Virender Sehwag doesn’t hold back when talking about CSK’s performance!
In a thrilling yet disappointing IPL 2025 encounter, CSK faced off against KKR in what turned out to be a one-sided affair at Chepauk. The stage was set for MS Dhoni’s return as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unfortunate injury sidelined him, but things took a sharp downturn as CSK struggled to put up a decent score.
CSK’s Disastrous Show
With Dhoni at the helm, CSK posted a meager total of 103/9, a score that was never going to be enough to challenge KKR. As per the strategy, Dhoni opted to hold himself back, sending Deepak Hooda ahead of him. He came out to bat at number nine, much to the confusion of fans and experts alike. Despite this, Sehwag believes that even if Dhoni had batted earlier, the result would have been the same.
“I doubt CSK would have won even if MS Dhoni had batted. How many would they have scored? 120? How many overs did KKR chase the target in? 10.2? We would’ve come live at 11:30 PM, that’s about it,” Sehwag remarked during the post-match analysis on Star Sports after KKR’s dominant eight-wicket victory.
Sehwag’s comments reflect the frustration around CSK’s performance, where nothing seemed to go right, despite Dhoni’s leadership.
Dhoni’s Struggles and Insights
After the loss, Dhoni didn’t mince words. He acknowledged the difficulties CSK has been facing, focusing on the lack of partnerships and the pressure that comes with losing too many wickets. Dhoni also stated that the pitch played a significant role, noting how the ball behaved similarly in both innings. However, he didn’t use it as an excuse, instead pinpointing a lack of partnerships as the key reason behind the defeat.
“It has been quite a few nights that has not gone our way. The challenge has been there, we have to accept the challenge. Today I felt we did not have enough runs on the board. It has been the case over there, when we bowled in the 2nd innings it stopped a bit, today it did in the first innings. When you lose too many wickets, there is pressure and with quality spinners, it is difficult. We never got any partnerships, and with a bit more application, we would be fine,” Dhoni said.
Powerplay Woes: Dhoni’s Defence
CSK’s struggles in the powerplay have been well-documented, and they once again found themselves in trouble, managing just 31 runs against KKR during the first six overs. Dhoni, however, defended his openers, stating that they need to play their natural game and not get desperate. He emphasized that the team should focus on building partnerships and capitalizing on the middle and later overs rather than trying to hit big shots early on.
“What is important is to see the conditions, a couple of games we have done decently well, back your strengths and play the shots you can play. Not match someone else’s play. Our openers are good openers, play authentic cricket shots, they don’t slog or look to hit across the line. It is important not to get desperate seeing the scorecard. If we start looking for 60 with our lineup, it will be very difficult for us. Get partnerships going, maybe capitalise in the middle and later overs and if we lose wickets, the middle order has to do their job differently. And the slog will be delayed for quite a while,” Dhoni added.
CSK’s Struggles Continue
Currently sitting in the ninth spot on the points table, CSK’s chances of bouncing back seem slim with five losses from six games. Their next match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 14 is crucial, but with their current form, things aren’t looking too promising for the Chennai-based side.
