Chennai Team’s Performance in TATA IPL 2025
2
Matches
1
Won
1
Lost
50
Win %
Expected Playing XI and Impact Sub
Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad ©, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Ravi Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesh Pathirana and Anshul Kamboj
Top Fantasy Picks from the Team
Ruturaj Gaikwad – The Chennai captain has been one of the most consistent run-getters in the league in the last few years and often plays match-defining knocks at the top of the order.
Rachin Ravindra – The Kiwi all-rounder had an underwhelming first season last year but his form in the recently concluded Champions Trophy in subcontinent augurs well for the franchise.
Shivam Dube – The all-rounder has reinvented himself into a six-hitter in the middle overs since his union with Chennai and remains a very important part of that middle-order.
Ravindra Jadeja – A Chennai veteran who has been part of many wins for the team, including the thrilling win over Gujarat in the final in 2023 when they last lifted the trophy, Jadeja will be crucial specially on Chennai’s pitch.
Matheesha Pathirana – The youngster has become Chennai’s go-to bowler in the death overs and if he can stay away from injuries, he could very well make an impact similar to Lasith Malinga did on Mumbai’s fortunes.
Chennai’s Schedule for TATA IPL 2025
Squad Analysis of Chennai
Despite going through a mega-auction, Chennai looks fairly similar in 2025 as well with some key players being bought back and the core retained. While generally that has proved to be a bane for the team, it’s difficult to say if it’s good news considering they failed to make it to the playoffs in 2024.
Strengths – The team always looks to make the best of its home conditions at Chepauk and that’s why bringing back Ashwin to pair him with Jadeja seems like a fantastic move. While they let go of the mystery spin of Maheesh Theekshana, they have replaced him with another exciting young mystery spinner in the form of Noor Ahmad. It will be tough for any team to win at Chepauk if these three are operating in tandem.
Weaknesses – Chennai performed reasonably well at home last year but turned out to be poor travellers as they lost 5 of their away matches. While the team’s spin troika can win them matches at home, on the pace front, the names don’t inspire that sort of confidence.
While Chennai’s captaincy transition was smooth last year, the fact that they couldn’t even make it to the playoffs would create a lot of pressure on Ruturaj and the team would need to get off to a good start early in the tournament. But if he goes on to lead the team to a sixth title, it might end the franchise’s dependency on MS Dhoni for leadership.
Chennai Team in TATA IPL 2025
After starting the 2024 edition of the tournament as defending champions and under a new skipper, the five time champions Chennai endured an indifferent season as they failed to make it to the playoffs after finishing fifth.
The team began the tournament well but stumbled in the middle stages and found themselves in a must-win match against Bengaluru in their last league stage match. The last over thriller went Bengaluru’s way, resulting in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team exit from the tournament. Despite the result, the team decided to choose continuity and went on to make strategic retentions, including that of MS Dhoni as an uncapped player, before making some interesting buys at the auctions. Keeping in mind the nature of the Chepauk track, the team spent big on securing the services of spinners Noor Ahmad and Ravichandran Ashwin, who will make a long awaited comeback in yellow.
As has been the case in the last few years, the limelight will once again be on the 43-year-old MS Dhoni as the star could retire from all forms of cricket at the end of TATA IPL 2025.
Brief History of Chennai
laying their home games at the iconic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai is one of the most successful franchises in the league’s history. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, India’s then World T20 winning captain, the team raced to the final in the first ever edition of the Indian Premier League but faced defeat at the hands of Rajasthan. In the seasons that followed, the men in yellow quickly became a dominant force, winning their first title in 2010 and repeating the feat in 2011. They even went on to win the Champions League in 2010. Known for their consistency, Chennai reached the playoffs in each season from 2008 to 2015 and also made several appearances in the Final in this period.
However, the team faced a two-year suspension in 2016 and 2017 but made a triumphant return in 2018, clinching their third title. After missing out on another trophy in 2019 by a whisker, they added two more trophies to their tally in 2021 and 2023, bringing their total to five which is the same number of titles won by Mumbai. The team has often been praised for its dressing room culture and has been known to back their players, as a result of which at different points, they have had a very solid core. The constant presence of MS Dhoni, who gave up captaincy last year has been a huge boon for the franchise. Apart from the two years when they were suspended, the team always had Dhoni in their ranks and one of the big concerns for the franchise lately has been life after Dhoni who will turn 44 this year. The team’s dominance in the league can be gauged from the fact that they have appeared in ten finals and maintained one of the highest win percentages in league history, cementing their legacy as an IPL powerhouse. Their contest against Mumbai has attained a cult status and is referred to as the El Clasico of the league.
