Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni mentioned on Tuesday that the team is already starting to rebuild for next year after a rough season in the Indian Premier League. CSK is sitting at the bottom of the points table and has already been knocked out of the playoff race. Dhoni, who led the team to five IPL titles, had passed the captain’s role to Ruturaj Gaikwad at the beginning of the 2024 season but had to step back in after Gaikwad got injured.
I think we have already started that process, Dhoni said at the toss before their next game against Rajasthan Royals. We want to express ourselves in batting, which we’ve been trying to do in the last few matches. He also noted that the bowling has been a bit weak, suggesting the need for an extra bowler who can step up after the powerplay. CSK currently has just six points after 12 matches this season, a big difference from their successful past.
Dhoni explained that once their playoff chances faded, the team focused on planning for the future. One of the main things when we were out of the tournament was to get answers. It’s about finding the right mix and targeting that one player in the auction. He acknowledged that while the batting was a struggle at the start of the season, they’ve seen some improvement, and now it’s about solidifying team spots for the future.
After facing RR, CSK will wrap up the season with a game against Gujarat Titans. When you’re under pressure, you look for options. In these matches, you have the chance to express yourselves and play your shots. We’ve seen from other teams that you can play smart cricket and maintain a good strike rate, Dhoni added.
