Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2025 campaign has taken a worrying turn. After four games, the five-time champions sit uncomfortably in ninth place on the points table, having lost three of their four matches. They kicked off the season with a promising win over Mumbai Indians at home, but that momentum quickly faded as they stumbled to defeats against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, and most recently, Delhi Capitals.
Alarmingly, two of these losses came at their Chepauk fortress — a venue where they’ve historically been dominant. What’s become a glaring issue for CSK is their inability to chase targets. Their loss to RCB by a massive 50-run margin was followed by a narrow 6-run defeat to RR, and then a more decisive 25-run loss to DC.
In all three games, the top order has looked out of sorts. The opening pair has failed to give the team a solid start, and the middle order hasn’t been able to recover either. It’s a worrying trend for a side known for its consistency and calculated chases. Another point of contention has been MS Dhoni’s batting position. The former CSK skipper, who no longer leads the side, has mostly come out to bat lower down the order — often when the match is already slipping away.
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Against Delhi, Dhoni walked in by the 10th over, but only because CSK were already five down with more than 100 runs still to get in under nine overs. Alongside Vijay Shankar, who made a gritty 69* off 54 balls, Dhoni (30* off 26) couldn’t provide the required acceleration, and Delhi cruised to their first win in Chennai since 2010.
After yet another underwhelming performance, former India opener Wasim Jaffer didn’t mince words. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer questioned whether Dhoni, if not captaining, should continue in the playing XI. “Yes, if Dhoni isn’t captaining, then it hurts a little seeing him bat this way,” he said. Jaffer added that Dhoni’s limited game time — he only plays the IPL — is starting to show in his batting rhythm.
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However, Jaffer believes the bigger concern lies elsewhere. “Your top-order is not making runs. They don’t look like they’re in the contest while chasing,” he pointed out, citing the failures of players like Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda. “This isn’t the CSK we know. I feel for the fans — I haven’t seen CSK this poor at home.”
