In match number 41 of IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings suffered their fourth defeat of the season in a last-ball thriller against Punjab Kings, who chased down a target of 201 to win by four wickets. With this win, PBKS have moved up to the fifth position in the points table with 10 points from nine matches. Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza scored the winning runs off the last ball of the match.
During the match, CSK captain MS Dhoni lost his temper at Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Thikshana after a fielding mistake. In the 16th over, Tikshana misjudged a delivery that hit Liam Livingstone’s shoulders and ran away for a boundary. Tikshana had dived ahead believing it to be a catch. Both Dhoni and CSK head coach Stephen Fleming were clearly fuming and expressed their frustration on the field, which is rare for them. Fleming was seen taking off his cap in anger, while Dhoni was seen scolding Teekshana.
Dhoni’s team suffered its second consecutive defeat in IPL 2023, but remains fourth in the points table. The loss to PBKS was their fifth defeat in nine matches. On the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan-led PBKS grabbed their fifth win of the season with a last-ball win. The win propelled them to the fifth position in the points table with 10 points.
pic.twitter.com/iAB4MTdg4p— CricDekho (@Hanji_CricDekho) April 30, 2023
CSK have struggled with consistency this season, but they are known to come back strong in the second half of the tournament. Despite losing four matches, their net run rate is positive, which puts them in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs. With six matches left in the league stage, CSK will look to bounce back and secure their place in the playoffs.