After Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced their fifth straight loss in IPL 2025, former Australian captain Michael Clarke had some thoughts to share. He believes that the five-time champions are really lacking in confidence at this point, and it’s about time they take some risks to turn their season around.
During the match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, even with MS Dhoni back in his captain’s role, CSK didn’t look like the fierce team they usually are. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) played smart with their bowling, keeping CSK to a mere 103 runs, which is their lowest score on home ground in the IPL. KKR made quick work of that total, winning by eight wickets and handing CSK their largest defeat in the league based on how many balls were left in the game—59 to be exact. Right now, they’re sitting at the bottom of the points table in ninth place.
Clarke pointed out that the pitch was quite challenging to bat on, with the new ball swinging a bit and some spin coming into play. He feels that CSK didn’t read the situation well, and their lack of confidence showed in their batting. He said, “From what I saw, their approach was way too cautious. They seemed more focused on just trying to keep it close or avoid a massive loss rather than actually going for the win.”
He believes it’s time for them to stop playing safe and take risks. Clarke noted, “That kind of shift in mindset isn’t easy to achieve. Just like winning can create a positive energy in the dressing room, losing can build a heavy atmosphere that sticks around. Breaking out of that can be tough.”
Piyush Chawla, a seasoned Indian leg-spinner who played for CSK back in IPL 2020, also weighed in on the situation. He thinks CSK might need a little shake-up, suggesting they should consider giving opportunities to younger players who are eager to prove themselves.
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“Right now, it’s a good idea for CSK to bring some young blood into the lineup. Somebody like Andre Siddarth, who’s solid in the middle order, should definitely get a shot. We’ve seen enough of guys like Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda already,” he suggested.
Chawla feels that injecting a fresh face into the lineup might be just what CSK needs to regain some momentum. He said, “You never know; a new player could come in, score some quick runs, and help lift the whole team’s spirits. I’m not saying they should overhaul the entire team, just maybe a couple of changes to shake things up a bit.”
He also talked about Sunil Narine’s impressive bowling performance, where he took three wickets for just 13 runs in four overs without giving away any boundaries on that pitch. “Even after all these years, batters still find it tricky to face Narine. This type of pitch plays right into his hands because he knows how to maintain just the right length. He bowls at a speed that doesn’t give the batters much time to react,” Chawla explained.
He recalled how Narine had previously dismissed MS Dhoni in a similar manner and praised him for his skill. “The pitch might have been good for bowling, but you still need to bowl well to get the job done, and that’s exactly what Narine did. He deserves a lot of credit for that performance,” he wrapped up.
