CSK - year of questions, some answered and some unanswered...

As I sat down at Chepauk in the evening of 5-Apr-25 after watching DC beat CSK one thing was clear to me that real transition is upon CSK.

The passion of the fans inside the stadium is something that I wanted to witness ever since IPL began and it came true that day.

If only the passion of the fans was enough to push some life into the players in the middle, who at times were clueless whilst batting.

The match started well, however soon it was clear that second power play bowler was still an issue. It was baffling and unclear why Kamboj was missing from line up, instead Mukesh was selected and a decision that proved costly end of his first over itself!

KL put on such a champion display that in our hearts all the fans knew the target was beyond reach, a thought a CSK fan has had to never entertain as this franchise has been built on pulling off the impossible.

Speaking of pulling of the impossible, CSK think tank did pull off the impossible this time around! Obviously, you also understand the sarcasm in it. The reliance on proven players albeit misfiring/out of favor; in the hope that they will somehow magically revive themselves, backfired incredibly this time around.

Lot many of us were underwhelmed by the lack of fire power in the batting department at end of auction. It was vindicated in matches, but the way management threw punches in press conferences was baffling! Sometimes even questioning the loyalties of fans, when clearly it’s them who lost all the marbles!

I think it’s fine to get it wrong as it can happen to the best, but to then come out and say - we will get to see the true fans and some player suggesting, fans of some other franchises are true as they back their players! - These comments coming from a franchise that was banned for 2 years that left us the fans enduring the emotion of not being able to watch our team play, was hypocrisy with moral vacuum at its peak!

I believe it was an easy way out for them, rather than self-reflection. Maybe it was tactic to get the fans to mellow down and not be too harsh on them! Don’t know but it was for sure baffling!

Signs of acceptance of mistake started to emerge when replacement signings started taking shape of what squad should have looked like in the first place! Hope the lessons are learnt in batting department at least.

Death bowling is still a concern, with team completely ignoring the need for a bowler to partner Pathirana at the death. Ellis was gloriously ignored and so too was Overton! This is where one would question, who is taking those decisions? For the team’s sake hope it was just a stop gap to plug the batting hole, if not its worrying!

The crown has fallen off and prince is getting to grips of the throne with the king still watching from sidelines and sometime from frontline! One wonders who is still in charge, the King or the Prince?

The subjects are wondering whether kingdom will be protected by what it seems like new generals and a Prince who so far has worn the crown of thorns with dignity.

We now wait with bated breath for next edition!