IPL 2025: After Wankhede defeat, MS Dhoni turns focus to CSK XI for ‘strong comeback’ next year

With the latest defeat reducing their chances to make the IPL 2025 Playoffs, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni has said that it is important for the five-time champions to lock in on their XI for a strong comeback next season.

Chennai Super Kings landed their sixth defeat in eight matches on Sunday as Mumbai Indians thumped Dhoni and Co. by nine wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. While they are mathematically still in the race for the Playoffs, with six points separating them from the fourth-place side in the league, CSK will also need to depend on other results while winning their remaining set of games to qualify.

“With all the games in front of us that we are supposed to win, we will just take it one game at a time,” Dhoni said after the MI defeat on the plan for the road ahead. “And if we lose a few, what will be important for us to get the right combination for next year.

Dhoni added that CSK would not want to tinker too much about their squad despite the results.

“We don’t want too many players getting changed,” said Dhoni. “So, I think what will be important is to try and qualify. But if not, get a secured eleven for the next year and come back strong.”

Dhoni recollected the 2020 season where CSK slumped to the seventh spot for the first time, stating that the heap of defeats should not lead to emotional decisions.

“We need to realise that we are successful if we play good cricket. At the same time, if we’re not playing good cricket, what is important is not to get too emotional about it,” Dhoni said. “But at the same time, you want to be practical. So, there have been instances, one of the seasons, I think 2020, which was not great for us.

“But we need to see whether we are playing the right form of cricket. Whether we are applying ourselves, trying to put the amount of runs on the board that’s what is needed for the bowlers to save. So, those are the question marks that we have got,” Dhoni added.