CSK fans have missed Dhoni this seasonImage Credit source: PTI
Chennai Super Kings once again had to return empty handed from IPL. Five-time champion Chennai, one of the most successful teams in IPL history, could not reach the playoffs even in IPL 2026. Under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the team failed to repeat the success that former captain MS Dhoni had brought to this franchise. This has obviously disappointed the fans, who had become used to continuous victories. At such a time, the team’s former star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has asked the fans to accept a bitter reality.
In its last match of this season against Gujarat Titans, Chennai had to face a crushing defeat by 89 runs. This was the team’s 8th defeat in IPL 2026, due to which it was out of the title race even before the playoffs. Thus, this is the third consecutive season when CSK could not reach the playoffs. The team last became a part of the last-4 in 2023 under the captaincy of Dhoni and then the team managed to win the title, which was CSK’s 5th IPL trophy.
Obviously, this defeat has shocked the CSK fans because this team and its fans were used to success. Referring to this, veteran spinner Ashwin said in one of his videos, “Forget Dhoni. I have only one advice for CSK fans. Keep Dhoni aside. He has spoiled you all, because he had held CSK at a very high level. Times have changed. Other teams have also become sensible. Other teams have become sensible. Success like before will not be achieved again.”
CSK has appealed to the fans that they should not expect like Dhoni from every captain. Ashwin said, “Don’t put the same pressure or exactly the same expectations on any young captain. Be it Rituraj or anyone else. Try to understand the reality a little.”
It was not only sad for the fans of Chennai that Dhoni was not captaining the team this season or that the team was losing. CSK fans were also disappointed by the fact that they did not get a chance to see Dhoni playing even once. This was the first time in 19 seasons of IPL, when Dhoni did not play a single match despite being in the tournament.
