The IPL 2025 season has turned into a nightmare for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of the most successful franchises in IPL history. This time, the team managed just 2 wins from 10 matches and was the first to be knocked out of the playoff race, finishing at the bottom of the points table. In 2024, CSK narrowly missed out on the playoffs, but their performance in 2025 has been utterly disappointing.
In this detailed review, we’ll analyze the major reasons behind CSK’s humiliating downfall—be it auction strategy, player performance, or leadership decisions
Strategic Blunders at the Auction: Missed Opportunities and Poor Selections
CSK’s downfall began right at the auction table. The team had the chance to rebuild its core and invest in Indian talent for the future, but instead, poor choices led them into deeper trouble.
Ignored KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan: When LSG released KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan was also available, CSK could have picked either of these experienced batters. Instead, they opted for out-of-form players like Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda, who failed miserably throughout the season.
Weak Middle Order: Players like Tripathi and Hooda failed to solidify the middle order. As a result, the team often collapsed in the middle overs and couldn’t build momentum towards a big score in the death overs.
Sensible Bowling Picks, But Ineffective Outcomes: CSK brought in bowlers like Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, and Nathan Ellis. However, only Khaleel and Noor showed some promise, while the rest underperformed.
BATSMEN
Ruturaj Gaikwad(captain), Shaik Rasheed, Andre Siddarth C, Rahul Tripathi
ALL ROUNDER
Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Rachin Ravindra, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Curran
WICKET KEEPER
Devon Conway, MS Dhoni, Vansh Bedi
BOWLER
Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Matheesha Pathirana, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed
Poor Batting Form
CSK’s batting unit consistently underperformed this season. Neither were there solid partnerships at the top nor any dependable middle-order players. This led to repeated failures in setting or chasing targets.
Shivam Dube (248 runs @132.62 SR): The top scorer of the season, but lacked consistency.
Rachin Ravindra (191 runs @128.19 SR): Played a match-winning knock in the opener when given a chance over Conway but failed to perform in subsequent games. CSK often lost 1-2 wickets in the powerplay, ruining momentum early.
Ravindra Jadeja (183 runs @127.08 SR): Played a supportive role but failed as a finisher.
MS Dhoni (151 runs @148.04 SR): Showed glimpses of vintage Dhoni, but came in too late to influence matches meaningfully.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (122 runs @150.62 SR): Was in good form but could only play 5 matches due to injury. His absence was deeply felt.
Vijay Shankar, Tripathi, and Hooda: Completely failed to deliver, neither scoring runs nor playing impactful innings.
Devon Conway and Shaik Rasheed: Didn’t make the most of their limited opportuniti
Bowling: Sparks of Brilliance Amidst Overall Inconsistency
Some bowlers performed well, but the team overall failed to maintain control over matches.
Noor Ahmad (15 wickets) & Khaleel Ahmed (14 wickets): Delivered consistent performances and created some pressure.
Matheesha Pathirana (9 wickets): Expensive and lacked accuracy in the death overs.
Ravindra Jadeja & R. Ashwin: Despite their experience, neither could take wickets nor contain runs effectively.
Nathan Ellis, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary: Either didn’t get enough chances or were ineffective when played.
Fielding & Fitness: Lethargy on the Field
Fielding statistics tell their own story of CSK’s on-field sluggishness:
27 catches taken, 16 dropped: With a catch efficiency of only 62.7%, CSK was one of the worst fielding sides this season.
13 run-out chances missed and 26 misfields: These lapses gave opponents many extra runs.
Clearly, fitness and fielding need to become a top priority for the franchise.
Looking Ahead: Time to Rebuild
Now that CSK is out of the playoffs, the remaining four matches should be used to build for the future.
Give Youngsters a Chance: Players like Dewald Brevis, Vansh Bedi, and Ayush Mhatre should be tested.
Role Clarity and Experiments: Define player roles clearly and try new combinations.
Start Planning for IPL 2026: Focus on scouting, fitness camps, and a smarter auction strategy.
These 5 Players Were Primarily Responsible for CSK’s Exit
Certain individual performances proved particularly damaging to CSK’s chances. Here are the five players whose failure hurt the team the most:
Rahul Tripathi (55 runs @96.49 SR): Provided no contribution in the middle order and failed to impact any game.
Deepak Hooda (31 runs @75.61 SR): Repeated failures and a poor strike rate severely hurt the team’s batting.
Matheesha Pathirana (9 wickets, high economy): Lack of accuracy in the death overs cost the team crucial matches.
Ravindra Jadeja (183 runs, 7 wickets): Despite being an all-rounder, failed to accelerate in batting or make breakthroughs in bowling.
R. Ashwin (5 wickets): Expected to bring experience but failed to take wickets or stem the flow of runs in the middle overs.
Their inconsistent performances disrupted the team’s balance and played a major role in CSK’s elimination.
KhelBhaskar Verdict:
The IPL 2025 season has served as a wake-up call for Chennai Super Kings. Failures in all departments—auction strategy, batting, bowling, and fielding—led to their dramatic downfall.
Though the team has 5 titles and a glorious history, they now need urgent reforms and strategic planning for the future. The franchise must make bold decisions to restore its lost glory and reclaim the title of IPL’s true “Super Kings.”
Fans too will hope that even if Dhoni isn’t there next time, CSK will return with renewed energy and championship ambition.
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