NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings are enduring a dismal campaign in IPL 2025. With just 2 wins and 8 losses from 10 matches, the five-time champions have been knocked out of the playoff race, becoming the first team to be eliminated this season.
Their early exit has sparked several questions, with much of the spotlight on Ravichandran Ashwin, for whom CSK spent Rs 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Ashwin featured in seven matches this season, managing to pick up only five wickets.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, who previously played for CSK, criticised the team management for not utilising Ashwin’s experience, particularly in their recent match against Punjab Kings on Wednesday, which CSK lost by four wickets.
“Chennai didn’t select the team based on conditions. Had Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja played together against Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings could have won the match. You didn’t pay Rs 10 crore for Ashwin to bench him. I don’t know why he is not playing, but it seems he might have fought with someone,” Harbhajan said on JioHotstar.
He further pointed out that Ashwin wasn’t the only underperformer, but unlike others, he was dropped.
“He is not the only one who hasn’t performed. Others are still playing despite their ordinary performances, but Ashwin is out of the team. He should have played against Punjab, as the ball was spinning,” he added.
CSK are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
