Following Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) nine-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 20, 2025, captain MS Dhoni addressed the team’s challenging position in the IPL 2025 standings. With six losses in eight matches, CSK currently sits at the bottom of the table. Dhoni emphasized the importance of aiming for playoff qualification but acknowledged the need to focus on building a strong squad for the next season if that goal becomes unattainable. He stated, “What will be important is to qualify, but if not, get a secured XI for next year”.
CSK’s path to the playoffs requires winning all their remaining matches and improving their net run rate, which is currently the worst in the league at -1.392. Their upcoming fixtures include matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 25, Punjab Kings on April 30, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 3. These games are crucial for CSK’s hopes of making a late surge into the playoff spots.
Despite the setbacks, Dhoni remains focused on the team’s development and future prospects. He highlighted the importance of learning from the current season’s challenges to assemble a more balanced and effective squad for IPL 2026. This pragmatic approach underscores Dhoni’s commitment to CSK’s long-term success, even as immediate playoff aspirations hang in the balance.
