"It stands out like a sore thumb" - Aakash Chopra on CSK's potential weaknesses heading into IPL 2025
Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked the lack of firepower in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting as one of their potential weaknesses heading into IPL 2025. He pointed out that their batting lineup comprises mostly 'stable' players and does not have too many big hitters.
CSK retained Ruturaj Gaikwad (₹18 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (₹18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (₹13 crore), Shivam Dube (₹12 crore), and MS Dhoni (₹4 crore) ahead of the auction. They spent ₹54.95 crore at the mega auction to buy 20 players to complete a full-strength 25-member squad.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener opined that the lack of explosive batters could prove to be one of the Chennai Super Kings' stumbling blocks in IPL 2025.
"Batting firepower - that is one question, it stands out like a sore thumb. Are they a batting powerhouse? Do they have the finishing strength? Ruturaj Gaikwad is a quality player, but he is your stable player. Devon Conway is also your stable player," he said (8:00).
Chopra acknowledged that CSK have batting depth but lack destructive ability.
"Then they have taken Rahul Tripathi and after that, Shivam Dube and one of Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda, and then Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Sam Curran, Noor Ahmad, and R Ashwin. So there is a lot of depth in batting, but the hitting ability is not as good as a lot of teams have in T20 cricket," he observed.
Chopra noted that Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja's T20 batting numbers are on the decline. He added that MS Dhoni doesn't bat more than two overs and questioned whether he can make a difference in that short span.
"There is no one that good to bowl with Pathirana" - Aakash Chopra on CSK's potential death-bowling issues in IPL 2025
![Matheesha Pathirana will likely be one of CSK's death bowlers in IPL 2025. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/9ffb0-17333722718707-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra chose death bowling as another potential issue for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025.
"The second question is about the death bowling. Deepak Chahar didn't use to bowl much at the death. So I wouldn't say his loss is that huge for them to struggle. However, there is no one that good to bowl with Pathirana. Tushar Deshpande actually did alright. He has played a very important role at the death," he said (10:10).
The analyst pointed out that Khaleel Ahmed has not been as successful at the death as Tushar Deshpande.
"Khaleel Ahmed will have to play the same role, but Khaleel's numbers for Delhi were not that good in the last four overs. Khaleel is outstanding with the new ball. I really rate him highly. I think he is at the peak of his bowling powers, but he has been expensive in the death overs. They will feel Tushar Deshpande's absence," Chopra observed.
Chopra acknowledged that Nathan Ellis can perform the death-bowling duties if Matheesha Pathirana isn't available. However, he pointed out that Sam Curran, who might feature in CSK's preferred XI, hasn't been the same bowler in the death overs lately.