Heavyweights fall with a thud. When that happens, there is noise. It’s no different with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025. One of the all-time great franchises in the 18 years of the competition, they have set examples that will be difficult to replicate. Considering their legacy, this year’s experience (10th and last on the table at the moment) has been traumatic for their fans — one of the most passionate and dedicated among all IPL teams.
This was bound to unfold, following natural laws. There is a sell-by date for everything and CSK overlooked this. They stuck to the principles that worked for them in the past and applied the same theory when it came to personnel. In the process, they failed to note that even if the plan is sound, you need the right resources to execute it.
Obsession with MS Dhoni
One runs the risk of inviting brickbats for saying this, but it’s true that CSK’s talismanic face is that of a human being and not a robot. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is synonymous with CSK and he always will be. His role in the development of this franchise will be a case study if one were to conduct academic research on how to succeed in a tournament of this nature.
That doesn’t mean he has to be on the field of play indefinitely. It was tragic to see Dhoni walk out at No. 9 in one match. He has a strike rate of 148-plus and played a role in a match-winning partnership as well. However, there was no clarity over his position in the batting order. Looking at the role wicketkeepers play as batters in other teams, this was a drawback for CSK. He can still pull off swift stumpings, but that is not enough, given the demands of a modern T20 side.
Sticking to age-old principles
It was surprising to see the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar in the side. Then, one thought that since CSK had chosen them, there must be something about them that we don’t know. Khaleel’s performance early on vindicated that thought. What followed was a clear signal that there were blunders at the recruitment/auction table.
Making gold out of old was a trademark CSK trait. For years, they prospered by showing faith in veterans from various countries. These players delivered title-winning performances. But they were led by Dhoni. Under the current set-up, Ruturaj Gaikwad is the designated captain. For somebody significantly younger than Dhoni, it’s difficult to be the field marshal in that milieu.
Reluctance in blooding youth
That’s a mindset the CSK management refused to part with. They are among the best when it comes to maintaining a team. They overdid it. While scouts of many teams found uncapped talent from distant corners, there was rarely an unknown and young player turning up in yellow, until recently. Shaik Rasheed (20), Ayush Mhatre (18), and Dewald Brevis (22) were late and forced inclusions, not natural choices.
When it comes to CSK’s triumphs, one remembers the roles played by the likes of Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Moeen Ali, and others — all seasoned players, some no longer part of their national teams. CSK with Dhoni as captain recycled their experience to suit the team’s requirements and reaped amazing rewards.
Equally unmistakable was the absence of players like Ashutosh Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Priyansh Arya, or Vignesh Puthur emerging from their ranks. Most other teams unearthed unknown faces who went on to become assets or showed significant potential. CSK, for some reason, were reluctant to explore this route.
Overlooking local talent
When the IPL started, CSK treated players from Tamil Nadu with special care. Murali Vijay and Ravichandran Ashwin were regular members of the XI. Other promising faces were also included in the squad. In terms of promoting promising youngsters from the state, CSK were a leading figure, alongside Kings XI Punjab/Punjab Kings.
Of late, this has ceased to an extent. Tamil Nadu continues to produce accomplished cricketers and CSK do have a few of them on the roster. However, players of the calibre of Varun Chakravarthy, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, R Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, T Natarajan, and even M Siddharth are turning out for teams from other states. Has the CSK management lost a trick here?
All these years, the hallmark of CSK’s operation was overall efficiency. Things happened on the field because everything off the field functioned smoothly. Possibly, it’s time to change the pattern that had been successfully followed. It has to start with the acceptance that there is cricket after Dhoni.