New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings had a dismal start to their IPL 2025 campaign with the side managing to secure just one win from five games so far. CSK’s lone victory came in their season-opener match against the Mumbai Indians. Since then, the five-time champions have faced four consecutive defeats.
CSK will play KKR at Chepauk on Friday and MS Dhoni will be back to lead the five-times title-winners. A day ahead of the match, head coach Stephen Fleming officially announced that Ruturaj Gaikwad has fractured his elbow which has been ruled out from the remaining IPL 2025 and Dhoni would be back in the leadership role for the remainder of the season.
Although Dhoni’s return as a captain will provide extra motivation to the team, former KKR and CSK wicket-keeper batsman Robin Uthappa feels that there’s no certainty that the change will result in a successful outcome.
“I don’t think him being captain is going to automatically turn the tide for CSK. There are a lot of gaps in that side, right? Well, how do you fix that? How do you cover for a solid batter like Rutu, who seems like the only one finding some form?” Uthappa added after the game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals.
Addressing Gaikwad’s absence, Uthappa expressed confidence in Rahul Tripathi as the perfect replacement at the No. 3 spot for the five time champions.
“We have Devon Conway, who showed some form in the previous game against Punjab – he scored 69* before getting retired out. Rachin has been a little patchy since the IPL began. You have Rahul Tripathi, who I think will have to come in at number three right now,” he mentioned.
In the match number 25 against the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, MS Dhoni will be leading the Super Kings for the first time in IPL 2025 at home. Uthappa, however, believes that MS Dhoni has plenty to sort out in order to reignite the qualification hopes of the yellow army.
After being named the skipper again, there’s a big task on Dhoni’s shoulder as CSK is sitting at the ninth position in the points table with a net run rate of -0.889. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
