New Delhi [India], April 12: Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) struggles in IPL 2025 have sparked fierce criticism from former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who didn’t hold back after the team’s fifth consecutive defeat, marking their worst losing streak in franchise history.
Once off to a flying start with a commanding win over Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions have since hit a downward spiral. Their most recent collapse came at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who crushed them by 8 wickets at Chepauk—a venue once considered CSK’s stronghold.
The defeat not only continued their losing streak but also marked CSK’s third straight loss at Chepauk, another unwanted first for the franchise.
Reacting strongly on social media, Srikkanth—fondly known as Cheeka—took a jibe at the Super Kings’ outdated strategies and underwhelming powerplay performance.
“One of CSK’s worst defeats ever. Powerplay batting looked like a rehearsal for a test match. Whole XI feels like it’s running on nostalgia. Time to think out of the box, why not try some unsold players like Prithvi Shaw at this point? Would you try it? Even chaos is a strategy,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
CSK’s innings never quite got off the ground after posting a meek 31/2 at the end of the powerplay. The team stumbled to 103/9 in 20 overs, failing to challenge a red-hot Kolkata side that wasted no time in chasing down the total in just 10.1 overs.
To add to the drama, MS Dhoni returned as captain for the first time since 2023 after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. However, the legendary captain couldn’t stem the slide as CSK continued to falter across all departments.
Once known for their consistency and flair, CSK now finds itself in uncharted territory, searching for answers—and perhaps even chaos—to reignite their campaign.