IPL 2025: ‘Rehearsal For A Test Match’: Srikkanth Slams CSK, Urges Inclusion of Prithvi Shaw After Fifth Straight Defeat

April 12, 2025: Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has come down hard on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after the five-time champions slumped to their fifth consecutive loss in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. Srikkanth, known for his candid commentary, didn’t hold back while expressing his frustration with the team’s lacklustre performance, especially after their emphatic win over Mumbai Indians at the start of the tournament.

CSK’s latest defeat came at the hands of the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who chased down their target with ease at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It marked not only CSK’s fifth straight loss—an unwanted first in their IPL history—but also their third consecutive home defeat this season, another unprecedented low for the franchise.

Srikkanth, often referred to as ‘Cheeka’, described CSK’s powerplay batting performance, where they scored just 31/2, as “a rehearsal for a Test match.” He took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration, suggesting that CSK’s current playing XI seemed to be surviving on “nostalgia” rather than performance.

“One of CSK’s worst defeats ever. Powerplay batting looked like a rehearsal for a test match. Whole XI feels like it’s running on nostalgia. Time to think out of the box, why not try some unsold players like Prithvi Shaw at this point? Would you try it? Even chaos is a strategy,” Srikkanth wrote.

Friday’s match also saw the return of MS Dhoni as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out for the rest of the season due to an elbow injury. While fans welcomed Dhoni’s return to leadership, it failed to spark a turnaround as CSK continued to spiral down the points table.

With growing pressure and a dwindling campaign, Srikkanth’s comments reflect the sentiments of many CSK fans hoping for urgent course correction before it’s too late.