ADVERTISEMENT

IPL 2025: 43-Year-Old MS Dhoni And...? 3 Weaknesses Of Chennai Super Kings

Anurag Dasgupta∙ Updated: Dec 24 2024, 8:12 PM

MS Dhoni will be CSK's weakness [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com]
MS Dhoni will be CSK's weakness [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com]

Whenever the name IPL comes up, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is the first franchise which comes in everyone's minds. The 5 time champions have been the best side in the history of the tournament and will be gunning for their sixth title in the upcoming 2025 season.

The franchise invested heavily in filling up the loopholes in the mega auction, but despite spending considerable amount of money, CSK look weak on paper and might not be the force to reckon in the upcoming IPL season.

story continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Here are 3 weaknesses which the team will carry in the next season and one is actually a very big issue.

3) A 43-year-old keeper in the team

Don't get me wrong, MS Dhoni is and will always be the greatest player and captain in the history of IPL, but how will he be able to cope up with the energy and intensity of the league at 43 years?.

story continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Since he doesn't lead the team anymore, MSD's main task is keeping and batting, and while he still looks decent behind the stumps, but in the last season, he used to come out to bat at number 8, which is too low for a player like him.

CSK kept him in the side in the name of loyalty, but they should have invested heavily in a quality keeper as well. For how long will MSD continue to play with an injured knee?.

story continues below ADVERTISEMENT

2) No designated finisher, pressure on Dube

For years, MS Dhoni has been CSK's greatest-ever finisher, but in the last couple of seasons, he has come far to low to create any sort of impact. The finishing responsibility will eventually be given to Shivam Dube, who generally prefers to bat at number 4 or maximum at 5.

He will have the added pressure of finishing things off, when he should be free of such burdens. The team does have Ravindra Jadeja in the side, but can they rely on him to finish the innings with a glory?. For someone who strikes at only 129.72, these are worrying signs for the franchise.

story continues below ADVERTISEMENT

1) No quality death bowler apart from Pathirana

Matheesha Pathirana is surely one of the best when it comes to death bowling, but what if he gets injured? or what if he has to leave the team for national duty, who will replace him?. They have Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Choudhary as the other key pacers, who are generally known for their exploits at the top.

The only other option they have is Nathan Ellis, who is a decent slog overs bowler and can be brought in as an emergency backup. However, the Indian bowling core doesn't ooze confidence when it comes to death bowling.