Former Indian opener and 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has taken a sharp dig at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) following their crushing defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025. The Ajinkya Rahane-led CSK side was handed an 8-wicket thrashing at home, leaving fans and pundits deeply concerned about the team’s direction and strategy.
Speaking after the game, Srikkanth didn’t hold back his disappointment and pointed fingers at CSK’s outdated approach to batting—especially during the powerplay.
“One of CSK’s worst defeats ever. Powerplay batting looked like a rehearsal for a Test match. Whole XI feels like it’s running on nostalgia,” Srikkanth posted on X (formerly Twitter), in a tweet that has since gone viral.
Srikkanth also made a bold suggestion: Why not bring in unsold players like Prithvi Shaw to shake things up?
“Time to think out of the box… even chaos is a strategy. Why not try someone like Prithvi Shaw at this point?”
Prithvi Shaw: A Forgotten Talent?
Prithvi Shaw, the prodigious opener who led India to U-19 World Cup glory in 2018, remains unsold in IPL 2025. Despite playing 79 matches for Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2024 and scoring 1892 runs, the explosive right-hander found no takers in this year’s auction. He entered the mega auction with a base price of ₹75 lakh but went undrafted—an unexpected outcome given his pedigree.
CSK’s Big Dilemma: Replace Ruturaj Gaikwad
With Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the tournament due to an elbow injury sustained against Rajasthan Royals, CSK has a big hole to fill at the top of the order. The absence of their vice-captain has further exposed their brittle top order, making Srikkanth’s suggestion all the more relevant.
Shaw could be signed as an injury replacement for Gaikwad, should CSK decide to inject fresh blood into their ailing lineup.
Time For Bold Moves?
CSK, known for their loyalty and experience-heavy squad, now find themselves at a crossroads. With just one win in their first six matches, the five-time champions need a miracle to turn things around—and a wildcard like Shaw could just be the shake-up they need.
Whether CSK’s management listens to Srikkanth or not remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: the Yellow Army is in desperate need of change—and fast.
