MS Dhoni shared insights on Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) performance in the IPL 2025 season, focusing on areas for improvement and the impact of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence due to injury. Dhoni anticipates that Gaikwad’s return will significantly strengthen CSK’s batting in the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
“We are slightly worried about our batting order,” Dhoni said. “But I think our batting order is quite sorted out now. Rutu (Gaikwad) will be coming back. He got injured. But he will be coming back. So, we are quite sorted now.”
CSK faced a challenging season in 2025, finishing at the bottom of the table despite Dhoni’s return as captain, with only four wins from fourteen matches.
Dhoni highlighted the need for strategic moves in the upcoming mini-auction. Gaikwad, who last played competitively on April 8, had signed a county contract but withdrew. He is expected to rejoin domestic cricket in the Duleep Trophy 2025–26.
“Yes, the last couple of years have not been good for us,” Dhoni noted. “We have not been up to the mark. But what is important is for you to see the learnings. Yes, you had a bad season. But what went wrong? And that was the question for us last year also.
“We were like, ‘okay, there are some shortcomings’. But first we needed to exactly figure out what were the shortcomings and then look at solutions. I feel more often than not we have been able to figure out what exactly went wrong. In sports, you know you can have a very good time and at the same time there will be periods when you won’t be performing well. In CSK, more often than not, we are on the higher side.
“So, we do talk about the processes. But at the same time we do want the result to come to our side. Last year it wasn’t there. But looking ahead, we will try to sort out most of the things, and we will hopefully be at our best.”
Dhoni admitted that CSK’s recent performances haven’t been up to par. He emphasized the importance of analyzing and addressing the team’s shortcomings before the next season. He also reflected on his long-standing relationship with the CSK franchise.