I don’t think many people would’ve predicted this scenario for either Chennai Super Kings  and Sunrisers Hyderabad at this stage of IPL 2025. But here we are — it’s last-chance  saloon for both teams. Let’s be honest: these two sides have underdelivered so far, and  their hopes of making the playoffs are hanging by a thread — if not already out of reach. 

So let’s take a moment to reflect before we look ahead. Starting with SRH — I watched and  worked on their game recently, and one thing stands out: they’ve consistently struggled to  adapt to conditions quickly. They’ve been leaning too much on the formula that worked for  them last season — mostly on flat, batting-friendly pitches. 

The surfaces at home this year haven’t quite offered the same kind of assistance. That  said, it’s no excuse — good teams read the pitch, adjust, and still find a way to post  competitive totals. The game vs Mumbai Indians at Hyderabad was a prime example. They  lost two early wickets, and that was the moment to pause, reassess, and grind it out for a  while. But they didn’t. Suddenly, they were 13 for 4 — and from there, the game was pretty  much done. 

That slow response to the pitch and conditions has been a recurring issue for them, and it’s  cost them time and again. That said, Heinrich Klaasen stood out — played a solid hand  amidst the chaos. For me, SRH need to take a page out of LSG’s playbook — the way they  use Nicholas Pooran. Klaasen should be walking in right after the powerplay. Between  overs 6 and 15, you’re going to see the bulk of spin, and in my view, Klaasen is the best  player of spin in the world right now. So why not give your best spin-hitter the maximum  time against spin? It just makes sense — play to your strengths, and time his entry to  exploit the matchups. 

But that hasn’t really been the case — in fact, it’s been rare. That’s one immediate change  I’d make: as soon as the powerplay ends, Klaasen should be the next man in. A bit of  flexibility in the batting order could go a long way. 

And speaking of changes, Nitish just looks completely out of rhythm right now — lacking  confidence, struggling for form. Maybe it’s time to give him a breather. Both these teams  have shown great loyalty to their senior players — and that’s a quality I genuinely admire.  But there’s always a tipping point. CSK, for instance, have already started to make some  bold calls by bringing in younger players — and it might be time for SRH to consider doing  the same.

I think now might be the right time to give Nitish a bit of a break — maybe bring in a couple  of fresh faces to inject some energy into the side. It’s about learning from the last few  games and making those small but smart adjustments. 

And look, there’s no need to rein in Abhishek Sharma or Travis Head — their aggressive  style is what makes them dangerous, and I fully back them to keep playing that way. But  it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. They are playing the Gujarat Titans now, and that’s a  different challenge. Just because some players thrive with all-out aggression doesn’t mean  everyone has to follow the same script. For example, Titans openers are more measured  with their approach; it suits their resources.  

As for Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, they absolutely need to keep playing their natural  attacking game. That’s how they bring the best out of themselves, and they should be  backed — and I’m sure they are being backed — to keep going that way. 

The key is, when that aggressive approach doesn’t come off, they need to be quicker in  reassessing the situation — breaking it down and figuring out what a competitive score on  that pitch looks like, then working towards it. 

SRH have been a bit unlucky with the toss, often ending up batting first, which can make  things trickier. I believe even one of the games where they won the toss — like at Eden  Gardens against KKR — they still chose to bat first. 

I do feel for their bowlers, to be honest. Often, they’ve been asked to defend sub-par totals  — and that puts an enormous amount of pressure on any bowling unit. That said, the  bowlers haven’t exactly hit their stride either. Mohammed Shami, for instance, has been  well below his usual standards. 

What’s really hurt SRH is that, in any team, you expect a couple of players to be off their  game — maybe two or three. But for SRH, it feels like almost everyone is underperforming.  And when that happens across the board, the results are bound to be as drastic as they’ve  been. 

It’s really been a combination of factors — a failure to adapt to match situations and  conditions quickly enough, coupled with a dip in form from far too many players all at  once. That’s a tough position to be in. But the silver lining? They’re up against a side facing  similar struggles.  

So, this one’s shaping up to be a bit of a shootout — a battle of two teams looking for  redemption.

As far as CSK are concerned, Rachin Ravindra has struggled with runs at the top of the  order, and consistency has been an issue for the team in that regard — and that’s going to  be a problem moving forward. But I do like the direction they’re taking. 

They’ve made smart moves, like giving Shaik Rashid and Ayush Mhatre a chance, and bringing in younger players to get some exposure. I think now’s the right time to do that. 

There’s almost a sense that they’re already looking ahead to next season, and honestly, I  think that’s a fair approach. Of course, they’ll still be aiming to win every game and finish  strong — but there’s an element of planning for the future, too. 

I think there’s more potential to unlock with Shivam Dube. He could play a more prominent  role in their batting lineup and really make an impact. I also like the idea of promoting  Ravindra Jadeja up the order — having a left-hander in that spot could offer some much needed variety. He is a top-quality player, so I have no issues with him experimenting with  the batting order to find the right balance.  

As for Jamie Overton, he’s still in the process of learning — both with the ball in these  conditions and with the bat. He’s still searching for a method, and at this point, they might  as well stick with him. I wasn’t entirely convinced about him playing initially, especially at  home, given that his style — hitting the deck hard — might not be the best fit for the  conditions here. But now, they should let him continue. There’s still room for him to learn,  adapt, and refine his game in these conditions.  

Matheesha Pathirana has been underwhelming and hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. He’s one of their most incisive bowlers — a genuine game-changer. But even he’s had a  tough time lately. The spinners have been largely ineffective, which is a big issue. However,  it’s clear that the spinners need to step up now. 

Ashwin, for example, was a substitute in the last game, but he should be playing — no  question. Noor Ahmad has been excellent, and I think the combination of Noor, Ashwin,  and Jadeja should feature as much as possible. 

They need to bowl as much as they can and do everything they can to get the team back on  track. 

Clearly, the pressure is mounting on Dhoni, but he can’t work miracles. He can’t magically  bring everyone back into form overnight. So, what we’re left with now is a fascinating  watch. Both teams are in a similar position — senior players underperforming, established  internationals out of sorts. But as Rohit Sharma has shown, these are quality players. 

Sometimes, all it takes is one spark, one good innings, and the momentum can shift in an  instant.  

It should still be an entertaining finish, but it’ll be intriguing to see how both sides close out  the season after such a challenging start.