Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history, has been struggling in the IPL 2025 season. After losing their 7^th game in the tournament, it looks like curtains for CSK this season. They registered their 7^th tournament loss during the 43^rd league stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Now, they are sitting at the last in the IPL 2025 points table with only two wins in nine games. Today, we will try to figure out what went wrong for CSK in IPL 2025, the reason for CSK’s downfall, and can CSK still qualify for playoffs 2025? So let’s start.

What Went Wrong for CSK in IPL 2025?

Chennai Super Kings have been one of the most successful teams in IPL history. But, in the IPL 2025 season, their performance was not up to the mark as per their standards. As of April 26, 2025, they have only managed to win two games out of nine and are sitting at No. 10 in the IPL 2025 points table. Now, it is highly unlikely that CSK will reach playoffs 2025. Let’s see the reasons why CSK is playing so bad, and what went wrong for CSK in IPL 2025.

You can check the IPL 2025 points table HERE

• Aging of Core Players

Over the years, it has been a pattern for CSK to have an experienced core group. It’s their formula to go with players who have played a decent amount of professional cricket, so that they bring the experience. But, with experience also comes age. Sometimes, you cannot win with age. Maybe a player’s mental ability is good enough, but his physical ability declines with age as well.

In this season, CSK has picked players like Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, etc, who have past their prime. Their performances in domestic cricket are also not as impactful as it was in their prime. Also, MS Dhoni is only managing the team to play in the IPL 2025. His physical ability to win games might have declined over the years. And it has been there in front of everyone to see.

• Decisions on the Auction Table

This point is correlated with the first point. CSK has picked up players like Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, etc, who are not in their peak. The franchise must invest in youngsters and give them regular chances to gain enough exposure.

Also, the mega auction will take place after three years from now, so CSK might struggle to create a core group.

• Not Giving Regular Chances to Youngsters

If the above point is correlated to the first point, this point correlates with the above two points. Although CSK has given some chances to young players, it has not been as many as other teams like Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), etc. MI, KKR, and a few other teams invest heavily in youngsters compared to CSK.

CSK, on the other hand, has been following the same pattern of going with experience. They got the results as well with this pattern, but as a result, a gap has emerged for the future. Now, CSK might struggle in their transition period as the youngsters did not have enough exposure playing at the highest level. R Sai Kishore, Sameer Rizvi, Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh, etc, are those examples whom CSK could have invested in for the future. The above-mentioned four players were a part of the CSK franchise at some stage, but didn’t get enough games.

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• Injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad

One of the primary reasons for what went wrong for CSK in IPL 2025 is an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad’s injury has also hampered CSK’s IPL 2025 campaign. Because of this, not only did CSK lose a reliable opening batter, but also a regular captain.

CSK has to go back to MS Dhoni for the captaincy duties, even at the age of 43. Dhoni will be 44 in July 2025.

• Not Having Enough Leaders in the Group

At one stage, CSK used to have players like Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, etc, in the group who have enough experience playing at this level and can do the captaincy job in the absence of a regular captain. But now, after MS Dhoni, the team doesn’t have many leaders in the group.

CSK has tried Jadeja in the captaincy role, but it did not work out. The reins have been given to Ruturaj Gaikwad, but his elbow injury forced the team to go to MS Dhoni again. CSK will have to look into other options than Ruturaj as well for the leadership role, as MS Dhoni can’t play for CSK for his whole life. An injury can happen to any player, and if it happens to your captain/leader, you seem to look for options.

• Over-dependence on Spin/ Lack of Fast-bowling Unit

Another reason for what went wrong for CSK in IPL 2025 is over-dependence on spin. CSK has a pattern of playing on slowish tracks that assist the spinners at home. They have won so many games with this formula over the years, but they are now exposed. Noor Ahmed has done a decent job this season, but spinners like R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have not given enough support to execute this formula.

CSK’s fast-bowling group does not look as potent as some of the other teams, like MI, DC, etc. And with spin bowlers not executing plans in tandem, CSK struggles continue in IPL 2025. They are unable to choke the opposition batters in the middle overs with their spin.

• No Power Hitters

CSK lacked power hitters in the team. They do have Shivam Dube in the team, but he is not firing consistently, exposing CSK’s batting. Also, MS Dhoni has played some shots, but it is when either CSK won the game or couldn’t win from a particular situation. His utility with the bat is not used.

Their openers like Ruturaj Gaikwad (until he was playing), Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, etc, are the batters who like to take some time before charging. In the middle order, they don’t have power hitters who are in form. Not scoring enough runs in the middle overs and death overs costs CSK so many games in IPL 2025.

• Wrong Team Selection and Too Much Chopping and Changing in the Playing XI

Now, you could say that CSK had to do this out of necessity, or that their decisions were wrong, but either way, wrong playing XI selections have cost them heavily this season. CSK took a few wrong decisions while picking their playing XI in the IPL 2025. One of the prime examples of that was not going with Devon Conway, who was a match-winner in the top order last season (in 2024). He has scored lots of runs, giving CSK some good starts in the last season.

Also, CSK didn’t give many chances to youngsters like Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, etc in the IPL 2025. When Ruturaj was out of the tournament and some players weren’t firing, they started bringing Rasheed and Mhatre into the side.

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• Top-order Not Firing

Despite a lack of out-and-out fast bowlers and power-hitters, there were expectations from the top order. CSK’s top order, at the beginning of the tournament, has players like Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, etc. But, Ruturaj got injured, Conway did not get opportunities in the playing XI, and Rachin (who was in-form before the IPL 2025) misfired, CSK’s batting looks more vulnerable. They tried Rahul Tripathi in the top order, but he has not lived up to the team’s expectations this season.

• CSK Playing Old Brand of Cricket or Other Teams Improving

What went wrong for CSK in IPL 2025 is, either CSK is sticking to the old-school style of cricket, or other teams are improving. We have seen other teams like SRH, MI, KKR, etc playing a new brand of cricket, with the batters attacking the opposition bowlers right from ball one. These teams approach T20 cricket differently. CSK, on the other hand, has not found a way to play with positive intent while batting.

CONCLUSION: Will CSK Qualify for Playoffs 2025?

As of now, it looks highly unlikely that CSK will qualify for the Playoffs 2025. Mathematically, it is still possible, but for that, they have to first win all five remaining games. Even if they pulled off wins in all five games, they have to depend on other results as well. But, like a situation CSK is in, even how the next win comes is a question. Let’s see how things panned out for them.

For hopes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) qualified with 14 points in the IPL 2024. They are the only team as of April 2025 to qualify for the playoffs with 14 points since the IPL has 10 teams participating. CSK can take motivation from last season’s RCB campaign. Even CSK’s coach, Stephen Fleming, talked about this scenario in the press conference before the CSK vs SRH game. But things are not looking good for CSK this season.

What do you guys think? What went wrong for CSK in IPL 2025? And will CSK qualify for Playoffs 2025? Comment on all your opinions and predictions below. Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoyed it. Keep following us for the latest updates, analysis, insights, stories, opinions, and more.

FAQs:-

• Can CSK qualify with 14 points?

Mathematically, it is still possible. But, it does not look great if you are a CSK fan.

• How many teams have qualified for the
  

  IPL playoffs with 14 points, with 10 teams participating?

RCB is the only team as of April 2025 to qualify for IPL playoffs with 14 points when 10 teams are playing in the tournament.

• How many times has CSK reached the IPL playoffs?

Before IPL 2025, CSK has featured in 15 IPL seasons and reached the playoffs 12 times. They missed out on reaching the playoffs three times. CSK has won five IPL titles as of April 2025, all under the leadership of MS Dhoni.