CSK in Crisis: Australia Greats Slam Dhoni-Led Side’s Conservative Approach
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in a precarious position in the IPL 2025, having suffered their fifth consecutive loss, according to a report by NDTV. The five-time champions were outplayed by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with the home side managing a paltry 103/9 – their lowest IPL total on their home turf.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has weighed in on CSK’s struggles, stating that the team appears to be lacking confidence and intent. "Wicket looked quite tough to bat on. There was a little bit of movement with the new ball and certainly some spin. I think Chennai Super Kings got their plan wrong. The way they went about it – it’s clear they’re down on confidence. And their intent – well, there was no intent," Clarke said on JioStar, as quoted by NDTV.
Clarke believes that CSK needs to adopt a more aggressive approach to get back on track in the season. "At the moment, it seems like a very conservative approach – just trying to get close to winning or avoid a big defeat. Instead, they should throw it all on the line, risk everything, and try to win the game," he said. Clarke’s comments come at a time when CSK are languishing at ninth place in the points table, and their biggest defeat in the IPL in terms of balls remaining (59) has raised concerns about their form.
Piyush Chawla, the veteran India leg-spinner who had a stint with CSK in IPL 2020, has suggested that the side needs a minor shake-up by backing young, uncapped, and hungry players in their ranks. "At this stage, I think Chennai Super Kings should consider bringing in youngsters. Someone like Andre Siddarth, who is a solid middle-order batter, deserves a chance. You’ve already seen enough of Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda," Chawla said, as per NDTV.
Chawla, who represented KKR from 2014 to 2019, also praised Sunil Narine for his impressive spell of 3-13 against CSK. "It’s been so many years, and yet batters still struggle to read Sunil Narine. These kinds of surfaces really suit his bowling because he’s never too full, never too short. The pace he bowls at is perfect – it doesn’t give batters much time. We saw that in Rahul Tripathi’s dismissal, and even Ravindra Jadeja was late while trying to play the late cut," he said.
The loss to KKR has highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides, with CSK’s batting unit struggling to put up a competitive total. As the team looks to turn their season around, Clarke’s words of caution and Chawla’s suggestions for a minor shake-up may well be worth considering. As NDTV reported, CSK’s struggles are a far cry from their dominating self, and the team will look to address their issues and mount a comeback in the season.
The concerns surrounding CSK’s form and approach have been highlighted by their recent performances, and it remains to be seen how the team responds to the criticism. With the IPL 2025 season still in its early stages, CSK will look to regroup and reassess their strategy to get back on track. As Clarke pointed out, "That kind of change is easier said than done. Just like a good, confident feeling can become infectious in a winning dressing room, the same applies when you’re losing. That losing feeling lingers, and it’s hard to get rid of sometimes."
