MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL Photo)

NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni offered a candid assessment of his team’s early elimination from the IPL 2025 playoffs race, emphasising the need to look ahead and rebuild with purpose for the next season.Speaking at the toss ahead of CSK’s league game against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Dhoni said the team had shifted focus to experimentation and future planning once their playoff hopes were dashed.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Once we were out of the tournament, we wanted to find the answers for the next year,” Dhoni revealed. “We want to express ourselves in our batting department. Need to figure out which individual will do well in which slot next year.”Who’s that IPL player?The legendary captain, known for his tactical sharpness and calm demeanor, also hinted at areas that need improvement. “We need to work on our bowling. When you are constantly under pressure, that doesn’t work. You don’t need to play all kinds of shots — need to be selective.”Despite the disappointing season, Dhoni remained composed and focused on the long-term picture, saying the franchise was not feeling the pressure. “Need to look into the combination and the auction,” he added, pointing towards the larger rebuild ahead of IPL 2026.Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bowl first. “There’s no hiding in this game. Everyone has to be a match-winner,” Samson said, as RR aimed to end their season on a high.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway, Urvil Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni(w/c), Anshul Kamboj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel AhmedRajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kwena Maphaka, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal