Chennai, April 12, 2025 – It was a night to forget for Chennai Super Kings at their fortress, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, as the team suffered its biggest defeat in IPL history in terms of balls remaining, falling to Kolkata Knight Riders by a massive margin. The thrashing has left fans and former cricketers questioning what’s going wrong for the five-time champions – and some are pointing fingers at the leadership of none other than MS Dhoni.
Chennai managed just 103/9 in their allotted 20 overs, a total that was effortlessly chased down by KKR in only 10.1 overs, with 49 balls to spare – a record defeat for CSK. The loss marked the first time ever that Chennai Super Kings have lost three consecutive home games in an IPL season, and their fifth loss in six matches, leaving them languishing in ninth place out of ten teams on the points table.
Manoj Tiwary Unleashes Tough Questions
The disappointing performance didn’t go unnoticed. Manoj Tiwary, former India cricketer and once a teammate of MS Dhoni, didn’t hold back his emotions as he voiced his concerns on Cricbuzz.
“From here on, CSK’s cart is going downhill,” said Tiwary. “Some of the decisions they’re making on the field are baffling – especially coming from such experienced campaigners.”
He cited the late introduction of Noor Ahmad, CSK’s Purple Cap holder, as a strategic misstep. Noor wasn’t brought into the attack until the eighth over – a curious delay considering how effective spinners had been earlier in the game. Remarkably, Noor took a wicket off his very first ball, dismissing Sunil Narine, but the damage had already been done.
“Generally, MS Dhoni does not make such mistakes. I have not seen this in so many years,” Tiwary added. “What’s going on? Is the brain not working anymore?”
He also questioned the changes in Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling angles, particularly against left-handers, suggesting that the tactical approach was either off or simply lacked execution.
Narine Leads KKR’s Resurgence
While CSK struggled, KKR flourished. Sunil Narine delivered a vintage all-round performance, starring with both bat and ball. With the ball, Narine returned stunning figures of 3 for 13, dismantling CSK’s middle order and choking the run rate. Then, opening the batting, he smashed 44 off just 19 balls, including 5 sixes, in a fiery knock that all but sealed the game.
Quinton de Kock supported Narine with a brisk 23 before falling to CSK debutant Anshul Kamboj. Though Narine was removed by Noor Ahmad shortly after, Ajinkya Rahane (20)* and Rinku Singh (15)* calmly finished the game, with Rinku sealing it in style with a six.
The dominant performance propelled KKR to third place on the IPL 2025 table with three wins in six games, while CSK must now urgently address their slipping form.
What’s Next for CSK?
For a team known for consistency and leadership stability, CSK now faces an unfamiliar crisis. Dhoni, revered for his on-field sharpness, is being openly questioned for his decisions – something rarely seen in his illustrious career.
Is it a mere rough patch, or is this the beginning of a real decline? With the season nearly at the halfway mark, Chennai will need answers – fast.
