Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have hit a rough patch in IPL 2025, suffering their second consecutive defeat on March 30 against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. While RR had been struggling to get a win this season, they managed to outplay the five-time champions at the ACA Stadium.
CSK began their campaign strong with a victory over Mumbai Indians however, they then faced back-to-back losses. First, they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Chepauk, a venue wherein they’d dominated for years. Then, under Riyan Parag’s leadership, RR handed them another setback. Indians;
With these defeats raising concerns among CSK fans, let’s take a closer look at the three biggest challenges the team needs to overcome in IPL 2025.
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1. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Captaincy Decisions
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership is under scrutiny due to some questionable decisions. Unlike previous CSK captains who backed players through tough times, Gaikwad has already moved away from Deepak Hooda and Sam Curran after just two matches.
One major concern came during the match against RCB when he handed the ball to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to bowl against an out-of-form left-handed batter, Devdutt Padikkal.
The move backfired as Padikkal took full advantage, smashing 27 runs off 14 balls.
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Additionally, Gaikwad has chosen not to open the innings, despite previously winning the Orange Cap as an opener. His statement after the RCB loss, claiming that CSK lost by “just 50 runs,” frustrated fans even more, as it marked their biggest defeat at Chepauk.
2. Lack of Support for Khaleel Ahmed
CSK’s bowling attack lacks balance, especially with their new-ball partner for Khaleel Ahmed. While Sam Curran could have been a better choice, he was dropped in favor of Jamie Overton, who ended up conceding 30 runs in just two overs against RR.
Anshul Kamboj, a promising domestic pacer, remains an unused option. If CSK had picked Kamboj, it would have freed up an overseas slot, allowing Devon Conway to open with Gaikwad instead of struggling batter Rahul Tripathi. Kamboj is also an all-rounder, adding depth to both bowling and batting.
3. Ravindra Jadeja’s Unclear Role in the Batting Lineup
Jadeja has batted at number six and seven so far in IPL 2025, but he has struggled to accelerate right away. Instead of keeping him lower down the order, CSK could promote him to number four, where he can stabilize the innings and build partnerships before shifting gears in the slog overs.
A revised batting order could see Gaikwad, Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Jadeja in the top four. This would be followed by power hitters like Sam Curran, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni, with a specialist bowling unit of Kamboj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, and Khaleel Ahmed.
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