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In a nail-biting contest at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pulled off a last-over heist against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 30 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. As the match reached its tense climax, one tactical decision stood out: Ravi Bishnoi, one of LSG’s key bowlers, bowled only three overs and was not given the ball for his final over. The leg-spinner has now opened up about the decision and how he felt during the dramatic final moments of the game.
Ravi Bishnoi reacts to missing the chance to complete his bowling spell
Bishnoi, who had taken 2 wickets while conceding only 18 runs in 3 overs, admitted that he had hoped to bowl his final over but respected the captain Rishabh Pant‘s decision. The young spinner revealed he walked up to the captain twice, possibly indicating his willingness and confidence to bowl under pressure. However, Pant seemed to have a different plan.
“I came to the wicket twice, but maybe he had some plans in mind. He probably wanted to execute something else. According to me, a captain can see better and from behind the stumps, he can understand the situation better. So according to me, he took the decision that felt better to him,” said Bishnoi in the presser.
Bishnoi clarified that there was no confusion or disagreement within the team regarding his missing fourth over. He acknowledged that LSG captain Pant had a clear plan in mind and took a decision based on how he saw the match unfolding from behind the stumps. Bishnoi emphasized that in high-pressure situations, it’s crucial for the captain to trust his instincts and make calls from his own perspective, even if it means sidelining a bowler who has performed well.
“No, nothing like that [talk about the fourth over]. It was clear in his mind [what he had to do]. In a tense situation, it is better for a captain to think from his point of view, so he took what was the better decision,” added Bishnoi.
Also READ: 43-year-old MS Dhoni sets two new IPL records in CSK’s thrilling win over LSG
Rishabh Pant explains the thinking behind the eyebrow-raising decision
LSG captain Pant, when asked about Bishnoi not bowling his final over, shared that it was a strategic call made after discussions with other players. Pant’s comments suggested that the team had anticipated a different match scenario and held Bishnoi back, hoping to use him if the game went deeper. Unfortunately for LSG, that gamble didn’t pay off.
“There was a time when I thought about him bowling that over [his fourth]. We discussed it with a lot of players and just couldn’t let him bowl. We thought we were going to take it deeper, and that just didn’t happen for us today,” revealed Pant at the post-match presentation.
As has been the case so often in IPL history, MS Dhoni once again showed why he’s still regarded as one of the finest finishers in T20 cricket. Walking in during the final stretch, Dhoni stayed calm under pressure and delivered when it mattered the most. He stayed unbeaten on 26 off 11 balls, with 4 fours and a six. The Ekana Stadium erupted as Dhoni’s brilliance stole the spotlight, and CSK walked away with a memorable win.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Fans go crazy as MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube steer CSK to victory over LSG
