“Why me” asks MS Dhoni after receiving POTM award, first time in IPL since 2019

MS Dhoni won his first IPL player of the match award since 2019 as the Chennai Super Kings clinched only their second win of IPL 2025 on Monday. Chasing 167 to win, the 43-year-old changed the course of the game with a finisher’s knock, scoring a quick-fire 26 to seal the win. After being conferred with the award, the CSK skipper was pleasantly surprised, expressing his shock at the post LSG vs. CSK match presentation. He also became the oldest to win the award in IPL history.

Dhoni ends 5-year wait for POTM award

Coming into bat with five overs left in the game, CSK needed MS Dhoni to do precisely what he has done over the years – finish the game. The 43-year-old understood the assignment perfectly, carving two boundaries off Avesh Khan. He followed it up with a one-handed six off Shardul Thakur in the next over, to bring the equation down to favourable terms for CSK.

Even as Shivam Dube struggled at the other end, Dhoni continued his good run, picking up boundaries in the next two overs by Shardul and Avesh. While he did not finish the game with the winning hit, the CSK skipper did enough to see his team home in a tricky chase. The 43-year-old remained unbeaten on 26 off just 11 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six.

Earlier in the day, Dhoni also effected a stumping, a run-out, and a catch to make it an all-round day for the CSK skipper. Despite having his fingerprints on a much-needed CSK win, Dhoni was surprised at being named Player of the Match for the LSG vs CSK clash.

Speaking after the game, Dhoni said, “Even today I’m wondering why I’m getting the award, Noor bowled so well. “

MS Dhoni’s IPL POTM awards

Dhoni leading CSK’s IPL 2025 turnaround?

MS Dhoni returned to captain CSK following Ruturaj Gaikwad’s season-ending injury. After a humiliating loss to KKR at home, CSK picked up only their second win of IPL 2025 in Lucknow, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Speaking after the game, the 43-year-old added that a win was good for the confidence of the side who had lost 5 straight games before Monday. Dhoni also pointed criticism at the pitches in Chennai, with CSK losing 3 home games on the trot for the first time in history.

“It’s good to win a game. When you play a tournament like this, you want to win games. Unfortunately the [earlier] matches didn’t go our way for whatever reasons. There can be lots of reasons. Maybe we need to play on wickets that are slightly better so that it’ll give the batters confidence to play their shots. You don’t want to play timid cricket. When we have played away from home, the batting unit has done slightly better,” MS Dhoni said after the game.