IPL 2025: How CSK Finally Changed its Thinking Process

One of the truisms of life is that what is your strength can sometimes end up as your weakness as well.

It is most true of Chennai Super Kings, the winningest team in the IPL (along with MI) with five titles. Its conservatism and its proclivity to stick to the same set of core players had been touted as its major plus point.

But this season when things have unravelled badly for it, the same policy had drawn flak. It showed that the team's think-tank was reluctant to change and sticking to its old ideas that no longer produce results. Its batting powerplay is the lowest among the 10 teams in fray. The injury to captain Rituraj Gaikwad, its main player in the top of the order, also didn't help matters. When teams are almost threatening to go past 100 in the first 6 overs, CSK has been hovering around  a laughably measly 30-40 run mark. The middle order too doesn't have the firepower to make up for top-order shortcomings. And to make it worse, there are no finishers in form. Critics, including Sunil Gavaskar, have pointed out CSK's stubbornness in sticking to an underperforming batting order.

Also Read: IPL 2025: LSG Post 166/7; Is It Good Enough to Beat Dhoni's Boys?

But when it took the field against LSG last night, CSK had nothing to lose. Its campaign had already come off the rails and there is very little likelihood of it making the playoffs. But at least there was an inkling that there was some change in the thinking process. It dropped Ravichandran Ashwin, who has had a season to forget on his comeback to the Yellow team, and it also decided to give the talented Anshul Kambhoj a second game on the trot.

Also, making his debut for CSK in batting was the explosive youngster Shaik Rasheed. Though CSK did not make the ineffective Rahul Tripathi sit out, the idea to play Rasheed showed that the CSK is finally veering to the view of giving talented youth some chance. Rasheed's experiment was not exactly a roaring success, but he showed that he has it in him to be persisted for many more games. 

He hit 27 off 19 balls (142.10 strike rate) and in the company of Rachin Ravindra brought up the team's fifty around the 4th over mark --- a huge improvement from previous matches. This kind of set up the platform to chase the tricky score of LSG's 166 --- CSK eventually did with 3 balls to spare thanks to late flourish from MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube. 

It also promoted Ravindra Jadeja up the order. Again, it did not work last night. But at least the team was trying and not falling back on its old, failed ways. The coaching staff, led by Stephen Fleming, has emphasised the need for adaptability and quick decision-making, moving away from their traditional 'trust the process' mantra. The contributions from young players and a more aggressive approach helped CSK halt its losing streak.

The road to the playoffs is still challenging. But CSK, if it can blood youngsters like Vansh Bedi in the coming matches, would at least give itself an outside chance.

Also Read: IPL 2025: CSK Seek Redemption in Clash Against LSG