CSK vs KKR, IPL 2025 Live Score: MS Dhoni takes over as captain as lowly Chennai Super Kings look to revive season

CSK vs KKR, IPL 2025 Live Score: Chennai Super Kings’ Mahendra Singh Dhoni reacts during a match.

Chennai have chased in all five of their matches so far, and outside of their opening win against MI, have called significantly short in each of their run-chases. A staggering stat has been going around of CSK not having chased down a total in excess of 180 since all the way back in 2018, and it looks unlikely with a batting unit that has a few too many holes and has thus far lacked the firepower to change their fortunes. Changes are in order, and they did start in their loss against Punjab Kings, in which MS Dhoni was promoted to number five.

His brisk 27(12) had plenty of positive signs, and might be more of what CSK need from their talismanic wicketkeeper, instead of wasting his sublime bat-speed and cold-bloodedness for when matches have already fallen out of hand. CSK must consider other changes, however: Ruturaj Gaikwad has struggled in recent matches at number three, losing his wicket cheaply and leaving the team in a spot of bother. More than that, however, CSK are desperate for fast starts in the powerplay. Neither Devon Conway nor Rachin Ravindra are the more bombastic of batters, and allowing Gaikwad to take advantage of the powerplay might just add an extra bite to their batting. Might be time to move him back to opener.

KKR found themselves on the wrong side of a Nicholas Pooran classic at the Eden Gardens, the West Indian building onto an already devastating Mitchell Marsh performance to put on a score that proved to be just too much for the KKR batters. There was reason for optimism, though, particularly in Rinku Singh looking more like his former self as he slashed his way to an unbeaten 38* off just 15 deliveries. Add to this Ajinkya Rahane looking like a man reborn at the top of the order and plenty of spark shown by batters throughout their lineup, it’s not all doom and gloom for the defending champions.

Work needs to be put in to be more clinical with the ball, though, which has been hot-and-cold so far. After demolishing SRH in the game prior, conceding 238 to LSG was a performance that flattered to deceive. Rahane must start being slightly more creative and tactical with his bowling switches, failing to get the best out of his two star spinners so far.

It’s hard to call a favourite in this match, and might just come down to which team can avoid long patches of bad cricket, as they have been prone to so far. CSK could catch up just a little bit with a win, but the pressure is definitely greater on them: dropping to a 1-5 record after having played four games at Chepauk would be disastrous. They don’t play at home for two weeks after this contest, and will want some sort of momentum to carry with them into their period on the road.