They say catches win matches. But CSK? They seem to be proving the opposite this season.
Under the lights at Dharamsala, Chennai Super Kings had their chance—twice. Priyash Arya, batting on just 6 in the first over, offered a sitter. Dropped. Again, on 73 in the 12th over—another dolly, grassed. What followed was pure carnage.
Arya unleashed a knock for the ages—103 off just 42 balls, tearing through Chennai’s bowling like a hot knife through butter. His century was not just a milestone; it was a statement. And more importantly—it was gifted.
Chasing Punjab’s mammoth 212, CSK’s top order showed fight. Gaikwad and Dube put together a gritty 87-run stand, but wickets kept tumbling at the wrong time. The asking rate ballooned, the pressure mounted, and eventually, Chennai folded for 188, slumping to their fourth straight defeat in IPL 2025.
Chasing Punjab’s mammoth 220, CSK’s top order showed fight. Conway and Dube put together a gritty 89-run stand, but wickets kept tumbling at the wrong time. The asking rate ballooned, the pressure mounted, and eventually, Chennai folded for 201, slumping to their fourth straight defeat in IPL 2025.
Chasing Punjab’s mammoth 220, CSK’s top order showed fight. Conway and Dube put together a gritty 89-run stand, but wickets kept tumbling at the wrong time. The asking rate ballooned, the pressure mounted, and eventually, Chennai folded for 201, slumping to their fourth straight defeat in IPL 2025.
Post-match, head coach Stephen Fleming didn’t hold back. “The game was lost in the field,” he said bluntly. “But our catching has been poor all season.” A rare public admission from the usually calm Kiwi, but the numbers back him. CSK have now dropped the most catches (11) this season—and it’s costing them dearly.
Once a side built on precision and pressure, CSK now looks disjointed. The bowlers are missing their lengths, the fielders are misjudging the basics, and the aura? It's flickering.
With four losses in five games, Gaikwad’s men sit dangerously close to the bottom of the table. The fans are still turning up in yellow, still chanting Dhoni’s name—but the magic is missing. The fielding isn’t just sloppy; it’s symptomatic of a deeper problem.
Unless CSK wakes up from this nightmare run, IPL 2025 could become the season the dynasty truly begins to fade.
