Five defeats on the spin, three consecutive losses at Chepauk and the team’s heaviest defeat in terms of balls (59) to spare… Welcome back to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captaincy, MS Dhoni.
GTU (gir gaye phir bhi tange upar) is commonly used in the Mumbai maidans to describe intransigence. About 1,300 kilometres away at Chepauk, Dhoni channelled his inner khadoos after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) humiliated his team via an eight-wicket victory. An outdated T20 side was outclassed by a far superior opponent. Dhoni apparently refused to accept it. Or maybe, he didn’t want to throw his teammates under the bus. Whatever be the reason, it felt like the CSK captain was in denial.
Sample this… “What is important is our openers are good openers and they just need to back themselves and play authentic cricket shots,” Dhoni told the host broadcaster after the loss.
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Also this… “We don’t want to match somebody else, or some other team. We have quality openers, and it is important not to get desperate seeing the scoreboard. A few boundaries and the score keeps moving. If we target 60 (in the Powerplay), it gets tough. If we lose wickets, the middle order needs to do heavy lifting and the slog never comes.”
Seriously! As per ESPNcricinfo stats, CSK have the lowest Powerplay run rate, 7.50, in this year’s IPL. Their brand of T20 cricket has become passé. T20 is the fastest-evolving format of the game and the method that had yielded results – five IPL titles – is no longer working. In a way, the ongoing season is CSK’s Adelaide moment.
The 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final in Adelaide was the turning point in India’s white-ball cricket. A 10-wicket hammering at England’s hands triggered a paradigm shift in approach. Rohit Sharma led from the front and by example. From CSK’s perspective, can a 43-year-old captain, who bats at No. 8 or 9, lead from the front? Leadership aside, Dhoni, at this moment in time, is an embellishment.
“It’s important to get partnerships going,” he said. “Maybe, look to capitalise in the middle and the later overs. That’s what our strength will be.”
Then again, this is not how T20 cricket is played these days. All the other nine teams in the IPL have heavy hitters at the top and heavy artillery in the middle. CSK’s porous middle order makes matters worse for them.
Fortress Chepauk has become the temple of tedium. Something’s got to give. It’s the end of a cycle for CSK. It was great, but it’s over now. A reboot has become the need of the hour. “What’s important is to look deep down inside,” said Dhoni.
What he sees may not make for pleasant viewing.
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CSK batting implodes after KKR’s spin trio dominates. No new-captain bounce for #MSDhoni and his adoring crowd at Chepauk.@snehasis_95 writes #CSKvKKR #IPL2025 #TATAIPL https://t.co/3bwiXAHgOY
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 11, 2025