In a twist of fate, MS Dhoni set to lead CSK again as Chennai Super Kings take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Chepauk in a high-pressure encounter in IPL 2025. With Ruturaj Gaikwad injured and ruled out for the season, CSK have looked to their all-time great skipper Dhoni in the hope of preventing a record third straight defeat at home.
MS Dhoni To Take Charge Of CSK Amid Crisis
Following a four-match losing run and now the loss of captain Gaikwad, CSK is in damage-control mode. The franchise has taken the bold step to reinstate MS Dhoni as captain, a move that could potentially trigger a turnaround.
🚨 OFFICIAL STATEMENT 🚨
Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the season due to a hairline fracture of the elbow.
MS DHONI TO LEAD. 🦁
GET WELL SOON, RUTU ! ✨ 💛#WhistlePodu #Yellove🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/U0NsVhKlny
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 10, 2025
This Chepauk match is particularly significant—CSK has never lost three consecutive games at this ground. With their fortress in jeopardy, supporters will be praying that Dhoni can conjure his magic once again.
Recent Form and Points Table Position
– Chennai Super Kings form: L-L-L (last three games)
– Kolkata Knight Riders form: L-W-L
– Both teams are in the lower half of the IPL 2025 points table, desperately seeking momentum as the league stage heats up.
Key Team Changes and Probable XIs
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
– Captain: MS Dhoni (in place of injured Gaikwad)
– Probable inclusion: Rahul Tripathi set to play in place of Gaikwad
– Batting Miseries: Middle-order strike rate of a meager 126.04 – lowest among all teams
Probable Playing XI:
Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c, wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Khaleel Ahmed
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
– Ajinkya Rahane back as captain, leading against his previous team
– Dwayne Bravo, the erstwhile CSK ace, now coaches KKR
– Varun Chakravarthy continues to shine, whereas Russell and Narine have yet to light up
Probable Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali/Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora
Chepauk Challenge: Unpredictable Pitch, Pressure on Middle Order
Chepauk, which was once a CSK fortress, has turned out to be unpredictable in recent years. Coach Stephen Fleming even conceded the team has “struggled to come to grips with it.”
Even with openers such as Rachin Ravindra and Conway promising much, CSK’s middle order has not delivered. Meanwhile, KKR’s middle-order strike rate of 147.18 still has room for improvement against top-performing teams.
Stats That Matter
– Dhoni vs Varun Chakravarthy: 11 runs off 16 balls, got out 3 times
– Dhoni vs Narine: 39 runs off 74 balls, a strike rate of just 52.70
– Narine vs Ashwin: 94 runs off 39 balls, SR more than 240
– CSK has struck the lowest sixes (31) in IPL 2025
– KKR have struck 42 sixes – improved, but still mid-table
– Vaibhav Arora is best against left-handers in the powerplay: 8 wickets in 11 innings, SR 7.00, ER just more than 6
They should get a good batsman to replace him. Sri Lanka’s latest talisman has been identified.
– Shivam Dube fought against Express Pace last match. He may once again have to contend with Russell’s firepower with KKR looking to exploit his leg-side vulnerability.
– Venkatesh Iyer, however, appears to be in excellent touch. With scores of 60 and 45 in the last few matches, he is still a major threat, particularly on a surface where he had previously helped KKR conclude its title success in 2024.
The Big Question: Should KKR Promote Andre Russell?
Even though his match-winning quality, Andre Russell has batted only till No. 7 yet in IPL 2025. KKR would look to play him higher up, though R Ashwin remains a threat—he has dismissed Russell twice in merely 17 deliveries.
Quote of the Match
“We rate them as a highly-skilled team, and we will look to go out there and play the game and win.”
– Venkatesh Iyer on facing CSK at Chepauk
Final Word: MS Dhoni Set To Lead CSK – Can He Script Another Comeback?
As the crowd prepares to welcome MS Dhoni back as captain, all eyes are on Chepauk, where CSK will fight to reclaim their pride. With both teams eager to climb the points table and rediscover form, CSK vs KKR promises to be a high-pressure thriller.
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