Suresh Raina says CSK got IPL 2025 auction wrong: ‘Have never seen them struggle like this’ | Ipl News

While he was on commentary for Mumbai Indians’ routine nine-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, former India batter Suresh Raina said he had never seen his former team struggle in the manner that they are this season.
Languishing in last place on the IPL table after losing six of their opening eight games, CSK look bereft of new ideas or any solid leadership, with the lack of firepower in their batting order evident. The loss of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, in whose place the 43-year-old veteran MS Dhoni has been forced to step in as captain, has only compounded the problems.
Raina, who was at the Chennai-based franchise for 12 seasons between 2008 and 2021 with a break in the middle when CSK were suspended from the league in 2016 and 2017, felt that the team management’s auction strategy was to blame for the poor returns this year.

Experts @ImRaina and @harbhajan_singh break down what’s gone wrong for CSK from the auction table to the pitch
What are your views on the experts’ take? #IPLRevengeWeek #KKRvGT | MON, 21 APR, 6:30PM on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/WsQQcAe5tH
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 21, 2025
“I think, from the coach and the management, the auction has not gone well this year,” Raina said on Star Sports. “There were so many youngsters, talented players in the auction, like Priyansh (Arya) who scored a 100 the other day. Even among the more senior players, you left Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul.”
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“When you see the other teams play, they are attacking so much. (In front of them,) I have never seen a CSK team struggle like this,” Raina added.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has also played for CSK in the past, would add: “Among the youngsters, I have not seen anyone play for CSK who can play a game-changing innings. Those that hunt the talent pool for this team need to also be asked questions of whether they passed on the right information to the (management) based on which the selection (at the auction) took place.”