The 2025 IPL season has been tough for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Under MS Dhoni's leadership, the team has struggled to find its rhythm — and their latest defeat against Punjab Kings has raised serious questions about their playoff chances.

Another Tough Loss for CSK

On Wednesday evening, CSK faced their eighth defeat of the season, losing to Punjab Kings by 4 wickets. This marks their third consecutive loss and leaves them at the very bottom of the points table. Out of the 10 matches played so far, CSK has only managed to win two — one against Mumbai Indians and the other against Lucknow Super Giants.

Playoff Dreams Over for 2025

With only four matches remaining and just 4 points on the board, CSK is officially out of the playoff race for IPL 2025. Even if they win all their remaining matches, the maximum they can reach is 12 points — not enough to make it to the top four.

They've now become the first team this season to be eliminated from playoff contention, marking the second straight year they've failed to qualify. This is the first time in CSK’s history that they’ve missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

A Look Back at CSK’s Playoff History

CSK has been one of the most consistent teams in IPL history. From 2008 to 2019, they reached the playoffs every single time, missing out only in 2020, 2022, and now again in 2024 and 2025.

This sudden dip in form has disappointed fans, especially those who hoped that Dhoni would lead a comeback this season.

What Lies Ahead for CSK?

Even though their playoff hopes are over, CSK still has four matches to play — and they aren’t meaningless. They’ll face strong teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Gujarat Titans. While CSK may not qualify, they can certainly shake up the playoff race for other teams.

Now, all that’s left for Dhoni and his team is to play for pride and finish the season on a high note.