Hocus pocus, Shivam Dube out of focus: CSK "lemon-ed" out of game, did SRH actually use black magic?

HYDERABAD: In the high-octane world of the Indian Premier League, we’ve seen incredible catches, massive sixes, and nail-biting finishes. But during Saturday night’s clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium witnessed something that wasn’t in the playbook: alleged "Black Magic."

What started as a tense run-chase ended in a viral social media frenzy that has fans asking if SRH has found a "secret weapon" beyond their bowling attack.

The incident occurred in the 17th over of the second innings. CSK was chasing a stiff target of 195, and the dangerous Shivam Dube was looking to take the game away from the home side.

At that time, an SRH supporter engaged in a peculiar ritual. The fan was seen intensely rotating a lemon—a common symbol in Indian folklore used to ward off evil or cast "spells"—while chanting under his breath and pointing the fruit directly toward the pitch.

On the very next delivery, SRH’s Sakib Hussain steamed in and sent a searing delivery that cleaned up Dube’s stumps!

Within minutes of the match ending—a 10-run victory for SRH—the internet was flooded with memes. The "Lemon Man" became an overnight celebrity, with fans joking that SRH’s scouting team had replaced data analysts with wizards.

The drama took a surreal turn when a fake letter began circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp. The doctored document, carrying a forged BCCI letterhead, suggested that:

• CSK had filed an official protest over "unsportsmanlike supernatural interference."
• The BCCI was considering a "No-Magic" policy for future playoff games.

While the letter was quickly debunked as a clever prank, it didn't stop rival fans from engaging in a hilarious war of words. "Who needs a Supercomputer when you have a Super Lemon?" read one top-trending comment.

As SRH moves up to fourth place on the points table, the "Lemon-Gate" saga serves as a reminder of why the IPL is the most entertaining league in the world. Whether it’s tactical brilliance or a well-timed citrus fruit, Hyderabad fans aren't complaining as long as the "W" stays in their column.