On Friday (March 28, 2025), MS Dhoni made history by breaking Suresh Raina’s long-standing record to become the highest run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

MS Dhoni goes past Suresh Raina

In a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Dhoni achieved this milestone during his unbeaten knock of 30 runs off just 16 balls, bringing his total to 4,699 runs in 236 matches. This surpassed Raina’s previous record of 4,687 runs accumulated over 176 matches for CSK.

Dhoni entered the match needing 19 runs to surpass Raina’s tally. He accomplished this by hitting Krunal Pandya for a six in the final over of CSK’s innings. Despite his impressive performance, CSK fell short in their chase of RCB’s target of 197 runs, ultimately managing only 146 runs for the loss of eight wickets, resulting in a disappointing 50-run defeat. This loss marked RCB’s first victory at Chepauk since 2008, breaking a 17-year winless streak at this venue.

Throughout his IPL career, Dhoni has been a pivotal figure for CSK, known for his leadership and finishing abilities. His latest achievement adds to his legacy as one of the greatest players in IPL history. The match showcased Dhoni’s ability to still deliver explosive performances at the age of 43, despite batting lower down the order at No. 9 for only the second time in his IPL career.

In addition to Dhoni and Raina, other notable CSK run-scorers include Faf du Plessis with 2,721 runs and current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad with 2,433 runs. The gap between Dhoni and Raina highlights their significant contributions to the franchise, with both players being integral parts of CSK’s success over the years.

CSK struggle against RCB

The match against RCB was particularly challenging for CSK as they struggled against an effective bowling attack led by Josh Hazlewoodwho took three wickets for just 21 runs. Other bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone also contributed significantly to CSK’s collapse. The team’s inability to chase down the target raised questions about their batting depth and strategy, especially with Dhoni being held back in the batting order.

As CSK looks ahead in IPL 2025, they will need to address their batting woes while relying on Dhoni’s experience and leadership.