What’s going wrong with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have not done justice to their name, aura, and legacy in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The five-time champions have lost five matches in a row for the first time in the IPL. After Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to an elbow injury, MS Dhoni returned as the captain of the side for the first time since the IPL 2023 final. However, under the iconic skipper's captaincy, CSK suffered a humiliating defeat in their most recent clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home.

After beating Mumbai Indians (MI) in their first game of the season, CSK have not had the taste of success. While the hope of reaching the playoffs is still alive, time is running out with every game, and if there is a comeback in store, it has to begin sooner rather than later. However, CSK's first task will be to figure out their flaws and try to rectify them.

CricTracker lists three things which have not worked for the Chennai-based franchise and suggests ways in which they can redeem themselves.

3. Lack of intent and unpredictable batting lineup

CSK have been playing a brand of cricket which is not ideal in modern-day T20 cricket. Keeping wickets at the top and targeting the back end of the innings isn't going to work on most of the venues in the IPL, where runs are being scored for fun. Instead, they should start playing with more intent from the outset and make use of the field restrictions inside the powerplay. CSK openers Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway are quite capable of hitting the big shots and scoring at pace. However, it seems that they are curbing their instincts and trying to play a game which is not their forte.

The lack of intent is evident in the middle-order as well. In some games, the middle-order has looked mediocre. When the likes of Vijay Shankar and Shivam Dube scored runs, they took way too much time to accelerate. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, two of the best finishers in the league's history, have not had fixed spots in the batting order. CSK need to sort their batting order and stick with it for a few games at least. Chopping and changing in every game is hurting their chances.