Why Have CSK And MI Struggled In IPL 2025? Sunil Gavaskar Reveals

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MS Dhoni & Rohit Sharma [Source: @iplt20.com]MS Dhoni & Rohit Sharma [Source: @iplt20.com]

Two of IPL’s biggest heavyweights: Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are finding themselves stuck in the bottom half of the points table and India legend Sunil Gavaskar thinks he knows exactly why. It is not just form or fitness issues, it is plain old stubbornness, especially when it comes to their batting order.

Gavaskar Revealed The Common Mistake Between MI And CSK

In his latest column for mid-day, Sunil Gavaskar didn’t pull any punches. He feels both CSK and MI are digging their own graves by refusing to shake things up, even when the runs have clearly dried up.

“Both teams have shown a stubbornness to change the batting order that is not producing runs for them," said Gavaskar

CSK are sitting at the bottom of the IPL points table with just one win in six games. Gavaskar pointed out something very odd about Ruturaj Gaikwad’s role, especially before he got injured.

"Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has made a name for himself with heaps of runs as an opener, had before his unfortunate injury, dropped himself to bat at the fall of the first wicket. Now, why would a skipper do that unless he is out of form and the other openers are batting superbly and are in much better form than he is in. That is not the case and so invariably when he went into bat the Chennai team had lost a wicket in the Powerplay and he had to be a bit watchful and in the process a lot of dot balls would be the result," Gavaskar wrote.

Not the kind of move you expect from a captain, especially one who has proven his mettle at the top. And with MS Dhoni back at the helm at CSK after Ruturaj’s injury, things haven’t improved yet.

Tilak Varma Wasted In The Middle-Order

Switch over to Mumbai Indians, and the situation’s not much better. They are 7th with two wins from six games. Their latest win came just on Sunday against Delhi Capitals, but Gavaskar still had concerns.

He couldn’t wrap his head around why Tilak Varma isn’t batting at No. 3, a position he has thrived in for India.

"Similarly, the Mumbai team’s reluctance to send Tilak Varma at No. 3 despite his stellar record for India at that number is baffling indeed. However good an overseas batter may be, it is not easy for him to immediately come to terms with the Indian pitches, which is all the more reason for an Indian who has thrived at that number should be sent there and not dropped down the order," the Indian veteran added.

In short, Gavaskar believes MI are trying too hard to fit in their big names, rather than backing the Indian players who have already proven themselves in those exact roles.

The Bounce-Back Magic Is Fading

Gavaskar also touched on the changing nature of both teams’ aura. Once upon a time, Mumbai Indians were the kings of second-half turnarounds. Not anymore.

"There was a time when Mumbai fans weren’t too worried if their team started slowly because they knew that they would come back strongly in the second half. However, the last couple of years have shown that the bounceability is no longer the same. T20 cricket demands quick thinking and super fast decision making and that is yet to be seen from both Chennai and Mumbai," Gavaskar reckoned.

Meanwhile, CSK’s next big test is against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Monday. With Dhoni back at the helm and Gaikwad out injured, fans are hoping for something magical.