Chennai Super Kings are at the crossroads prior to IPL 2025. The five-time champions, who were once invincible in the captaincy of MS Dhoni, are now undergoing a transition period. Having captured a fifth title in 2023, Yellow Brigade forfeited leadership of captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad—a development that saw them perform woefully in the fifth position in 2024, maintaining a place just short of the playoffs on an equal-win, equal-loss record. Redemptive justice will have to wait for next season, but victory will not come easy in the face of heightened competition from the IPL." Their team has been revamped in recent mega auctions, although Chennai Super Kings could hold on to their major guns like Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and their franchise's man MS Dhoni. With astute signings of Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Curran, Devon Conway, and Rachin Ravindra, the team appears potent on paper. But translating that potential into a sixth title will rest on five crucial playing XI picks that could make or break their season. 5 Key Playing XI Decisions CSK Must Make to Win IPL 2025 Title 1. The Opening Enigma: Conway or Rachin with Gaikwad? Image Source : Associated Press No CSK selection overshadows others more than deciding who captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is opening with at the top of the order. The decision more or less comes down to two excellent Kiwis—Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra—both providing very different batting styles. Conway has been an integral cog of the Gaikwad combination's most successful unit, with 889 runs scored along with a record opening association of 141 in 2023. Their understanding cannot be doubted; Conway's methodical batting beautifully balances Gaikwad's strokes of genius. Conway's recent performance is suspect, however. Following his dismissal from the first half of the 2024 season on account of injury, his comeback to competitive cricket has been disappointing with only one half-century in 10 innings in the SA20 competition at a strike rate of just 113.80. On the other hand, Rachin Ravindra's hitting power, based on his 160.86 strike rate of last season's IPL where he made 222 runs from a period of 10 games, could give the flying start the contemporary T20 game expects of CSK. The choice is more than numbers. Conway's presence and experience bring solidity that allows middle-order batsmen to play freely. Rachin's aggressive approach, though charged, carries the unpredictability of power-hitting batting. CSK's leadership has to make a choice on whether to stick with set minds of Gaikwad-Conway or introduce new blood with Rachin opening. This one choice can revolutionize the batting balance of the team and set the tone for their whole season. The intelligent decision would be to retain Conway in the first place and keep Rachin as a game-changer for particular match-ups or conditions. Also Read | IPL 2025: Top 3 CSK Players Likely to Stay in Yellow 2. Homecoming Hero: Maximizing Ashwin's Contribution Image Source : BCCI Ravichandran Ashwin's return to Chennai Super Kings is a poetic homecoming of the homeboy who started his IPL career with the franchise. The veteran off-spinner, who last played for the yellow jersey in 2015, does not only add experience and guile over the bowling abilities. His former CSK stint brought 90 wickets but more importantly had an economy rate of just 6.26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium—the testament to mastery over home soil. Playing Ashwin in the XI, however, is a problematic concept. His IPL form lately has been pretty underwhelming with only nine wickets from 14 matches in the previous year at an economy of 8.49. Furthermore, CSK's addition of Afghanistan teenage sensation Noor Ahmad—a left-arm wrist spinner and one among current top order—gives decent competition to the spin expert spot. The support staff have to consider using both the spinners along with Ravindra Jadeja, who can form a potent duo on spin-friendly surfaces, or continue to rotate them depending on conditions and opposition.Ashwin's worth goes beyond wicket-taking; his capability to bowl in various stages—especially powerplay where he has done well in the past—gives Gaikwad a multi-dimensional bowling option. His batting potential, so often unused in the recent years, could also make CSK's lower middle order more formidable. The management will have to create a specific role for Ashwin and not attempt to shoe-horn him into the role of an orthodox off-spinner. Employing him as a powerplay bowler against left-handed top-order and keeping Noor Ahmad reserved for middle-overs might create a killer spin attack that will get the best out of both bowlers. On below-average spin tracks, Ashwin's craft could overshadow Noor's, but it will have to be game to game and not in general. 3. The Pace Attack: Pathirana's Dream Ally Image Source : BCCI Sri Lankan prodigy Matheesha Pathirana has become CSK's pace king, especially during death overs when his unconventional bowling action and spot yorkers have haunted the world's top batsmen. Pathirana took 13 wickets at a decent economy of 7.68 in only six matches last season, including a four-fer. His death-over record is even better—22 wickets at 8.24, one of the best death finishers with the ball in the IPL. Though Pathirana's spot is very unique, with whom he is paired in the pace department is arguable. CSK can opt to choose utility Sam Curran, veteran Khaleel Ahmed, young guns Mukesh Choudhary, and some domestic young ones like Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Anshul Kamboj. Each of them is different. Curran is an all-rounder who is worth his keep but has been inconsistent with the ball in the past two seasons. Khaleel offers left-arm options and IPL quality with 17 wickets last season, although his economy of 9.58 is a worry. Mukesh Choudhary is picked on the back of a brilliant domestic season with 15 wickets from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.The perfect backup to Pathirana would be that individual who provides balance—if Pathirana is a death expert, his backup should be a powerplay and middle overs specialist. Left-arm action by Khaleel Ahmed is an ace card and hassled batsmen last season in powerplay and is the probable pick. CSK can utilize a horses-for-courses policy, using Choudhary on turning wickets and Khaleel where variety is called for against right-hand dominant batting orders. The management must fight the urge to keep changing pacers; they should instead opt early on in their go-to pair and stand by them through the tournament, achieving consistency and definition in roles that were missing last season. 