The Chennai Super Kings’ disappointing IPL 2025 campaign reached its inevitable low point with a four-wicket loss to Punjab Kings, officially knocking them out of the tournament and marking the first time in franchise history that they’ve missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. For a team synonymous with consistency and dominance, the fall has been both unexpected and sobering.
The setback was set in motion early in the season when regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined with an elbow injury. That forced MS Dhoni, now 43 and long past his peak as a regular player, to step back into the captaincy role—not out of choice, but necessity. While results haven’t followed, former Australia captain Aaron Finch believes Dhoni’s presence alone is a spectacle worth savouring.
“Dhoni didn’t expect to captain again when he stepped down, but here he is—leading at 43, playing just IPL, and still producing magical moments. The noise when he steps out is spine-tingling. Every fan should try to witness him live before he finally calls time,” Aaron Finch said during an appearance on JioStar.
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Despite setting a competitive total of 190, thanks largely to a quickfire 88 from Sam Curran, CSK’s bowling and fielding let them down. Punjab chased the target with two balls to spare, led by Shreyas Iyer’s masterful 72 and Prabhsimran Singh’s brisk 54. Their crucial 72-run stand effectively knocked the wind out of CSK’s defence.
Aaron Finch also questioned CSK’s selection strategy, particularly their underuse of pacer Nathan Ellis, a proven performer in pressure situations. “It’s baffling Ellis has played just once. He’s reliable at every stage of the innings. Pathirana hasn’t been the same this season, and CSK have struggled to finish well with the bat. Add 20 more runs and it could’ve been a different game,” Finch noted.
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He also pointed out CSK’s fielding woes, with several dropped catches and missed chances proving costly. “In a tournament this competitive, you can’t afford those lapses. Once you’re behind, you need near-perfection to bounce back,” he concluded.
