Chennai, April 15, 2025 – MS Dhoni etched his name deeper into cricket lore Sunday, becoming the first player to clock 250 IPL matches for a single franchise—Chennai Super Kings—in a thrilling 14-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk. The 43-year-old legend, captaining CSK, smashed an unbeaten 28 off 12 balls, pushing his team to 182/5 and cementing his unmatched loyalty since 2008, per NDTV.
Dhoni’s milestone—258 IPL games total, including eight for Rising Pune Supergiant—came with a packed stadium roaring “Thala!” He overtook Virat Kohli (246 for RCB) and Rohit Sharma (200 for MI), with 5,295 runs at a 135.92 strike rate (ESPNcricinfo). “It’s just about showing up,” he grinned post-match, per The Indian Express. CSK’s chase-defying stand—Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 67 and Shivam Dube’s 45—sealed KKR’s fate, despite Andre Russell’s 41 (Times of India).
Fans lost it—X lit up with “Dhoni forever!” as CSK’s fifth win in six games topped the points table (post:2). “No one’s touching 250,” coach Stephen Fleming told The Hindu. Dhoni’s 75 catches and 44 stumpings as a keeper, plus 24 fifties, dwarf peers (Cricbuzz). At 43, his fitness—honed by Chennai’s heat—soothes retirement talk post-2024’s knee surgery (India Today). KKR’s Shreyas Iyer bowed, “He’s unreal” (The Economic Times).
For India, it’s pure pride—Dhoni’s CSK run, worth Rs 4,100 crore in brand value, is cricket’s gold (Business Standard). Will Thala push for 260, or hand over the reins?
