Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of the most successful franchises in IPL history, faced an embarrassing early exit from the 2025 season, becoming the first team to be eliminated. Despite the leadership of MS Dhoni, the team managed only 2 wins from 10 matches, marking one of their worst performances ever. Here’s a look at the five critical reasons behind CSK’s disappointing campaign this year:
1. Lack of Aggressive Batting In modern T20 cricket, teams set the tone during the powerplay, but CSK’s batting lacked the required aggression. Throughout the season, they struggled to post competitive totals. They failed to cross the 200-run mark while batting first, with their only 200+ score coming in a chase against Punjab — a match they eventually lost. CSK’s inability to accelerate during the powerplay, middle overs, or death overs proved costly.
2. Powerplay and Opening Struggles CSK’s opening pair never found the right rhythm, with players like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Rahul Tripathi unable to give the team quick starts. The team had to rely on inexperienced youngsters like Sheikh Rashid and Ayush Mhatre, but their performances were inconsistent. CSK’s powerplay run rate of just 7.9 was the worst in the tournament, and they hit only six sixes in the first six overs — the least by any team. Their ball-to-boundary percentage was also the lowest.
3. Shoddy Fielding Fielding woes compounded CSK's problems, with the team dropping a total of 17 catches — the second-highest after Rajasthan Royals. Key players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni admitted that poor fielding had a direct impact on the team’s performance, costing them critical moments in several matches.
4. Misguided Auction Strategy Despite having a substantial budget of Rs 55 crore, CSK’s auction strategy raised eyebrows. They failed to secure impactful players who could turn the game around. Instead, the team trusted underperforming veterans and lacked the injection of youth and aggression. Players like Rachin Ravindra and Conway, who were given responsibility in the top order, flopped, while veterans like Ravindra Jadeja and Mathisha Pathirana struggled to make an impact with both bat and ball.
5. Captaincy and Youth Development Issues After Rituraj Gaikwad’s injury, MS Dhoni took over the captaincy, but there was a lack of clarity in his leadership strategy. Frequent changes in the team meant that players were unsure of their roles, affecting their performances. Moreover, CSK showed little faith in youth development, giving late opportunities to youngsters like Sheikh Rashid, Ayush Mhatre, and Dewald Brevis. While other teams backed their young talents, CSK’s delayed moves in this area hindered their chances.
In conclusion, CSK’s early exit in IPL 2025 can be attributed to a combination of poor batting, weak fielding, questionable auction choices, and inconsistent leadership. Despite Dhoni's presence, the team struggled to find their rhythm, leading to one of the most disappointing seasons in the franchise's history.
