Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina has sharply criticized the Chennai Super Kings' dismal performance and questioned the team's seeming lack of intent in the IPL 2025. One of the most renowned CSK figures, Raina, claimed that the 2025 team does not seem to have the will to succeed. In an Instagram video with former teammate Harbhajan Singh, Raina reflected on CSK's difficulties and concurred with the spinner's conclusion that the five-time winners appear to be at their worst in 2025.

Having only won two of their first eight games this season, CSK has had difficulty gaining traction. With the lowest Net Run Rate in the 10-team league, they are wallowing at the bottom of the standings. To be in the running for the playoffs, the team now needs to win every game they have left. Nonetheless, skipper MS Dhoni, who took over in the middle of the season after Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured, has made references to planning for the upcoming campaign and making sure the squad is more ready for 2026.

Raina on CSK

"Definitely yes (weakest CSK team?). I think there's no intent. The hunger to win is not there. Not to disrespect anyone, but the brand that CSK is known for, that's not there now," Raina said.

It seems that CSK made a mistake at the auction by not selecting enough young, talented players. Even though they brought in talents like R Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, and Rahul Tripathi, the more seasoned Indian players have performed much worse. CSK has only chosen to start young players off the bench in the last two games, including newcomer Ayush Mhatre. In his IPL debut against the Mumbai Indians, Mhatre showed the other players that everything is possible if they put their minds to it.

"Look at how local players who have played in TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League). Sai Sudharsan is doing well, he is playing for Gujarat Titans. Sai Kishore and Shahrukh Khan are also playing for GT. You have to bring local players. When we were winning, we had the likes of Murali Vijay, L Balaji, Badrinath, MS Dhoni, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. When you don't bring local flavour, it doesn't work," Raina said while questioning CSK for not considering young local talent.

CSK will now be facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground Chepauk in Chennai on Friday, 25 April.

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