It was supposed to be a momentous occasion – MS Dhoni’s grand return as captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but what followed was a disastrous collapse. In their 6th game of the 2025 Indian Premier League, CSK faced off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and ended up posting their lowest-ever total at Chepauk in IPL history – a mere 103/9 in 20 overs. The batting woes that have plagued CSK all season long reared their ugly head again, with an embarrassing display of poor shot selections and lack of intent from the start.
Starting their innings with Ruturaj Gaikwad missing from the lineup due to an injury, CSK’s top order crumbled under pressure. They were reduced to a shocking 32 for 1 in the powerplay. At this point, the team was in dire straits, struggling to even score at a run-a-ball pace. The opening pair of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway could hardly find their rhythm, with Conway falling to Moeen Ali and Ravindra soon after to Harshit Rana, leaving CSK at 75/8 by the 16th over.
In a rare sight, MS Dhoni, who had been reinstated as captain, came in at number 9, but his brief innings ended in disappointment as he was dismissed for just 1 run by Sunil Narine. This was Dhoni’s first time in the 2025 IPL season being dismissed for a single-figure score, making the occasion even more surreal for CSK fans.
As the match progressed, it was clear that CSK’s batting was in shambles. Their performance during the powerplay was a massive letdown – managing only 32 runs for the loss of one wicket. In fact, CSK missed a total of 17 deliveries during the powerplay, a stat that perfectly summed up their sluggish start. It was a tough day for the Super Kings, especially with Gaikwad’s absence being felt throughout the innings.
Looking back, CSK’s performance in the powerplay this season has been nothing short of disappointing. Their previous scores were:
- 30 for 3 against RCB in Chennai
- 31 for 2 against KKR in Chennai
- 42 for 1 against RR in Guwahati
- 46 for 3 against DC in Chennai
The collapse continued well past the powerplay as CSK faced a boundary drought that lasted for 49 balls, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Shivam Dube tried his best to hold one end but was left watching his teammates lose wickets at the other. The only notable innings came from Vijay Shankar, who made 29 off 21 balls before being dismissed. But even his brief respite was not enough to stabilize the sinking ship.
Meanwhile, Rahul Tripathi, brought in to replace the injured Gaikwad, failed to make an impact, scoring just 16 runs off 22 balls. When Ravichandran Ashwin, moved up to No. 6, could only muster 1 run off 7 balls, the writing was on the wall. Deepak Hooda, brought in as the Impact Player, failed to add anything to the total, getting out for a duck.
The pressure is mounting on CSK, with batting issues continuing to hamper their campaign in IPL 2025. Dhoni, in his usual calm manner, has called for better execution and sharper intent, but the team’s performances suggest that the road ahead is not going to be easy. The collapse against KKR may go down as one of the lowest points in CSK’s IPL history, and it raises serious questions about the team’s ability to bounce back.
