It’s been a challenging IPL 2025 campaign for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The five-time champions find themselves at the bottom of the table, having managed just two wins in eight games. With only four points and a net run rate of -1.392, they currently occupy the 10th spot. Their upcoming fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is now a do-or-die scenario—essentially a virtual knockout.
Remarkably, CSK has never finished last in any IPL season. Their lowest standings came in 2020 and 2022 when they finished seventh and ninth, respectively. Now, with six games remaining, they must win all to reach the 16-point mark—historically enough for a playoff berth in most seasons.
Head Coach Stephen Fleming remains optimistic. “We still believe we can win six out of six. Some might laugh, but RCB showed that it’s possible,” he said ahead of the game against SRH at Chepauk. He was referring to RCB’s 2024 campaign, where they qualified for the playoffs with 14 points and a strong net run rate—one of the few instances of a team advancing with seven wins since the league expanded to 10 teams.
CSK will need not just wins, but dominant ones, to improve their net run rate. Their chances may also depend on how other results unfold, as the playoff race is expected to be tightly contested.
While the road ahead is steep, CSK fans will recall 2010 when the team won just two of their first seven matches before going on to win the title—proof that turnarounds are not impossible.