In what could be a fitting curtain call at Eden Gardens, MS Dhoni summoned vintage magic to script a sensational two-wicket win for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), delivering a crushing blow to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) playoff dreams.

Chasing 180, CSK looked dead and buried at 60 for 5, after KKR’s bowlers dismantled the top order in style. Early strikes saw Conway and Mhatre return on duck, while Ashwin and Jadeja failed to stabilize.

But then Dewald Brevis arrived with counter-attack intent, hammering 52 off just 25 balls—laced with four sixes and four fours—to reignite the chase.

Brevis' departure brought in Shivam Dube, who played a mature hand to steer CSK through choppy waters. His 45 off 40 balls was a mix of caution and calculated aggression, bringing the chase within striking distance.

Then came the 'Dhoni Over.' With eight required off the final six, the stadium erupted as Dhoni launched the first ball—a low full toss from Russell—into the stands. The rest was a formality. CSK reached 183 for 8, with Dhoni unbeaten on 18, and KKR all but eliminated.

Earlier, KKR opted to bat first after winning the toss, with skipper Ajinkya Rahane hoping to repeat recent success batting first.

The powerplay yielded over 70 runs, despite an early exit for Gurbaz. Sunil Narine looked dangerous, smashing Ashwin for 14 in one over, but Noor Ahmed’s entry changed the script. The Afghan spinner removed Narine and the in-form Raghuvanshi in quick succession.

Rahane anchored the innings with a fluent 48 (33 balls), while Manish Pandey, replacing the injured Venkatesh Iyer, chipped in with an unbeaten 36.

However, CSK’s spinners—Noor, Jadeja, and Ashwin—put the brakes on during the middle overs, denying boundaries from the 7th to 11th over.

Russell provided late fireworks with a 38 off 21 (4 fours, 3 sixes) to take KKR to 179 for 6—a total that seemed competitive, but not safe.

Ultimately, Dhoni’s calm finish and CSK’s resilience under pressure were the difference. With this loss, KKR’s path to the playoffs is now virtually shut, while CSK could end with some pride intact

Is this Dhoni’s final chapter—or is there more in the story?