Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni did not hold back in his assessment after his team suffered a disappointing five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025. Despite a valiant performance by Dewald Brevis, who top-scored with 42 runs, CSK stumbled to their seventh defeat of the season. Dhoni admitted his team was 15-20 runs short, with CSK finishing their innings at 154/9 after being asked to bat first.
CSK’s Batting Struggles
CSK’s batting woes continued as they were unable to put up a competitive total, with the innings faltering in the middle overs. Dhoni acknowledged the struggle, saying, “We kept losing wickets, and I felt the wicket was slightly better for batting. 155 is not a justifiable score.” Despite the pitch not turning much, he felt that the team should have been able to push the score higher, especially after getting off to a solid start.
“The wicket became a bit two-paced for the fast bowlers after the 8th or 9th over, but nothing out of the ordinary,” Dhoni explained. “We could have run slightly better and put a few more runs on the board.”
Middle Overs and Batting Approach
Dhoni also pointed out that the middle overs have been a challenge for CSK, with the team failing to capitalize on good starts. He emphasized the importance of getting those extra 5-10 runs in the middle phase, particularly when facing spinners. “That’s where we have been lacking,” said Dhoni. “We need to dominate or get runs against the spinners at a good pace in the middle.”
Praise for Dewald Brevis
Despite the defeat, Dhoni had words of praise for the debutant Dewald Brevis. The young South African’s 42-run knock came in his first game for CSK, having replaced the injured pacer Gurjapneet Singh. Dhoni noted, “He batted really well, and we need something like that in the middle order where we’ve slightly struggled.”
Brevis’ aggressive approach in the middle overs was seen as a step in the right direction for CSK, particularly as the team has struggled against spinners in those key phases of the game.
Dhoni’s Blunt Assessment of CSK’s Performance
Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Dhoni said it becomes difficult when multiple key players fail to perform. “In a tournament like this, if you have one or two areas where you can plug in the holes, it’s good,” he said. “But if the majority of your players are not doing well, whether it’s batting or bowling, it becomes challenging.”
Dhoni pointed out that when four key players fail to deliver at the same time, it becomes essential to make changes. “You can’t just keep on going when you’re not putting enough runs on the board,” Dhoni added.
Looking Ahead: CSK’s Next Challenge
CSK’s next match is crucial as they face Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday, April 30. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Dhoni and his team will need to address their batting and bowling inconsistencies to stay in the race.
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