4. Middle Order Muscle: Building the Ideal Engine Room Image Source : Getty Images A title-winning squad needs a strong mid-order that can adapt to different match scenarios. For CSK, building the all-important engine room offers a number of intriguing options. The first choice for numbers 3 to 5 are Rachin Ravindra (assuming he is not opening), Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, and veteran Moeen Ali, with MS Dhoni waiting to resume his finishing duties. Rachin at number three is a left-handed batsman who can build on a good beginning or fight back after initial wickets. He is a smooth gear-shifter as evident from his strike rate of 160.86 in the last season. Rahul Tripathi, another recent signing, has plenty of IPL experience with 2,236 runs in 95 games at a strike rate of 139.31, and offers solidity with attacking ability. The actual X-factor, though, is Shivam Dube, whose spin-hitting specialist rebranding worked in his favor in all 14 games last year at a career-high strike rate of 162.29. CSK's middle-order plan has to adopt a left-right combination approach to break bowling routines. An ideal placement of Rachin (left-handed) at three, Tripathi (right-handed) at four, and Dube (left-handed) at five does the job quite well. This structure also distributes power-hitting throughout the innings rather than concentrating it in one phase. Another crucial consideration is the batting position of Ravindra Jadeja, who has often been underutilized. Elevating him above Dhoni against spin-heavy attacks could maximize his capabilities before the death overs where Dhoni’s experience becomes invaluable.The management needs to avoid treating the middle order as a floating unit, but define roles with reduced flexibility based on match situations. This labeling was a trademark of CSK title runs under Dhoni and needs to be brought back in Gaikwad's rampage. With perfect mix and defined roles, this middle order can become the tournament's most intimidating middle order. 5. The Dhoni Dilemma: Leverage the Legend's Influence Image Source : BCCI MS Dhoni remains CSK’s talismanic figure, even in the twilight of his illustrious career. Despite stepping down from captaincy, his presence behind the stumps and in the dressing room continues to be invaluable. Yet, as IPL 2025 approaches, the management faces a delicate balancing act: how to extract maximum value from the 43-year-old legend while planning for the future. Dhoni’s batting position and role require thoughtful consideration that balances sentiment with strategic necessity. In the last couple of seasons, Dhoni has been used mainly as a finisher, replacing players in the last overs to offer late fireworks. Though getting old, he has not lost unbelievable striking potential, and it can be gauged from his strike rate of 220.31 in the 2024 season. But his reduced mobility and time spent on the crease indicate that he must bat no higher than seventh position at best, hoping to have a chance to play no more than 10-15 balls in a match. CSK would be able to withstand the emotional urge to shift him up the order except in very specific chase situations where his experience against certain bowlers would be useful.Beyond batting, Dhoni’s greatest contribution comes through his tactical acumen and wicketkeeping excellence. The cameras frequently capture Gaikwad consulting him for field placements and bowling changes, effectively creating a dual leadership model that has shown promising signs. CSK should formally embrace this arrangement, with Gaikwad taking primary leadership while openly utilizing Dhoni’s tactical genius. Additionally, Dhoni’s mentorship of younger wicketkeepers in the squad represents crucial succession planning.This could be Dhoni’s final IPL season, and while the team should honor his legacy, decisions regarding his playing role must ultimately serve the team’s championship ambitions. The balancing act between leveraging his experience and preparing for a future without him will be among the most nuanced challenges facing CSK’s management in IPL 2025. Also Read | 3 Overseas CSK Players Unlikely to Feature in IPL 2025 Matches Conclusion As Chennai Super Kings embark on their quest for their sixth IPL title, these five key playing XI decisions are set to make all the difference between whether they get back to their title-winning ways or struggle on with transition. The exact composition of their side—as much at the top of the batting order as from Dhoni down—requires a masterful balance of stability and change, experience and ability. While the coaching fraternity under the leadership of Stephen Fleming deserve every bit of credit for CSK's success consistently, the 2025 season offers them their biggest jigsaw puzzle task until now. The franchise has adopted the dictum of bankin' on role clarity and choice stability everywhere, and these are the principles that should go into making these decisions and not spasmodic switches. If CSK are able to get these five aspects of their playing XI right, they have the depth, quality, and leadership to challenge for the title. The yellow brigade's passionate fan base will hope that the mix of back-from-the-dead heroes such as Ashwin, old warhorses such as Jadeja, and new blood such as Pathirana can replicate the championship formula that has made CSK the IPL's most eternally consistent challenger.