The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has brought tough times for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and their latest match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 11, 2025, was a painful one. Playing at their home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, CSK faced a crushing defeat, scoring their lowest-ever total at Chepauk, 103/9. Now, CSK has lost 5 matches in a row. So, what happened and why these losses hurt CSK so much.
KKR’s captain, Ajinkya Rahane, has often asked for spin-friendly pitches at their home ground, Eden Gardens, but hasn’t always got them. However, the Chepauk pitch on Friday was just right for KKR’s spinners, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Moeen Ali. Along with fast bowler Harshit Rana, who used slower balls cleverly, they made life tough for CSK’s batters. The pitch wasn’t a monster, though, KKR’s batters later showed it was fine for scoring runs.
CSK’s batting fell apart, managing only 103 runs in 20 overs, beating their previous lowest score at Chepauk (109 against Mumbai Indians in 2019). Meanwhile, KKR’s batters, led by Sunil Narine’s quick 44 off 18 balls, chased the target in no time. Narine and Quinton de Kock smashed 46 runs in just 25 balls to start, killing any chance of a CSK comeback. This win boosted KKR’s net run-rate and pushed them up to third in the IPL 2025 points table.
So, what went wrong for CSK? For starters, their batting was a mess. The team has relied on experienced players for years, but many of them aren’t at their best anymore. This was clear as CSK lost five games in a row for the first time ever in IPL history. Their strategy of sticking with older players is starting to backfire.
HISTORY CREATED BY KKR.
– CSK suffers their biggest ever defeat in IPL history (balls remaining). pic.twitter.com/NBkUgABFjf
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 11, 2025
KKR had a smart plan. Even though CSK had lost four games chasing, Rahane chose to bowl first. He trusted his bowlers to use the pitch, where the ball was stopping and turning a bit. Moeen Ali came on early with his off-spin and set the tone. In his second over, he bowled a maiden (no runs) and got Devon Conway out leg-before when Conway tried a reverse sweep. Harshit Rana then tricked Rachin Ravindra into a bad shot, leaving CSK at 16/2 after 4.1 overs.
From there, Varun Chakravarthy (2/22) and Narine (3/13) took over. They bowled perfectly, making the ball turn just enough to confuse CSK’s middle-order. Players like Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Ravindra Jadeja, and Deepak Hooda couldn’t figure them out and kept losing wickets. The CSK batters looked lost, unable to attack or even defend properly.
The biggest blow for CSK fans was MS Dhoni’s dismissal. Dhoni, who took over as captain again after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, came to bat at No. 9. Facing Narine, he missed a quicker ball and was hit on the pads. He asked for a review, and the crowd hoped for a miracle, but the decision stood—Dhoni was out for just 1 run. It was a sad moment for the new captain and the fans at Chepauk.
Shivam Dube was the only CSK batter who fought, finishing unbeaten on 31. His runs helped CSK cross 100, but he pulled his hamstring while batting. If this injury gets worse, CSK could face even darker days ahead. With five straight losses and three defeats in a row at home, a first for CSK, the team is in deep trouble.
While CSK struggled, KKR deserves credit for their brilliant game plan. Rahane read the pitch well and used his bowlers cleverly. Moeen’s early wicket, Harshit’s slower balls, and the spin duo of Varun and Narine broke CSK’s batting. Then, Narine’s quick batting made sure KKR finished the chase fast, boosting their confidence and standings.
This match showed how KKR took advantage of CSK’s weaknesses. CSK’s batters couldn’t handle spin, and their lack of form hurt them badly. Meanwhile, KKR played like a team with a clear plan, making the most of the conditions.
This loss is a wake-up call for CSK. With five defeats in a row and a weak batting line-up, they need to rethink their approach. Relying on older players isn’t working, and injuries like Dube’s could make things worse. Dhoni, known for turning teams around, has a big challenge ahead to lift CSK from this low.
The post IPL 2025: CSK Hits New Low as KKR Dominates at Chepauk appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
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