Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the first team to get knocked out of IPL 2025—ouch. But what’s interesting is that once the pressure was off, they suddenly played like a side possessed. It’s as if someone flipped a switch. No one could believe how good they looked in those final games compared to their shaky start. This makes the 2025 CSK team rating a bit tricky. It’s like trying to rate two different teams in one season.

What Went Wrong for CSK？

Let’s not sugarcoat it—CSK performance in IPL 2025 was their worst-ever in terms of timing and impact. Most of the damage came early in the season. One major issue? The auction. CSK, traditionally known for banking on experience, went a bit too heavy on the veterans this time. They lacked aggressive top-order batters and didn’t really have those modern-day T20 power hitters every team now seems to have in bulk. Teams like RCB and PBKS loaded up on raw hitting talent, while CSK relied on “timers of the ball”—not ideal on slower pitches.

Their approach in the powerplay was also timid. The idea was to keep wickets in hand, but in T20 cricket, that often just hands over momentum to the opposition. Even when Ruturaj Gaikwad got injured mid-season, there wasn’t enough spark from the others. Honestly, the CSK squad rating early in the tournament wouldn’t have gone beyond a 5/10.

Related Article：2 Factors Behind CSK’s Early Exit：Which Players Will CSK Release in 2025？

Ayush On 🔝 of his game!🥳

Whistle for the top performers/performances of 2025 IPL season in #StatTheWhistles 🥳#WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/D6jr7OHgh9

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) June 2, 2025

Mid-Season Fixes That Almost Worked

Mid-season, CSK brought in some exciting young talent like Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, and Dewald Brevis. That’s when things started to click. Suddenly, the batting looked more fearless. But by then, it was too little too late. Their final standing still didn’t flatter them, and the overall 2025 CSK team rating stayed in the mid-range, but at least the fans got a glimpse of what the team could be with the right mix.

CSK Stars of the Season

For CSK squad rating, Despite a poor campaign overall, some players did stand out. Shivam Dube led the run-scoring for CSK, showing grit and consistency. Mhatre, in particular, looks like a solid investment for the future—young, fearless, and fast-scoring.

2025 CSK Top Scorers

Bowling-wise, there was one clear standout: Noor Ahmad. The young spinner picked up 24 wickets, often fighting a lonely battle while the rest of the bowling attack leaked runs. Here’s a quick look:

2025 CSK Top Wicket Takers

The rest of the bowlers, especially seasoned names like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, didn’t provide enough support, and the overall CSK squad rating in the bowling department took a hit.

The Dhoni Question and Future Concerns

One big cloud hanging over CSK is the possible retirement of MS Dhoni. He hasn’t confirmed anything, but everyone knows that once he goes, it’ll be a different CSK. There’s also a big question mark over Ravindra Jadeja’s role. At times, he was promoted in the batting order, but the intent just wasn’t there. He’s still an elite player on paper, but does he fit into the new CSK identity?

Thala speaks. 🗣️ 🦁
We whistle. 🫡🥳#KKRvCSK #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/2FQqeyjFL3

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 7, 2025

Another major concern from the management’s side has to be balance. Too many utility players like Sam Curran and Deepak Hooda were backed despite patchy form. That over-reliance on “bits-and-pieces” players is one reason the CSK performance in IPL 2025 felt inconsistent at best, flat at worst.

Our 2025 CSK Team Rating

The good news? CSK finally seemed to realize the need for change. The last few matches were full of young players getting game time, and the mood felt refreshingly fearless. Maybe it’s time CSK moved on from the legacy-first strategy and started building for the future with bold picks and clear roles.

If they do that, we might just see the CSK performance in IPL 2025 as the painful transition phase they needed before their next big run. For now, the 2025 CSK team rating lands somewhere around 6.5/10—not great, not terrible, but full of “what-ifs.”