Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard

The 39th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season featured a thrilling encounter between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on April 23, 2024. The match was a high-scoring spectacle, culminating in a record-breaking chase by LSG, who secured a six-wicket victory over CSK.

Toss and Team Line-ups

LSG’s captain, KL Rahul, won the toss and opted to bowl first, citing potential dew factors that could influence the second innings. Both teams fielded strong line-ups for this crucial mid-season clash.

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI:

• Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
• Ajinkya Rahane
• Daryl Mitchell
• Moeen Ali
• Shivam Dube
• Ravindra Jadeja
• MS Dhoni (wk)
• Deepak Chahar
• Tushar Deshpande
• Mustafizur Rahman
• Matheesha Pathirana

Lucknow Super Giants Playing XI:

• Quinton de Kock
• KL Rahul (c & wk)
• Marcus Stoinis
• Deepak Hooda
• Nicholas Pooran
• Ayush Badoni
• Krunal Pandya
• Matt Henry
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Mohsin Khan
• Yash Thakur

CSK’s Innings

CSK’s innings was anchored by their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who delivered a masterclass in batting. Opening the innings with Ajinkya Rahane, Gaikwad showcased a blend of caution and aggression. Rahane fell early, dismissed for a duck by Mohsin Khan in the first over. Daryl Mitchell joined Gaikwad at the crease, and the duo steadied the innings, adding 45 runs before Mitchell was dismissed for 22 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja contributed a quick 20 runs, but it was Shivam Dube who provided the late innings fireworks. Dube’s aggressive approach saw him score a rapid 52 runs off just 25 balls, including five towering sixes. Gaikwad remained unbeaten, reaching his century in the final over, finishing with 108* runs off 64 deliveries. CSK concluded their innings at 210/4, setting a formidable target for LSG.

LSG’s Bowling Performance

LSG’s bowlers faced a challenging task against CSK’s formidable batting line-up. Mohsin Khan provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Rahane in the first over. Matt Henry was the standout bowler for LSG, claiming 2 wickets for 41 runs in his four-over spell. Ravi Bishnoi and Yash Thakur also chipped in with a wicket each, but they struggled to contain the onslaught from Gaikwad and Dube.

LSG’s Chase

Chasing a daunting target of 211 runs, LSG’s innings got off to a shaky start. Quinton de Kock was dismissed for a golden duck by Deepak Chahar in the first over. Captain KL Rahul attempted to stabilize the innings but fell for 18 runs, leaving LSG at 33/2.

Marcus Stoinis then took center stage, delivering one of the most remarkable innings in IPL history. Promoted to number three, Stoinis unleashed a brutal assault on the CSK bowlers. He found an able partner in Deepak Hooda, who scored a quickfire 34 runs off 16 balls. The duo added 55 runs in just 4.2 overs, keeping LSG in the hunt.

After Hooda’s dismissal, Nicholas Pooran joined Stoinis, and the pair continued the aggressive approach. Pooran contributed 35 runs off 18 balls, but it was Stoinis who stole the show. He reached his century off just 53 balls and remained unbeaten on 124* runs off 58 deliveries, guiding LSG to victory with three balls to spare. This innings marked the highest individual score in a successful run chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

CSK’s Bowling Performance

CSK’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught from Stoinis and company. Deepak Chahar provided an early breakthrough but was expensive in his later overs, finishing with figures of 1/45. Tushar Deshpande and Mustafizur Rahman also claimed a wicket each but conceded runs at over 10 runs per over. Matheesha Pathirana, known for his death bowling skills, was unable to stem the flow of runs, conceding 52 runs in his 3.3 overs.

Key Moments and Turning Points

1. Early Setbacks for LSG: The early dismissals of de Kock and Rahul put LSG on the back foot, but the aggressive approach of Stoinis and Hooda turned the tide in their favor.
2. Stoinis’ Record-Breaking Century: Stoinis’ unbeaten 124* is now the highest individual score in a successful run chase at Chepauk, surpassing previous records.