The Chennai Super Kings’ disastrous IPL 2025 campaign continues to add to their woes after suffering their sixth loss of the season -- a nine-wicket hammering at the hands of the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
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CSK now finds itself struggling to find momentum and a path forward in a season that seems to be slipping away rapidly. With just six more games left in the season, they face a tough task in their push to qualify for the playoffs.
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Injuries haven't helped their cause either, particularly the blow of losing captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose absence forced MS Dhoni to step back into the captaincy role. While Dhoni’s return brought some spark, the team's performances have remained underwhelming.
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What did Ambati Rayudu say about CSK's IPL 2025 season?
After the match, former CSK player and IPL expert Ambati Rayudu offered a candid assessment of the team’s situation.
Speaking on the post-match broadcast, he echoed what many fans have begun to accept -- that the playoffs might be out of reach this year for the five-time champions, and it's time to look ahead.
"I don't see them coming back from this. At least this season, that is what even MS Dhoni said in his post match interview -- that they will be looking forward to the next season, build players and build culture that plays fearless cricket and play with a lot more positive intent," said Rayudu.
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Earlier during the post-match interview, Dhoni struck a calm and measured tone. While not completely ruling out a playoff push, he acknowledged that CSK must now balance their short-term hopes with long-term planning.
"If we lose a few, what will be important is that we get the right combination for next year -- we don’t want too many players getting changed," Dhoni said.
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With just a handful of games left and qualification looking unlikely, all signs point to CSK focusing on building a solid core for IPL 2026.