The yellow army has stumbled again, and this time, history was made for all the wrong reasons.

For the first time ever, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have failed to make the IPL playoffs in consecutive seasons. The five-time champions were officially knocked out of the IPL 2025 playoff race after a 4-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings at their beloved Chepauk — a ground once known for its CSK dominance but now reduced to a fortress lost.

CSK’s slim hopes of qualification were hanging by a thread before the game. That thread snapped in the 19.4th over as Punjab chased down a target of 191. Led by half-centuries from Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer, Punjab sealed the win, handing Chennai their eighth defeat in ten matches.

Curran’s Fire, Chahal’s Magic

Ironically, one of the few shining lights for CSK came from a former Punjab star — Sam Curran. Batting with purpose, the Englishman smashed a fiery 88 off just 47 balls, including 9 fours and 4 sixes. Alongside Dewald Brevis, Curran lifted CSK from a wobbly start with a 78-run stand.

 Yuzvendra Chahal spun magic in the final overs, picking up four wickets, including a hat-trick — his second in IPL history. But that late twist wasn’t enough.

Dhoni’s Return Fails to Inspire Revival

With Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out due to an elbow injury, MS Dhoni returned as captain midway through the season, rekindling hopes of a turnaround. But at 43, the legendary skipper couldn’t stop the slide. CSK lost five of their home games — a stunning statistic for a team once nearly unbeatable at Chepauk.

The back-to-back playoff misses now place CSK in unfamiliar territory. Since the franchise’s inception in 2008, CSK had missed the top four only twice until 2023. Now, they’ve crashed out early for the second season in a row — a signal that the famed Chennai consistency may finally be fading.

What Next for CSK?

While fans still chanted Dhoni’s name across stadiums, even the ‘Thala’ magic couldn’t save a team that seemed stuck between eras. With an aging core, inconsistent performances, and captaincy uncertainties, CSK’s future now raises more questions than answers.

Is it time for a complete rebuild? Will Dhoni finally walk away? Or will the Super Kings return next year with renewed fire?

One thing is clear — the IPL won’t feel quite the same without CSK in the playoffs.

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