The Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2025 campaign continues to spiral downward as they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of a dominant Kolkata Knight Riders outfit. Playing at home, CSK failed to turn things around and faced a humiliating loss, with MS Dhoni making his frustrations public.
Another Collapse, Another Loss
Put into bat first, CSK faltered right from the start. Both openers—Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra—were dismissed early, unable to build any sort of momentum. Though Vijay Shankar provided a brief spark with a quickfire 29, the middle order disintegrated quickly. Shivam Dube was the lone warrior, holding one end to ensure CSK crossed the 100-run mark, ending with a paltry total of 103/9 in 20 overs.
MS Dhoni Points Fingers
Following the crushing defeat, MS Dhoni, back as captain in place of the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad, didn’t mince words in the post-match presentation. He expressed his disappointment with the top-order batters, notably Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, whose repeated failures have placed the team under massive pressure.
“Our openers are very good batters. They can play authentic shots but we need to build partnerships. If you start looking for 60 in 6 overs, things will be difficult for us,” said Dhoni.
He further added:
“We need to go back to the drawing board. Too many things are going wrong. Partnerships are key, especially in the powerplay. We just didn’t have enough runs on the board.”
CSK Humiliated – 59 Balls Left!
KKR made a mockery of the 104-run target, chasing it down in just 10.1 overs with 59 balls to spare—CSK’s biggest defeat in terms of balls remaining in IPL history. The bowlers looked helpless as KKR cruised to an 8-wicket win, further denting CSK’s playoff hopes.
Do-or-Die Situation for CSK
This was CSK’s fifth straight loss, an unwanted record for the five-time champions. With just one win in six matches, they now sit near the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table. For any shot at the playoffs, they’ll need to win 7 of their remaining 8 matches—a near-impossible task given their current form.
Where Do CSK Go From Here?
With mounting pressure, questions are rising over the form of key overseas batters and the inability of the middle order to deliver. Dhoni’s tactical return hasn’t sparked the desired turnaround yet, and unless Conway and Ravindra rediscover their form, CSK’s 2025 season may be headed toward a disastrous end.
