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Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of the most iconic franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 history, are enduring a tough time in the 2025 edition of the tournament.
The five-time champions slumped to their third consecutive defeat, this time at their fortress – the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai – where they were outplayed by Delhi Capitals (DC). Despite favorable home conditions, CSK failed to deliver yet again, losing the match by 25 runs in a one-sided contest that exposed their struggling batting lineup.
Criticism emerges from within as Ravichandran Ashwin’s channel becomes a talking point
After the defeat, a surprising controversy erupted off the field, involving CSK spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. A video, a few days before the DC game, uploaded on Ashwin’s personal YouTube channel featured three panelists discussing and dissecting the franchise’s ongoing issues. During the discussion, one of the panelists criticized CSK’s decision to buy Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad during the IPL 2025 mega-auction. The remark raised eyebrows, particularly because Noor Ahmad is currently the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, having already bagged 10 wickets. The panelist opined that CSK should have opted for a different player in the auction, considering they already had experienced spinners like Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad.
This PDogg Talked So Much Trash on Ashwin’s YT Channel That They Had To Delete The Video 😭🤣 pic.twitter.com/J31MPAfalp
— Junaid Khan (@JunaidKhanation) April 1, 2025
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming’s reaction
During the post-match press conference, a reporter brought up the viral video from Ashwin’s YouTube channel and asked Fleming whether such content – especially criticisms made on a player’s personal platform – could lead to awkwardness or internal discomfort within the camp. The query caught the CSK head coach off-guard. At first, Fleming seemed confused by the question and admitted he wasn’t even aware that Ashwin ran a YouTube channel. However, the former New Zealand captain maintained his composure and gave a light-hearted yet clear response.
“Mate, I have no idea. I don’t even know he had a channel, so I don’t follow that stuff,” Fleming remarked. He further added, “That’s irrelevant. You guys are important,” pointing towards the journalists and media present, subtly indicating that his focus remains on the team and official discourse, rather than peripheral chatter.
Also READ: MS Dhoni registers an unwanted record as CSK falls short against DC in IPL 2025
Ashwin’s on-field struggles and CSK’s downward spiral in the IPL 2025
Adding to the awkwardness surrounding the situation is Ashwin’s own underwhelming form in the ongoing IPL season. In the recent clash against Delhi, the veteran spinner went wicketless, conceding 21 runs in his three overs. He did not get an opportunity to bat, as MS Dhoni and Vijay Shankar saw out the final overs. So far in IPL 2025, the 38-year-old has managed to pick up just three wickets in four games. His only batting appearance came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he scored 11 off eight balls ahead of Dhoni in the chase. These modest returns have not helped CSK’s cause as they continue to slip further down the table.
With the loss to Delhi, CSK now finds themselves languishing at the ninth position on the IPL 2025 points table. Only Sunrisers Hyderabad have a worse net run rate (NRR). Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the side is yet to discover its rhythm and winning momentum. Their next challenge comes against the in-form Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, who have secured two wins out of their first three matches and currently sit in the top half of the table.
