The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a rocky start to their 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, having suffered defeats in two of their first three matches.
The underwhelming performances of key players, including Ravindra Jadeja, have become a significant concern for the team. The strategic use of their iconic player MS Dhoni has also sparked discussions among fans and analysts alike.
Amidst this period of uncertainty and reflection, all-rounder Jadeja shared a succinct yet hopeful message on social media alongside a photo with Dhoni, captioned, "Things will change," underscoring the team’s aspirations for a swift turnaround in their fortunes.
Jadeja's own performance was put under the spotlight following a match against the Rajasthan Royals. India's Test specialist, Cheteshwar Pujara, commented on the duo of Jadeja and Dhoni during their chase, suggesting they could have exhibited greater intent earlier in the innings.
"They left it a little longer. They could have accelerated when Jadeja and MS were batting, they could have gone hard a little earlier. But there are two sides to it. If one of them had gotten out, then things would have been different," Pujara remarked.
Pujara also advocated for changes in the CSK lineup, particularly suggesting that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad consider the inclusion of New Zealand opener Devon Conway in the team’s starting XI.
"I felt that overall, in this game, CSK's batting lineup was vulnerable. We have seen that there were not enough batters in the middle order who were batting well. So I think it's high time that they look at a different batting combination because Jamie Overton hasn't bowled well, Rahul Tripathi has been struggling a bit. So that's where I think Conway should come in," he added.
Looking ahead, the Super Kings will face a challenging encounter against the in-form Delhi Capitals on April 5.