Chennai Super Kings Miss Playoffs Again: End of the Dominance?

By Sushant Agarwal

Published on | May 01, 2025

CSK's Downfall in IPL 2025

For the first time ever, the five-time champions fail to reach playoffs in two consecutive seasons.

Historic Miss

CSK are officially out of the IPL 2025 playoff race — again. Two straight eliminations mark an unprecedented low for the iconic franchise.

From Glory to Gloom

CSK had been the most consistent IPL team for over a decade. But 2024 and 2025 brought a sharp decline in form and results.

Ruturaj Steps Up as CSK Captain

Ruturaj Gaikwad led CSK with composure in IPL 2024 after taking over from Dhoni, guiding the team to a respectable 5th-place finish.

The Dhoni Factor Fades

MS Dhoni’s quiet IPL 2025 mirrors CSK’s fading clarity and weakened batting, as he plays a limited role as mentor and lower-order batter.

MSD's Batting Position Sparks Buzz

Dhoni batted as low as No. 9 this season — a rare sight. This limited his time at the crease and reduced his impact with the bat.

Inconsistent Performances

CSK's batting lacked stability, none of them in top 15 run scorers. Bowlers too failed to deliver match-winning spells consistently.

Injuries and Form Hurt CSK’s Campaign

Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway failed to fire, and Ruturaj’s mid-season injury disrupted CSK’s batting stability and momentum.

Struggles in 2025 Season

CSK have won just 2 of 10 matches so far in IPL 2025, sitting bottom of the table with 4 points and crashing out of playoff contention early.

What Lies Ahead?

With Dhoni’s likely exit on the horizon and back-to-back playoff failures, CSK may face a serious rebuild ahead of IPL 2026.

IPL 2025: CSK Eliminated After Loss to Punjab Kings