Following a crushing nine-wicket defeat to the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni admitted that the team may have to shift focus to IPL 2026 if they fail to make the playoffs this season.
CSK, currently languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table with just four points from eight matches, now face the uphill task of winning all six of their remaining games to keep their qualification hopes alive. Dhoni reflected on the team’s performance and said they would begin evaluating player combinations for the next season if the current campaign doesn’t go their way.
Inconsistent Batting and Missed Opportunities
CSK’s batting lineup failed to deliver on a flat pitch, managing just 176 runs—well below what was expected. Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja were the top scorers, but neither could accelerate enough to challenge the MI bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah, whose early introduction into the death overs stifled CSK’s scoring.
“We didn’t have a par score. We needed to start the slog overs earlier,” said Dhoni. He also highlighted the need for improvement in fielding, pointing out that taking more catches and fixing fielding errors could have helped plug critical gaps. CSK’s inability to adapt to conditions and make the most of the powerplay and death overs proved costly.
Dhoni Eyes Long-Term Rebuilding
Dhoni hinted at strategic changes ahead, especially if the team fails to secure a playoff berth.
“If we don’t qualify, we’ll start looking at combinations for the next season,” he stated, signaling a potential rebuild. This loss was not only a significant setback in the context of the 2025 season but also CSK’s first defeat to the Mumbai Indians since 2022. Dhoni acknowledged the impact of dew in the second innings and credited MI’s effective handling of spin and aggressive batting approach.
He also praised MI’s [Mhatre] for his calculated shot selection, which contributed to the swift chase. “We’ve been successful because we played good cricket. But it’s important not to get too emotional and stay focused,” he concluded.
As CSK navigates a difficult phase, all eyes will be on how they respond in the coming fixtures—and whether this signals the beginning of a transition toward a new era under Dhoni’s leadership.
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