The Chennai Super Kings, five-time IPL champions, have failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. In IPL 2025, they managed only four wins in 14 matches, finishing at the bottom of the points table. Mid-season, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an injury, and MS Dhoni took over as captain for the remaining matches.
Let’s examine the team’s performance and identify the five players whose underwhelming showings heavily impacted the Chennai Super Kings’ season.
Underperforming Players
MS Dhoni tops the list. In 14 matches, he scored just 196 runs with a strike rate of 135. Dhoni often batted at critical junctures where he could have sealed wins for his team with quick scoring. For instance, against RCB, Chennai needed 15 runs in the final over. Dhoni failed to deliver his signature shots, and Chennai lost by two runs.
Rachin Ravindra, who has gained international recognition as a top-notch batsman, had a disappointing season. After scoring 222 runs in 10 matches in IPL 2024, he managed only 181 runs in eight matches this season, with just one half-century.
Mathisha Pathirana, nicknamed “Junior Malinga,” played a crucial role in CSK’s IPL 2023 title win with 19 wickets in 12 matches. However, in IPL 2025, he took 13 wickets in 12 matches with an economy rate of 10.14, making him one of the guilty parties for CSK’s poor performance.
Shivam Dube had a decent season, scoring 357 runs at an average of 32.45. Although this was his third-best season in terms of runs, he, like MS Dhoni, frequently lost his wicket at critical moments. In simple terms, Dube failed to fulfill the role of a finisher.
Lastly, Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi were major disappointments. Hooda, bought for 1.70 crore, scored just 31 runs in seven matches, while Tripathi managed only 55 runs in five matches as an opener. Both players failed to meet expectations.