MS Dhoni Keeps Hope Alive for IPL 2025 Playoffs, Eyes Stronger CSK Core for Next Season

MS Dhoni has not given up on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) qualifying for the IPL 2025 playoffs, but he is also clear that if the results don’t go their way, the remaining matches should be used to identify a strong team for next season.

CSK’s nine-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium left them anchored at the bottom of the table with only four points from eight matches.

With six games left and a six-point gap from the fourth-placed team, the margin for error is slim.

“With all the games in front of us that we are supposed to win, we will just take it one game at a time,” Dhoni said after the match.

“And if we lose a few, what will be important for us [is] to get the right combination for next year. We don’t want too many players getting changed. So I think what will be important is to try and qualify. But if not, get a secured eleven for the next year and come back strong.”

Fleming: “No Stone Will Be Left Unturned”

Head coach Stephen Fleming echoed Dhoni’s sentiments at the post-match press conference. He stressed that CSK would remain focused even if qualification becomes unlikely, using the remainder of the season to prepare for the future.

“It’s hard, really. It’s not when you’re playing well below par to get enthusiastic about staying in the competition, but that’s what we must do, and yes, there will be an opportunity. Nothing will be wasted during this tournament. We look back at other tournaments that haven’t gone our way and some of the work we have done at the back end of tournaments have set us up for wins in the following year.”

Fleming added, “We are realistic about the position that we are in. But there will no stone left unturned looking for players for next year, combinations for next year, and we’ll see it as an opportunity. Not a great opportunity, because we want to be at the pointy end of the competition, but if it works out that there’s no chance of us getting through, we’ll certainly make the most of it.”

Batting Below Par in Another Disappointing Outing

CSK’s total of 176/5, despite attacking fifties from Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja, proved insufficient on a dew-affected pitch. Dhoni acknowledged that the score was far from competitive.

“I think we were quite below par, because we all knew that dew will come in the second half and we were in a position to exploit the middle overs, and I just felt that Bumrah being one of the best death bowlers in the world right now, I felt once they started their death bowling early, that was the time we should have capitalized and started our slog slightly early and after that even if Bumrah also goes for runs it’s a plus point, I think there were a few overs there we could have got slightly more runs. We needed those runs because 175 with the dew around is not a par score,” Dhoni said at the presentation.

Rohit and Surya Seal the Game for MI

In response, Mumbai Indians cruised to victory, thanks to a dominant partnership between Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav.

Rohit brought up his first half-century of the season, while Suryakumar smashed 68 off just 30 balls. Their unbeaten 114-run stand for the second wicket sealed MI’s third consecutive win.

Dhoni praised Suryakumar’s handling of CSK’s spinners and highlighted the difficulties posed by the dew.

“I think the odd ball was still gripping and for us what was most important was the first 6 overs, and if you give away too many in the first 6 it becomes slightly easy and Surya is a brilliant player of spin bowling and with the dew it was doing slightly less, but it wasn’t like it was coming on nicely.”

Looking Ahead: CSK’s Focus on Stability

Dhoni also emphasized the importance of maintaining composure during tough phases, referring to their challenging 2020 season as a reminder.

“What we need to realise is that we are successful if we play good cricket. At the same time, if we’re not playing good cricket, what is important is not to get too emotional about it,” he said. “But at the same time, you want to be practical. There have been instances in one of the seasons – I think 2020 – which was not great for us.”

He added, “Those are the question marks we have got, few catches and that will help. Other than that we are just trying to plug in the holes.”

Despite the defeat, Dhoni reiterated the approach for the remainder of the season: focus on one game at a time while preparing a secure core for the future.

“You don’t want too many players getting changed, what will be important is to try and qualify, but if not get a secured 11 for next year and come back strong.”

CSK remain at the bottom of the table, while MI climbed to sixth, continuing their winning momentum.