Speaking on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Varun Aaron said Chennai Super Kings’ underwhelming season was largely due to poor form across departments, especially the bowling unit. He pointed out that CSK had heavily relied on Matheesha Pathirana to deliver at the death, but the pacer has been “completely off the boil.”
“He’s changed his action a bit, he’s not landing his yorkers, and has bowled 31 extras this tournament — that’s a lot for a frontline bowler,” Aaron noted. He also criticised the lack of middle-over momentum with the bat, saying while Dewald Brevis added a burst of energy recently, the team had missed that spark earlier in the season.
Aaron further said CSK needed to reevaluate their auction strategy. “They don’t have someone like Tristan Stubbs or Tim David to finish innings. Yes, MS Dhoni is there — but you can’t keep depending on him for 18 years,” he remarked.
JioStar expert Aaron Finch said CSK must reassess their strategy if they are ready to admit that “things haven’t gone right” this season. He questioned the team’s selection calls and criticised their execution in key moments.
“I can’t believe Nathan Ellis hasn’t played more regularly. He’s a world-class bowler who can operate in all three phases,” Aaron said, adding that Pathirana, on the other hand, has struggled and “been going around the park”.
He also pointed to CSK’s lack of finishing firepower with the bat, saying, “You add 20 more runs today and the game becomes very different.”
While he felt the team had a defendable total until the heavy dew came in late, he said poor fielding has been a major issue. “Catches going down puts you on the back foot — and when that happens, you need to play a near-perfect game to win,” he noted.
Finch also reflected on MS Dhoni’s leadership journey, noting that when Dhoni gave up the captaincy a few years ago, he probably didn’t expect to face the challenges he’s dealing with now. Speaking on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, Aaron acknowledged that things haven’t gone CSK’s way this season.
He highlighted Dhoni’s age and limited involvement in cricket, saying, “MS is 43, not playing much cricket, just turning up for the IPL — but every moment he’s on the field is magical.”
Aaron emphasised the special atmosphere when Dhoni makes his appearance, adding, “The noise when he walks out of the dressing room… when he comes out to bat… it’s unbelievable.” He urged every cricket fan to experience it firsthand, stating, “If you can, you must go to a CSK game while MS Dhoni is still playing.”
Catch Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians at 7:30 PM today, as teams race to the TATA IPL play-offs, live and exclusive on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
