At the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 6 runs in Match 11 of IPL 2025. The defeat has sparked debates within CSK, with Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain, reportedly questioning his batting position and its impact on the team's performance.
RR posted a challenging target of 183 runs, led by Nitish Rana's explosive 81 off 36 balls and supported by Wanindu Hasaranga's all-round contributions.RR's bowlers, including Hasaranga and Jofra Archer, delivered crucial spells to restrict CSK during the chase
CSK fell short at 176/6, despite a valiant effort from Ruturaj Gaikwad (63 off 44 balls) and MS Dhoni (16 off 11 balls). Dhoni's promotion to No.7 gave hope in the final overs, but his dismissal in the last over sealed CSK's fate.
After the match, Ruturaj Gaikwad reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with his batting position during key moments of the game. While he opened the innings and played a solid knock, he felt that adjustments in the batting order could have helped CSK chase down the target more effectively.
Gaikwad emphasized that better clarity in roles and strategic planning could have prevented CSK from losing momentum in critical overs. Dhoni’s decision to bat lower down the order has also been questioned, as it left him with limited time to influence the chase.
RR capitalized on Nitish Rana’s promotion to No.3, showcasing how batting order adjustments can yield results.CSK’s middle-order struggles continue to be a concern, with players like Shivam Dube and Moeen Ali failing to deliver under pressure.The decision-making around batting positions for key players like Dhoni and Gaikwad has become a focal point for criticism.
The loss against RR highlights strategic gaps within CSK’s setup, particularly concerning batting order decisions and role clarity. As IPL 2025 progresses, addressing these concerns will be crucial for CSK to regain form and compete effectively against stronger teams.
