The Disappointing IPL 2025 Campaign for Chennai Super Kings
Suresh Raina Speaks Up Over IPL 2025 CSK Performance, Placing Fault on Team Management While Supporting MS Dhoni for Team's Struggles
The 2025 IPL season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Chennai Super Kings, with their playoff prospects hanging by a thread after a string of disappointing performances. Their most recent loss, a five-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, marked their seventh defeat of the season and fourth consecutive home defeat at Chepauk.
Despite using 20 out of their 27-player squad, CSK has struggled to find consistency. Bold moves like giving a debut to Dewald Brevis and promoting youngster Ayush Mhatre haven't paid off.
Raina Targets Management, Not Dhoni
Former CSK star Suresh Raina criticized the franchise's management in a scathing analysis on Star Sports. He specifically pointed fingers at the management's poor auction strategy, suggesting that they were not adequately prepared for the season.
"Kashi sir, who handles administration, and Rupa Ma'am, responsible for player buys, have been at the helm. But, the players selected this time weren't the best choice," Raina said, highlighting the management's mistakes.
Auction Room Decisions Aren't Dhoni's Call
Raina also debunked the notion that Dhoni masterminds CSK's auction picks. "People always say MS Dhoni calls the shots. But I rarely saw him at auctions. He may suggest a few players, but he isn't deeply involved," Raina clarified.
He went on to explain that Dhoni would propose four or five names, but the final decisions on retention and selection rested with others in the management group.
Dhoni's Dedication, Others' Lackluster Performance
Raina lauded Dhoni for his commitment, comparing it starkly with the performance of the rest of the squad. Despite being 43, Dhoni is still keeping wickets, captaining, and giving his all. Raina noted, "He's playing for the brand, for the fans, carrying the entire team. But what are the others doing?"
He further criticized the consistently underperforming players bought for hefty sums. "Players costing ₹18 crore, ₹17 crore, ₹12 crore should be delivering," Raina asserted.
Is a Reboot on the Horizon?
With CSK having five matches left in the season, their path to the playoffs seems uncertain. However, history has shown that CSK often bounces back strongly after a poor campaign. If a major shake-up follows in 2026, fans will be hoping for a repeat performance. Raina suggested, "After the last match loss, MS's demeanor indicated a big meeting would happen. He won't tolerate this anymore."
- Despite a string of disappointing performances in the 2025 IPL, Chennai Super Kings' captain MS Dhoni is still providing his all, but the team's overall performance has been lackluster, according to former CSK star Suresh Raina.
- Raina pointed out that while Dhoni plays for the brand and the fans, other players, who have been bought for hefty sums, have consistently underperformed during the 2025 season.
- Raina also clarified that the auction picks for Chennai Super Kings are not solely MS Dhoni's call, and suggested that the franchise's poor performances might lead to a major shake-up in 2026, potentially indicating a rebooting of the team's strategy and roster.
