MS Dhoni once again proved why he is regarded as one of cricket’s sharpest minds. During Chennai Super Kings' IPL 2025 match against Delhi Capitals, Dhoni watched from the pavilion and correctly identified an LBW decision that on-field officials and the opposition failed to notice. In the third over, Mitchell Starc delivered a lethal inswinging yorker to Vijay Shankar. The ball crashed into Shankar’s boot, creating a distinct sound that led to immediate appeals from Starc and fielder Jake Fraser-McGurk. However, Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel was convinced the ball had hit the bat first and persuaded captain Axar Patel not to review the decision.
Replays on the big screen revealed that UltraEdge detected a faint bottom edge only after the ball had hit the boot. The evidence confirmed that Shankar was out, but Delhi had already lost the opportunity to challenge the on-field decision.
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Mitchell Starc’s lethal left-arm pace continued to trouble CSK’s top order. He had already dismissed one batter and nearly claimed another within his opening spell of two overs for 11 runs. Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s struggles against left-arm seamers persisted. His IPL record against them now stands at 275 runs with 12 dismissals at an average of 22.91 and a strike rate of 119.56—one of the lowest among top-order batters.
Social media erupted with admiration for Dhoni’s unmatched game awareness. One fan wrote, “Axar should’ve just checked with Dhoni instead of Porel.” Another tweeted, “Even when he's not keeping, Dhoni’s still pulling strings. GOAT behavior.”
Although he is no longer CSK’s captain or first-choice wicketkeeper, Dhoni’s influence remains undeniable. His ability to read the game from the dressing room serves as yet another reminder of why he is one of cricket’s greatest minds. In an era where technology plays a key role in decision-making, Dhoni continues to prove that instinct and experience still hold the edge.
