The sun may have been relentless over Delhi’s Kotla, but so were the fans—young, old, and everyone in between—who turned up in their signature yellow jerseys, hoping for a spark of the old Chennai Super Kings magic. Sadly, they were met with another disappointment. CSK’s 2025 IPL campaign has gone from forgettable to downright painful, and Tuesday’s six-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals only confirmed what’s been brewing all season—they are almost certain to finish with the wooden spoon.
For a franchise that once symbolised consistency and tactical clarity, CSK’s current state feels like a far cry from its glory days. Their approach against RR once again raised eyebrows. The decision to send Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of powerful hitters like Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube was baffling. The bowling, too, lacked sting and structure—qualities CSK once thrived on.
Head coach Stephen Fleming, known for his composed demeanour, was candid in the post-match press conference. “It’s probably fitting that we’re at the bottom,” he admitted. “We’ve played that type of cricket. We’re trying to finish with some pride, but we haven’t been able to string together performances.”
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Despite a middle-order fightback that helped CSK post a respectable 187/8 after slumping to 78/5, the total was never enough against a clinical Rajasthan outfit. Youngsters like Ayush Mhatre (43) and Dewald Brevis (42) impressed with some audacious stroke play, but CSK’s woes in the powerplay, where they lost three wickets, came back to haunt them yet again.
Stephen Fleming also acknowledged the inconsistency in the batting order. “We’re always looking to rejig. This year we’ve just been patching innings rather than constructing them. It’s not ideal,” he said, pointing out the lack of momentum at the top of the order.
Matheesha Pathirana, once CSK’s pace ace, has looked off-colour throughout the season. Retained with much faith ahead of 2025, the slingy pacer has only 12 wickets from 11 games and an alarming economy rate of 10.17.
“He’s at a bit of a crossroads,” Stephen Fleming observed. “Teams are reading him better. He’s got a unique skill set, but his effectiveness has dipped.”Among the few silver linings was Anshul Kamboj’s impressive outing. The young pacer, picked for India ‘A’ duty, bowled with discipline and pace, returning figures of 1/21 and claiming the prized wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“He’s deceptive,” Fleming said. “He hits the deck hard and gets movement even on flat surfaces. With a bit of swing, he’ll be a serious threat.” Despite the intensity in training and a desire to finish strong, CSK have struggled to translate preparation into performance. “Motivation has been high, but performances haven’t followed,” Fleming said.
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As the Super Kings prepare for their final game of the season, against Gujarat Titans on Sunday, fans and pundits alike are already looking ahead. With talks of a squad overhaul and leadership transition likely, this could be the last time we see several familiar faces in yellow.
CSK’s season has been a harsh reminder of how quickly the game evolves, and how even the most decorated franchises must keep pace or risk being left behind. For now, their fans will hope that the pain of 2025 fuels a more resolute and recharged comeback next season.
