharma!” gushed one user, while another declared, “Jaggu Dada representing every MI fan!” Heart emojis flooded the comments, with fans calling Rohit “Rohit Swagger Sharma” and praising his “Hitman ke dance” moves.

The video’s charm had fans hooked, with one quipping, “Aise videos ke liye hi internet recharge karta hoon!” Another dubbed Jackie “Rohit paglu,” comparing his enthusiasm to that of a die-hard fan. Jackie’s signature plant obsession didn’t go unnoticed either, with comments like “Personal oxygen bhi hai” and “Jhaad lagane ka bidhu,” accompanied by tree emojis, celebrating his eco-friendly persona.

From a shaky start with just one win in their first five matches, Mumbai Indians have roared back with four straight victories, thanks to Rohit’s leadership and flair.

As the team eyes a playoff berth, this heartwarming moment of Rohit and Jackie dancing together has given fans yet another reason to cheer.

Virat Kohli’s consistent form in IPL 2025 continued as he cracked his fifth half-century of the season, leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR). The knock propelled Kohli from eighth to second place in the race for the Orange Cap. He now stands at 392 runs from nine innings at a stellar average of 65.3.

Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan, however, remains the leading run-scorer with 417 runs in just eight innings. Notably, Kohli’s strike rate stands at 144.1, underlining his solid yet calculated approach throughout the campaign.

Orange Cap leaderboard after RCB vs RR

Hazlewood climbs to second in Purple Cap chart

In the bowling department, Josh Hazlewood turned heads with a four-wicket haul that helped RCB seal a crucial win. He now shares the second spot in the Purple Cap rankings with Prasidh Krishna at 16 wickets each. Though both have the same wicket tally, Krishna holds a better economy rate of 7.3.

RCB’s all-rounder Krunal Pandya also featured among the top wicket-takers, joining six others at 12 wickets each. His economical spell of 2/31 was pivotal to RCB’s comeback in the match.

Purple Cap leaderboard after latest fixtures

Note: Players with equal wickets are ranked by economy rate.

RCB climbs to third as playoff race intensifies

RCB’s victory marked their first home win this season, elevating them to third in the points table with 12 points. Despite having the same number of points as Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals, RCB’s net run rate places them below both.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals continue to struggle, stuck at eighth with only two wins in nine matches. Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who face each other next, round off the bottom of the table.

IPL 2025 points table after RCB vs RR