Chennai Super Kings Seek Revival After Challenging 2025 IPL Season

The 2025 Indian Premier League season proved to be one of the most challenging seasons in the history of Chennai Super Kings. Consistency being their hallmark and with strong performances in earlier years, the franchise this year suffered a significant setback. CSK has been a perennial power house of the IPL with five championships and consistent playoff appearances but this season they were one of the earliest teams to get eliminated from the competition. The record of never failing to reach two consecutive finals is now shattered and this year they even threaten to finish last on the points table.

Coach Stephen Fleming was candid in his post-match comments following the team's six-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals in Delhi. He readily conceded that the team was where it belonged according to the performances it had put up during the season. In his view, the players had failed to put in performances that were a reflection of their capability. The team was inconsistent and could not display the type of spirit CSK is renowned for. The problems were evident and the coach mentioned that rather than constructing deep innings they were patching things up in the course of matches which never resulted in good momentum.

Although they got knocked out of the playoffs early CSK chose to utilize the rest of their games by playing younger players and getting ready for the future. Even though the results did not improve much the focus shifted to development and learning. Players like Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis showed potential and gave fans a glimpse of what could be expected in the coming years. However these young players also need better support and guidance to truly shine in the high-pressure environment of the IPL.

Among the primary concerns for CSK this season was their batting order. The team fared poorly right from the beginning and their show in the PowerPlay overs was particularly woeful. Their lack of intent and zeal in batting meant that it was hard to chase or construct large totals. Though recent games did witness an improvement in the pace it was still apparent that there are a number of gaps in the batting line up that have to be plugged. Things were compounded by the fact that veterans were being tried in positions where they normally would not bat. Ravindra Jadeja who has been CSK's finisher since years was forced to bat at position four a job that is not his natural fit. In one game even Ravichandran Ashwin appeared at number four to look to utilize the field restrictions in the PowerPlay something that contributed to the uncertainty regarding the batting order.

This avoid-and-avow with players and batting positions is not what CSK supporters are accustomed to. The team has habitually been associated with stability and clear roles. Fleming acknowledged that the order is not where it has to be and the management is already thinking of drastic changes for next season. He said that if the top order fails to score then it becomes difficult to rectify the rest of the team and players have to adjust to positions that aren't quite ideal. Consequently, they have been patching up issues in the course of matches instead of strategizing for good innings from the beginning.

Although the batting lineup disappointed the bowling team also experienced some issues. One of the biggest letdowns was Matheesha Pathirana who had previously been an integral part for CSK. This season he could not get into rhythm and his economy rate crossed the ten-run mark per over. His renovated approach did not appear to be effective and he lost control at key moments. Fleming admitted that there were high expectations of Pathirana and that his form is not where the team or player desires it to be. The coach feels that Pathirana is in the stage of his career when opposition batsmen are getting to know him better and he has to change quickly in order to remain effective.

Another overseas bowler who fell short of expectations was Noor Ahmad. Although he took wickets and is one of the best bet for the Purple Cap his performance in matches was weak. He could not control the run rate and tended to leak runs even while getting wickets. This was a weakness that pained the team particularly when they required breakthroughs to shift the course of matches in their direction.

On the positive side one of the positives for CSK this year has been the emergence of young pacer Anshul Kamboj. Having been left out in the initial part of the season he made a good comeback and impressed all with his performances. His control and pace with the ability to bowl especially with the new ball brought a smile to CSK's face. Kamboj performed excellently with pressure and is very skilled and confident with his ability to bowl hard length balls that are difficult for batsmen. Fleming described him as having deceptive pace and his ability to make the ball wobble off the seam. Kamboj was also picked in the India A team that will tour England and this will further enhance him as a bowler.

The CSK coach said Kamboj's success in both red and white ball cricket is a big advantage for the team and indicates that he is a future asset. Last Ranji season, he did the unique thing of taking all ten wickets in an innings which says a lot about his ability. According to Fleming, if the young pacer is provided with suitable conditions in England, he will be very effective and even more confident.

Though the 2025 season was a disappointment for CSK, it also showed them areas of focus and provided an opportunity for the team to begin preparing for the future. With a combination of young and veteran players, the team now looks towards the new season with fresh determination. Fleming indicated that they already have some solid ideas in mind for 2026 and will be working diligently to address all the weaknesses. CSK can have had a bad year but their determination to bounce back stronger than ever is just as steadfast as ever.