“There Was No Intent”: Michael Clarke Slams MS Dhoni-Led CSK After Crushing Defeat vs KKR

After Chennai Super Kings (CSK) slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat in IPL 2025, former Australia captain Michael Clarke launched a scathing critique of MS Dhoni-led CSK, questioning their mindset and lack of intent in the humiliating loss against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Despite MS Dhoni’s return to captaincy, CSK were restricted to 103/9, their lowest-ever IPL total at home, before KKR chased it down with ease, winning by 8 wickets and 59 balls to spare — the heaviest defeat in CSK’s IPL history in terms of balls remaining.

Clarke: “There Was No Intent. CSK Look Totally Down on Confidence”

Speaking on JioStar, Michael Clarke criticized CSK’s conservative approach, suggesting they’re playing with fear rather than purpose.

“Wicket looked tricky, but CSK got their plans wrong. Their body language showed zero confidence. There was no intent,” Clarke said.

“At this stage, they need to risk everything. It’s not about avoiding big defeats now — it’s about playing fearless cricket if they want to turn this around.”

Piyush Chawla Urges CSK to Back Young Players

Joining the criticism, former CSK spinner Piyush Chawla urged the franchise to inject fresh energy into the squad by backing uncapped youngsters.

“Someone like Andre Siddarth deserves a chance. We’ve seen enough of Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda. A couple of young players could lift the whole team’s morale.”

Chawla also lauded Sunil Narine, who picked up 3 wickets for just 13 runs, not conceding a single boundary across his four overs. Narine dismantled the CSK batting lineup on a spin-friendly pitch, continuing his dominance against Dhoni and company.

“Even after all these years, batters can’t read Narine. He was spot-on with his pace and lengths. That’s world-class bowling,” Chawla added.

CSK’s Playoff Hopes Fading Fast

With five losses in six games, CSK now sits ninth on the IPL 2025 points table. The Dhoni-led unit looks mentally fatigued, struggling to find momentum, and their famed batting depth has failed to deliver.

Clarke’s remarks echo the concerns of fans and former players alike: unless CSK changes its approach — and quickly — this season could mark a steep fall from grace for the five-time champions.

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