MS Dhoni’s Leadership in IPL 2025 Under Scrutiny as Suresh Raina Blames Auction Strategy for CSK’s Struggles

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face the possibility of missing the IPL 2025 playoffs, with their poor auction strategy now under scrutiny. Their crushing defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by five wickets, marking their seventh loss of the season, left them at the bottom of the points table with just four points from nine matches.

CSK’s season has suffered further due to the early injury to skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, disrupting the team’s balance. Despite using 20 players from their 27-member squad, CSK has struggled to find the right combination, even after changes like giving Dewald Brevis his debut and promoting Ayush Mhatre to the opener’s role.

Raina’s Bold Criticism of CSK’s Auction Strategy

Former CSK and India cricketer Suresh Raina made explosive comments on Star Sports, shifting the focus from on-field performances to the franchise’s auction strategy. Raina believes poor planning during the auction plays a significant role in CSK’s struggles this season.

Raina revealed that MS Dhoni‘s involvement in auction decisions is not as extensive as commonly believed. “They always say MS Dhoni makes the final call. But to be very honest, I never attended any of the auctions. I was never a part of those discussions. I always talked about the players who were retained,” Raina said.

He explained that the core group takes charge of auction decisions, and Dhoni’s role is minimal. “MS might get a call about whether to go ahead with a player or not—but he’s not that involved,” Raina stated. “He would maybe name four or five players he wants, and out of them, a few would be retained.”

While Raina acknowledged Dhoni’s tremendous leadership, he pointed out that several high-priced players have underperformed, affecting CSK’s season.

Dhoni’s Dilemma and CSK’s Auction Blunders

Raina also noted that Dhoni, known for his composed leadership, is likely frustrated with CSK’s performance. The former CSK Southpaw speculated that Dhoni would be unhappy with the auction decisions, stating, “MS Dhoni will now sit down—he won’t want anyone around him. He knows CSK didn’t buy properly in auction. He wouldn’t have allowed it.”

With CSK struggling at the bottom of the points table, Raina hinted that Dhoni might be contemplating difficult decisions. “After the toss, when they lost, the way he walked—it’s clear there’s going to be a meeting today,” he added, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

Dhoni’s Frustration Becomes Evident

In a rare show of emotion, MS Dhoni recently displayed his frustration during a match against SRH. After an unnecessary throw by 20-year-old Shaik Rasheed allowed Ishan Kishan to take an extra run, Dhoni visibly reprimanded the youngster, urging him to think before acting. This moment highlighted Dhoni’s desire for players to make smarter decisions on the field.

Is CSK’s Comeback Still Possible?

CSK has historically made late-season comebacks, even turning poor seasons into title-winning campaigns. However, with only five games left in the 2025 season, CSK has little time to recover and must regroup quickly to salvage their playoff hopes.

With the auction blunders and current form, it remains unclear whether Dhoni’s leadership can spark a turnaround.  Will CSK’s season spiral further? The franchise faces its biggest challenge in years. All eyes will be on Dhoni to steer the team through these testing times.

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