CSK vs PBKS IPL 2025: The IPL 2025 season has been a challenging one for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Formerly recognized for their reliability and cool heads in pressure situations, the five-time champions have faltered early in the season. With just 1 victory from 5 games, CSK is currently ranked at the 9th spot on the points table.
The worst aspect? The team’s constant struggle to chase targets. They have even failed in must-win matches like the CSK vs PBKS IPL 2025 matches where run-chases have caused huge concern for fans and analysts alike.
The following are the three biggest reasons why CSK is underperforming while chasing in IPL 2025:
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1. Slow Starts During the Powerplay Hurting Momentum
It takes a good start to make the most of a run chase, and CSK has failed to exploit the powerplay overs this season. The top-order batsmen are playing safe cricket, and the strike rate is alarmingly low.
Even captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was supposed to lead from the front, has not been in fluent touch. This slow start puts the middle order under instant pressure, which has always failed to regain the needed run rate in the later part of the innings.
In games such as CSK vs PBKS IPL 2025, such slow beginnings have left too much to be accomplished in the last overs, and too often that has resulted in close losses.
2. Shivam Dube’s Poor Form in the Middle Order
Shivam Dube, who was imagined as a match-winning middle-order force, hasn’t performed that way in 2023. After beginning the season aggressively and looking like a player finally hitting his straps, he has experienced a rapid downturn in form and an inability to carry on from his quick starts and be the linchpin of longer innings in key stages of matches.
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His lack of momentum in the middle overs has considerably impacted CSK’s chase philosophy. With no reliable pillar in the middle order, the team has had to hunt for boundaries in the death overs.
3. Dhoni’s Finishing Power Fading with Age
The legendary MS Dhoni once recognized for his finisher capabilities as well as his calmness, rarely has the same presence as he once did. While he is still present in the lineup and still can unsettle bowlers, his performances indicate that age and not playing frequently enough are catching up.
Dhoni hasn’t played any cricket since retiring from international cricket in 2020, other than the IPL. Fans still expect him to finish games, but that has not been the case so far this season. In several situations, including the IPL 2025 match where CSK faced PBKS like during a chase, he has repeatedly not been able to find the big shots, which has been a fairly large contributing reason why CSK has not played well.
Can CSK Turn It Around?
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) may have started the IPL season with a victory. Slow-bat powerplay, a middle order that chokes every other match, and a fading away factor with Dhoni. All these have contributed to CSK’s failed chase attempts.
As the tournament progresses and CSK gets ready for some critical matches, including the must-win CSK vs PBKS IPL 2025 match, CSK will need all of their players and tactical plans to be renewed desperately. Only the test of time will reveal whether the yellow men can find a way back into the contest and reclaim their championship glory.
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