 "Five-time IPL champions CSK are currently at the bottom of 2025 points table. Images: Reuters")
Former India cricketer Rohan Gavaskar feels Chennai Super Kings (CSK) need a reality check and finishing last in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 points table will be something that will motivate them to make real changes needed to revive their fortunes in the league. Meanwhile, legendary Virender Sehwag and veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle feel CSK are struggling with their combinations.
MS Dhoni-led CSK suffered their seventh loss in IPL 2025 on Friday, losing against Sunrisers Hyderabad for the first time at the Chepauk. Chennai’s batting problems once again plagued them, as they scored a below-par 154 in the first innings before losing the match by five wickets.
CSK skipper Dhoni was livid with how the experienced batters failed to show up again, as he admitted that Chennai may need wholesale changes.
“In a tournament like this, if there are one or two areas to plug in the holes it’s good, but when a majority of the players are not doing well you need to make changes. You can’t just keep going. We are just not putting enough runs on the board,” he said after the match.
Sehwag says CSK need new players, not new vision
Reflecting on CSK’s latest defeat and ongoing issues in IPL 2025, former India opener Sehwag cautioned them against changing their think tank. The legendary cricketer said the team combination issue is CSK’s biggest problem and they can set everything right with new players next season, as a lot of mega auction buys have failed to fire for them.
“They don’t need a new vision,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz. “They need to see which players can be changed. I feel they need a combination in which they can perform well. I feel that whatever they have tried so far has not worked. The opening combinations, the experienced players did not work, also the new players. Now with a few games they are trying to check players that can make an impact so that they will be retained and new players will be brought in for those who are pushed out.”
Gavaskar feels Chennai need reality check
His fellow panellist Rohan Gavaskar wished CSK finished last in the IPL points table for the first time, as a reality check is needed within the system to start making meaningful changes.
“For the sake of Chennai Super Kings, it’s better if they finish 10th rather than 7th and 8th because then they will feel they changes are needed,” Gavaskar told Cricbuzz.
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More Shorts“I feel they will change players because this think tank has made them play 10 finals. Think tank is not a problem. Thinking of playing T20 cricket in 2025 has to be changed.”
While dissecting where CSK have gone wrong in IPL 2025, Bhogle felt the lack of a big season from Devon Conway and Ravindra Jadeja has hurt the team, while players like Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi haven’t been able to justify their places.
“They won the first game. We knew they had problems at top. They needed Conway to have a big season because he is so CSK. That didn’t happen,” Bhogle told Cricbuzz. “Ravindra Jadeja had an iffy season and they needed one of Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda or Rahul Tripathi to come good, none of them have. Suddenly their batting order has been all over the place and as a result they had to use a lot many players to get the right combination. And I think with five remaining games, they still haven’t found it.”
CSK are mathematically still alive in the IPL 2025 playoffs race, however, their qualification seems highly unlikely. They play against the Punjab Kings next on Wednesday at home.