The Chennai Tremendous Kings, one of the vital profitable franchises in Indian Premier League historical past, have suffered a historic downfall within the 2025 season. After 10 matches, the Males in Yellow turned the primary crew to be formally knocked out of playoff competition — an unthinkable state of affairs for a crew so steeped in legacy and dominance.
With simply two wins and eight losses, this season has been a story of misfires, missed alternatives, and miscalculations. The harm to skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad early within the marketing campaign severely derailed their momentum. Although followers discovered a flicker of hope when MS Dhoni took again the captaincy duties mid-season, even the legendary determine couldn’t weave his ordinary magic. CSK’s issues, nonetheless, run a lot deeper than an abrupt change in management.
Caught up to now
Regardless of bringing in mid-season signings like Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre, CSK appeared married to conventional methods which are now not viable in fashionable T20 cricket. Their reluctance to adapt to the high-risk, high-reward model that defines in the present day’s IPL proved expensive.
Among the many many obtrusive points CSK have confronted this season, their incapacity to capitalise on the powerplay has stood out. Six out of the ten instances, CSK did not cross 50 runs inside the primary six overs — probably the most by any crew this season. Their powerplay run fee of simply 7.91 is the bottom amongst all groups this 12 months.
In a league more and more outlined by aggressive begins and power-hitting from ball one, CSK’s sluggish method on the high set them again repeatedly. The reluctance to take dangers early on meant they had been continuously taking part in catch-up, which their conservative middle-order couldn’t recuperate from.
Whereas different groups embraced explosive begins, CSK remained conservative. Of their 10 video games, they hit solely six sixes within the powerplay, with Mhatre accounting for 2 of them. Their famed dwelling fortress at Chepauk additionally crumbled—shedding 5 of six matches performed there this season.
Quiz: Who’s that IPL participant?
The batting has been their greatest letdown. Till their April 30 conflict in opposition to PBKS, CSK hadn’t crossed 200 even as soon as whereas batting first. Their innings had been usually marked by warning reasonably than aggression, making it straightforward for opposition sides to use stress.
Batting Statistics of High 4 CSK Batters (2025 Season)
None of Shivam Dube, Rachin Ravindra, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni have made massive scores and simply three fifties have been scored amongst them. These aren’t numbers that win championships.
Spin with out chew, tempo with out punchSpin, historically CSK’s stronghold at Chepauk, additionally did not ship this time. Regardless of the presence of world-class choices like Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Noor Ahmad, the spin trio underwhelmed. Noor began sturdy however tapered off because the event progressed. Jadeja and Ashwin, as soon as reliable, did not ship match-turning spells.
In the meantime, within the tempo division, Khaleel Ahmed was the one vibrant spark. He claimed eight wickets within the powerplay throughout 9 innings — greater than another bowler throughout that section of the season. He additionally bowled most quantity of dot balls(106)this season. However Matheesha Pathirana, a retained star with excessive expectations, turned out to be a disappointment.
CSK Bowling Abstract (2025)
CSK bowling stats
Regardless of utilizing 21 totally different gamers this season, CSK did not discover a profitable mixture.
Public sale missteps, strategic failuresWith a large Rs 55 crore purse remaining after retaining Ruturaj, Jadeja, Dhoni, Pathirana, and Dube, expectations had been sky-high. Nonetheless, CSK’s public sale technique backfired. They chased acquainted faces and missed rising match-winners. The lack to land Deepak Chahar was notable, however extra regarding was how they received nearly each different participant they bid aggressively for—solely to see them underperform.
They selected expertise over explosiveness, signing names like Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, and Deepak Hooda, whereas ignoring youthful, extra dynamic expertise dominating the league.
A fading roar at ChepaukThis 12 months, the famed “Whistle Podu” chant at Chepauk wasn’t about wins — it was about MS Dhoni strolling in to bat. Because the crew continued to lose, the gang discovered solace in watching their ‘Thala’ take guard, even when only for just a few deliveries. For a lot of followers, Dhoni is the one cause to cheer in an in any other case forgettable season.
Not a one-off anymoreMany followers could wish to write off 2025 as an aberration. However that is CSK’s fourth failed marketing campaign in six seasons:
2020 – Didn’t qualify
2022– Didn’t qualify
2024– Didn’t qualify
2025 – Didn’t qualify
Sarcastically, they gained the IPL in 2021 and once more in 2023 with almost the identical squad that failed within the seasons earlier than and after. This inconsistency suggests deeper points in technique and execution.
What’s subsequent?
The large query: Will MS Dhoni return for one final hurrah in 2026, or is it lastly time to maneuver on? Will CSK rebuild, reinvent, and embrace the brand new age of T20 cricket? Or will they proceed to cling to nostalgia and familiarity?
A franchise identified for its stability is now at a crossroads. The selections made within the coming months might outline the subsequent decade of Chennai Tremendous Kings cricket.
0 Comments