IPL 2025: CSK’s PowerPlay Struggles and Short-Ball Problem|

One thing has always been important in IPL, the use of new ball in Powerplay. And the same trend is being seen in 2025 as well. In the 11 matches so far, the winning teams have scored at the rate of 11.16 runs per over in the powerplay, while the losing teams have scored only 9.21 runs per over. Meaning, whoever is playing fast in the beginning is winning the match.

But the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team has been the slowest so far. Their powerplay strike rate is only 7.44 which is the lowest among the 10 teams. The average powerplay score in IPL 2025 was 61 runs, but CSK is able to score only 45 runs. One big reason for this is the struggle of short-ball.

CSK’s battle with Short-Ball

CSK batsmen are getting very troubled by short balls. Osh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar defeated them in the RCB match, and Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshande also used the same tactic in the RR match.

Rajasthan’s fast bowlers bowled 20 short balls in the powerplay and gave only 25 runs. Out of these, 6 tried to hit pull shorts, but most of them had wrong connections. Rachin Ravindra also got out on a short ball.

If we look at the performance of CSK batsmen against the short ball, only Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway look good. The strike rate and average of everyone else is quite useless.

CSK IPL 2025’s weakest short ball Team

If we look at the overall performance of the IPL 2025 squads against short ball, then CSK is at the bottom. Their strike rate is only 121.9, which is much less than the soosri teams.

Meanwhile, CSK batsmen are the slowest on short balls and are hitting the least number of boundaries.

More challenges ahead for CSK

Hazlewood and Bhuveneshwar troubled CSK with the short ball in Chepauk and now Mitchell Starc is also ready to give them new challenges. Starc has also used the short ball well in the IPL.

And not just in the powerplay, RR confused CSK in the death overs as well. Jofra Archer had one over left but Riyan Parag still bowled to Mahesh Thekshana in the 18th over and gave away only 6 runs. Even experienced finishers like Dhoni and Jadeja are seen struggling against spin.

What will CSK have to do next?

1 A new strategy will have to be made to deal with the short ball. Openers will have to give a confident start.

2 A more aggressive approach will have to be taken in the powerplay, otherwise the pressure will keep building.

3 Strik’s rate needs to increase, just surviving will not be enough.

4 Devon Conway needs to come back, so that he and Gaikwad form a strong opening pair again.

5 If CSK does not find a solution soon, then IPL 2025 can be very difficult for them