The 2025 IPL season was a harsh reality check for the Chennai Super Kings. Once considered the gold standard of consistency in the league, CSK slumped to a shocking 10th-place finish, managing just 4 wins from 14 matches—their worst performance in IPL history. For a franchise that has lifted the trophy five times, this year felt like a fall from grace.

CSK Worst Players in IPL 2025：Not Quite Super

Multiple factors contributed to the disastrous campaign: injuries, tactical rigidity, an aging core, and most notably, underperformance from key players. While the team had its moments, they were too few and far between. In this article, we take a light, honest look at CSK worst players in IPL 2025—not to blame individuals, but to understand where things fell apart and what the road to recovery might involve.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin – Homecoming That Didn’t Work Out

CSK made headlines by bringing Ravichandran Ashwin back into the fold for a massive INR 9.75 crore, hoping his experience would bolster their spin department—especially at Chepauk. Unfortunately, the reunion didn’t go as planned. In 9 matches, Ashwin managed just 7 wickets with an average of 40.43 and an economy rate above 9.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s Bowling in IPL 2025

Expected to be a game-changer in spin-friendly conditions, his lack of penetration and expensive spells left CSK exposed. Considering the price and the expectations, Ashwin has to be counted among the CSK worst buys in IPL 2025.

2. Rahul Tripathi – A No-Show With the Bat

Rahul Tripathi was brought in to add stability and experience to the middle order, but his impact was minimal. In 5 matches, he scored only 55 runs at a disappointing strike rate of 96.49—an alarming number in modern T20 cricket.

Rahul Tripathi’s Batting in IPL 2025

Tripathi couldn’t provide the momentum CSK needed during crucial chases or rebuilds. Dubbed a “flop show” by some fans, he certainly figures among the CSK worst players in IPL 2025, especially given how important his role was meant to be in an already struggling batting unit.

3. Deepak Hooda – A Misfiring All-Round Option

Another player who failed to deliver was Deepak Hooda. Touted as a middle-order aggressor and handy off-spinner, Hooda’s debut season for CSK was, in a word, forgettable. He scored just 31 runs in 5 innings at an average of 6.2 and bowled only one over, conceding 15 runs.

Deepak Hooda’s Batting in IPL 2025

Deepak Hooda’s Bowling in IPL 2025

He was expected to be a dynamic all-rounder, but ended up being a liability in both departments. His performances marked by hesitation and lack of confidence, easily make him one of the CSK worst buys in IPL 2025.

4. Rachin Ravindra – Sparks Without Fire

New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra came into the tournament with much promise, but couldn’t quite get going. In 8 matches, he scored 191 runs at an average of 27.29 and a strike rate of 128.18. He had starts, but couldn’t convert them into match-defining innings.

Rachin Ravindra’s Batting in IPL 2025

As an opener, Ravindra’s inability to make the powerplay count hurt CSK’s chances early in games. While not a complete failure, his underwhelming returns put him on the list of CSK’s underperformers in IPL 2025—especially considering the expectations.

5. MS Dhoni – Leadership Without the Spark

The ever-reliable MS Dhoni returned to lead CSK mid-season after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, but even ‘Thala’ couldn’t turn things around. He scored 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17. While there were a few classic Dhoni cameos at the death, the consistency and finishing ability that once defined him were clearly on the wane.

MS Dhoni’s Batting in IPL 2025

His leadership, while steady, couldn’t mask the on-field tactical limitations and the team’s overall sluggishness. Though fans will never point fingers at him harshly, even Dhoni’s magic couldn’t rescue this season, and his diminished batting returns were part of CSK’s wider problems.

6. Ravindra Jadeja – Good, But Not Great

Ravindra Jadeja had a statistically decent season—301 runs at an average of 33.44 and 7 wickets in 14 matches, but by his elite standards, it was underwhelming. Jadeja’s batting lacked the late-over punch CSK needed, and his bowling, usually a bankable middle-overs weapon, lacked the bite.

Ravindra Jadeja’s Batting in IPL 2025

He wasn’t among the CSK worst players in IPL 2025, but his inability to step up in crunch moments was a microcosm of CSK’s broader issue: too many ‘okay’ performances, and too few match-winners.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 season was one of introspection for CSK. From tactical misfires to misfiring stars, everything that could go wrong did. Players like Ashwin, Tripathi, and Hooda failed to justify their roles and price tags, firmly placing them among the CSK worst buys in IPL 2025. Others like Conway, Ravindra, and even Dhoni contributed in parts but couldn’t deliver the consistent firepower needed in a format that evolves faster than most teams can adapt.

Add to that a shaky auction strategy, captaincy changes, injury setbacks, and a glaring lack of momentum in all three phases of the game, and it becomes clear why CSK ended up at the bottom of the table. But if there’s one thing CSK fans know, it’s that comebacks are written into the DNA of this franchise. With smarter planning and a fresher, more explosive core, the men in yellow could very well roar again in 2026.