NEW DELHI: When discussing title contenders in the IPL, the name Chennai Super Kings (CSK) inevitably rises to the top, thanks to their on-field dominance and a record five titles. With IPL 2025 set to commence on March 22 and CSK kicking off their campaign against fellow five-time champions Mumbai Indians on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, all eyes will be on the Yellow Army and their iconic leader Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
CSK’s dominance can be attributed to the legendary Dhoni, under whose captaincy the team has secured five titles, reached the final ten times, and advanced to the playoffs on 12 occasions.
PAST PERFORMANCES
After finishing as runners-up in the inaugural 2008 season, CSK made it to the semifinals in 2009. The following two years, 2010 and 2011, saw them clinch back-to-back titles, establishing their supremacy.
In 2012 and 2013, CSK reached the finals but fell short, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, respectively. In 2014, they missed out on the final after being defeated by Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in Qualifier 2.
CSK’s resurgence came in 2015 when they reached the final once again, only to lose to Mumbai Indians. However, the team faced a major setback when they were suspended from the IPL for two years (2016 and 2017) due to the 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal.
The suspension did not diminish CSK’s spirit. They returned triumphantly in IPL 2018, winning the title. In 2019, they narrowly missed out on the championship, losing to Mumbai Indians by just one run in a thrilling final.
In 2020, CSK experienced their first failure to qualify for the playoffs, exiting after the league stage. However, they rebounded strongly in 2021 to claim their fourth title.
The 2022 season saw another setback as CSK once again failed to reach the playoffs. Yet, they staged a remarkable comeback in 2023, clinching their fifth title.
The 2024 season marked a significant change as Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Unfortunately, the transition did not yield the desired results, as CSK faced an early exit, finishing fifth in the league stage with seven wins and seven losses, amassing 14 points.
As IPL 2025 approaches, the burning question remains: Can CSK add a sixth trophy to their decorated cabinet?
SWOT ANALYSIS
CSK have consistently checked all the boxes heading into tournaments, which explains their sustained dominance over the years.
With the strategic brilliance of Dhoni still in the squad, CSK boast a formidable top-order lineup featuring New Zealand batting stars Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, along with the experienced Rahul Tripathi. Staying true to their tradition of prioritising all-rounders, CSK have once again picked a solid side, including Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
CSK’s bowling attack also appears well-balanced, with the likes of Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Khaleel Ahmed, Shreyas Gopal, Matheesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, and Noor Ahmad.
The only chink in CSK’s armour seems to be their captaincy.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was entrusted with the leadership role in IPL 2024, fell short of expectations as CSK finished fifth in IPL 2024 with seven wins and as many losses.
CSK will be hoping that Ruturaj can put the 2024 disappointment behind him and lead the team with fiery determination to secure their sixth title.
BEST XI
Devon Conway/Rachin Ravindra*, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda/Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran*, MS Dhoni (wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad/Nathan Ellis*, Matheesha Pathirana*, Khaleel Ahmed (*denotes overseas player)
CSK SQUAD FOR IPL 2025
Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, C Andre Siddarth, Vansh Bedi, Shaik Rasheed, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Find out how to watch IPL 2025 in Canada and the USA.
