IPL 2025: Dhoni Addresses CSK's Batting Concerns After Fifth Straight Loss

Synopsis

On April 12, MS Dhoni highlighted Chennai Super Kings' batting problems after their fifth consecutive defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders. CSK could only manage 103 runs at Chepauk, leading to their biggest loss by balls remaining in IPL history.

Key Takeaways

Dhoni expressed concerns about the batting lineup.
CSK scored 103/9, their lowest at Chepauk.
Sunil Narine took 3-13 and scored 44 runs.
CSK has now lost five consecutive matches.
Dhoni emphasized the need for partnerships.

Chennai, April 12 (NationPress) The experienced MS Dhoni, who assumed leadership of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) mid-season against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday, highlighted significant concerns regarding their batting lineup following their fifth consecutive defeat.

CSK suffered an eight-wicket loss to the defending champions, with 59 balls remaining, after the home team's batting order collapsed spectacularly, finishing at 103/9 - marking their lowest score at Chepauk and the third lowest overall in IPL history.

Sunil Narine achieved remarkable bowling figures of 3-13, while both Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy took two wickets each.

In response, Narine delivered a stunning performance, scoring 44 runs off 18 balls with five sixes and two fours, leading his team to victory. His all-around performance earned him the Player of the Match title.

Post-match, Dhoni acknowledged their shortcomings in forming partnerships and utilizing the powerplay effectively.

"It has been quite a few nights where results have not favored us. We must embrace the challenge. I felt we were short on runs today. This has been a recurring issue; when we bowled in the second innings, conditions improved, but it hindered us in the first. Losing too many wickets creates pressure, and facing quality spinners becomes challenging. We failed to establish any partnerships. With more application, we could have performed better," the wicketkeeper-batter stated during the post-match presentation.

"It’s crucial to assess the conditions. We have performed reasonably well in a couple of matches, and we must rely on our strengths and play shots we are comfortable with. We should not try to emulate others. Our openers are competent, playing genuine cricket shots rather than attempting risky plays. It’s essential to avoid desperation when glancing at the scorecard. If we aim for 60 runs with our current lineup, it will be quite challenging. We need to foster partnerships, capitalizing in the middle and later overs, and the middle order must adapt their approach when facing wicket losses. The aggressive play can be postponed for a while," Dhoni added.

This match marked CSK's largest defeat in terms of balls remaining in IPL history. For the first time, CSK has endured five consecutive losses in their IPL journey, and it is also the first occurrence of losing three matches in a row at Chepauk within a single season.