Lucknow, April 15 (ANS) Former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar shared insights on MS Dhoni's physical fitness and his ability to finish matches after the Chennai Super Kings ended a five-match winless streak. Bangar noted that the wicketkeeper, although not in optimal condition, managed to "find the strength to come out and perform."

With Rachin Ravindra and debutant Shaik Rashid giving CSK a fantastic start in the chase of 167 runs, the momentum shifted when the Lucknow Super Giants spinners started to dominate. However, Dhoni brought the team back into contention with a rapid 26 not out off just 11 balls, alongside Shivam Dube's 43 not out from 37 balls, leading CSK to a five-wicket victory over LSG in Lucknow.

"MS Dhoni was not in his best physical condition. Towards the end of the innings, we saw him limping slightly while fielding. Yet, he still persevered and found the strength to perform remarkably. He wasn’t running smoothly between the wickets—he faced challenges. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure while forming that crucial partnership.

"As the game progresses, it becomes increasingly challenging, and the chances for the opposition to err heighten. That’s where MS Dhoni excels—he expertly navigated the match to a successful conclusion, snatching victory from the Lucknow Super Giants,” Bangar remarked on JioHotstar.

Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron also emphasized the importance of Dhoni's presence at the crease, stating, "Having MS Dhoni batting is invaluable, especially in the final overs. Today was a scenario where the top order—particularly the first two batsmen—set a reasonable target for him to chase down."

"In previous matches, the lower order faced outrageous targets—having to score 14-15 runs per over—which is quite rare. However, today, the target was achievable. When you present MS Dhoni with such a target, he generally secures the win more often than not.

"The bowlers from Lucknow Super Giants were one-dimensional towards the end of the innings—only bowling wide lines, failing to attempt bouncers, or effective slow balls outside the off stump. They could have performed better. Not allowing Ravi Bishnoi that over could hurt them," he continued.

Discussing Dube’s role and his partnership with Dhoni, Aaron said, “Shivam Dube recognized the significance of this match—because a loss would have made it extremely difficult for Chennai Super Kings to recover in the tournament. Yet, he performed as he has in previous seasons. His power-hitting was exceptional. He hit two sixes today—up until then, CSK had not hit any. He also rotated the strike effectively and played the bowlers wisely.

"His partnership with MS Dhoni was pivotal in helping Chennai Super Kings break a five-match losing streak—an unusual occurrence for CSK. Dube set the tone with several good shots, and then Dhoni leveraged his experience again.

After five consecutive losses, CSK finally found their winning form again. With this win, Chennai Super Kings now have two victories from seven matches. Their next challenge is against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 20.

Bangar concluded by reflecting on CSK's hard-fought victory, saying, "It wasn’t a smooth win, as Chennai's batters struggled during the middle phase of the innings. However, when a team is on a losing streak, obtaining such hard-earned wins is essential to regain a winning momentum. These two points hold immense significance for Chennai Super Kings, and the players will realize their importance."

"Once you lose five matches, the energy built up within the team can be overwhelming—it’s a challenging situation. But the fact that MS Dhoni was able to guide the team through this successful chase was crucial. Without him, it could have gone wrong for Chennai Super Kings again. Hopefully, this gritty win will reignite their campaign significantly,” he said.