When legends speak, the cricketing world listens. And in the case of Chennai Super Kings’ dismal IPL 2025 campaign, the criticism coming from two of the franchise’s most celebrated icons — Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh — feels like a wake-up call that cannot be ignored.
CSK, the proud five-time champions, find themselves in uncharted territory this season. After nine games, the Yellow Army has managed just two wins and now languishes at the bottom of the points table — a rare and painful sight for their loyal fans. But what has added more weight to the ongoing crisis is the vocal disapproval from Raina and Harbhajan, two names synonymous with CSK’s golden era.
Raina Points Fingers at Auction Strategy
Speaking on Star Sports after CSK’s sixth loss, this time to arch-rivals Mumbai Indians, Suresh Raina didn’t mince his words. The former CSK vice-captain blamed poor auction decisions for the team’s collapse.
“I feel that somewhere the auction was not done well by the coach, the management. There were so many talented players in the auction. So many young players – Priyansh Arya debut and scored a century. You take so much money for selection, you left out Rishabh Pant, left out Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul. I have never seen CSK struggle this much,” said Raina.
His words hit hard, especially coming from someone who has been at the heart of CSK’s identity for over a decade. Raina’s criticism not only reflects frustration but also the emotional investment he still carries for the franchise.
Harbhajan Calls Out Lack of Star Power
Harbhajan Singh, another IPL-winning CSK player, backed Raina’s views and went a step further, questioning the team’s reluctance to bid for proven match-winners in the auction.
“Among the youth selected, we can’t see who could give game-changing performances,” Harbhajan remarked.
He highlighted how CSK, traditionally a team built on experience and leadership, ignored players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant — stars who were surprisingly available but left untouched.
No Dhoni Magic This Time
To add to the misery, the team has been riddled with injuries. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s mid-season exit with a fractured elbow handed the reins back to MS Dhoni. While fans hoped for a fairytale comeback, even Dhoni’s leadership has failed to spark a turnaround.
With playoffs mathematically out of reach, the final leg of CSK’s campaign is less about qualification and more about damage control. But with voices like Raina and Harbhajan calling out the cracks, it’s clear the problems run deeper than form — they lie in planning, vision, and decision-making.
As things stand, IPL 2025 may not only go down as CSK’s worst season, but also the one that forces the franchise to finally rethink its future.
