Suresh Raina Exposes CSK’s Management Flaws, Questions Auction Strategy Amid IPL 2025 Collapse
Former CSK stalwart Suresh Raina has squarely blamed the franchise’s management and auction strategy for their dismal IPL 2025 campaign, clarifying that MS Dhoni’s role in decision-making has been overstated. Despite Dhoni’s leadership on the field, Raina emphasized that Kashi Viswanathan (administration head) and RupaGurunath (cricket operations) spearheaded the flawed squad assembly, resulting in a disjointed unit that has lost 7 of 9 matches and sits bottom of the table.
Raina dismissed the myth of Dhoni’s omnipotence in CSK’s auctions, stating, “They always say MS makes the final call, but he’s not deeply involved. The core group handles retention and signings-Dhoni might suggest 4-5 players, but that’s it.” He criticized the management for poor recruitment, citing overpriced underperformers like RavindraJadeja (Rs 18 crore) and R Ashwin (Rs 9.75 crore), who have failed to deliver. “The Rs 18-12 crore players aren’t responding. A 43-year-old Dhoni is carrying the team’s burden alone,” Raina added, questioning the squad’s hunger.
Despite debuting Dewald Brevis and promoting AyushMhatre (19-ball 30 vs SRH), CSK’s experiments have backfired, with the team collapsing from 114/4 to 154 all out in their latest defeat. Raina stressed the need for local talent integration and match-winners, lamenting the absence of Tamil Nadu players like B Sai Sudharsan and R Sai Kishore, who thrive elsewhere.
With playoff hopes nearly extinguished, Raina hinted at an imminent overhaul, stating, “Dhoni will sit alone, reassess everything. He won’t tolerate this.”The comments underscore a systemic failure in CSK’s “process”, with Raina urging accountability from management and players alike to restore the franchise’s legacy.