MS Dhoni’s Captaincy Fails to Revive CSK’s Batting Woes Against KKR
Despite MS Dhoni taking over the captaincy from RuturajGaikwad, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) continued their dismal batting performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai during IPL 2025. The team endured one of its worst powerplays of the season, managing only 31/2 in six overs, reflecting their ongoing struggles with the bat.
The collapse began with opener Devon Conway, who took time to settle but fell for 12 off 10 balls while attempting a reverse sweep against Moeen Ali. His Kiwi counterpart RachinRavindra followed suit, scoring a disappointing 4 off 9 deliveries. While Vijay Shankar managed two boundaries in the sixth over to salvage the powerplay, CSK’s batting woes persisted. Moeen Ali even bowled a rare wicket-maiden, further highlighting CSK’s struggles.
Earlier, CSK had included Rahul Tripathi in the XI after Gaikwad was ruled out of the tournament due to an elbow fracture. However, Tripathi’s form remains a concern, having scored just 30 runs in three matches prior to this game.
CSK’s brittle batting lineup continues to be a major issue this season, with no player stepping up consistently. Their worst powerplay remains 30/3 against RCB, and their inability to capitalize early has left them languishing in the points table.