'MS Dhoni's fortress falls!' CSK lose 3rd game at Chepauk; KKR hand them biggest loss by balls remaining

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), under Ruturaj Gaikwad, were already struggling to find momentum in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). But after Gaikwad suffered an elbow injury, the captaincy returned to an uncapped player but a legend MS Dhoni. Fans hoped Dhoni's leadership would spark a turnaround¡ªand some even believed that nothing could go wrong with "Thala" back at the helm.

However, reality has been far from ideal. In their latest clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, CSK crumbled to a paltry 103 for 9¡ªtheir lowest IPL total ever at Chepauk. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chased it down effortlessly in just 10.1 overs, sealing an 8-wicket win with a staggering 59 balls to spare¡ªCSK's biggest loss in terms of balls remaining.

Game set and done in a thumping style ?@KKRiders with a ?????? to remember as they secure a comprehensive 8??-wicket victory ?

Scorecard ? https://t.co/gPLIYGiUFV#TATAIPL | #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/dADGcgITPW

¡ª IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2025

Back-to-back blows at Chepauk

This marks CSK's 5th consecutive defeat since their opening win against Mumbai Indians (MI)¡ªa first in franchise history. More worryingly, they've now lost three matches in a row at their home ground, another unwelcome record.

- First, they lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 50 runs¡ªRCB's first win in Chennai in 17 years.

- Then came a defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC), who beat CSK by 25 runs¡ªending their 15-year drought at Chepauk.

- And now, KKR handed CSK a thumping, chasing down the target in just over 10 overs.

Fans react

With CSK looking jaded, weak, and out of form, rival teams no longer fear playing at what was once the most intimidating venue in the league. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their disappointment and disbelief.

One user wrote: "Dhoni's fortress falls! KKR demolish CSK by 8 wickets, scripting the first 5-match losing streak in CSK history. Narine & Co. turn Chepauk into a hunting ground."

Dhoni's fortress falls! ? KKR demolish CSK by 8 wickets, scripting the first 5-match losing streak in CSK history. Narine & Co. turn Chepauk into a hunting ground. ? #IPL2025 #CSKvsKKR #MSDhoni ?

¡ª Abhishek Chandani (@erabhishek_92) April 11, 2025

Another said: "Humble request to all¡ªstop calling Chepauk CSK's fortress."

Humble request to all the people to stop calling Chepauk CSK's fortress #CSKvKKR #dhoni

¡ª Prince (@redfc07) April 11, 2025

A fan commented: "Those days are dead and buried when Thala used to cook every team at Chepauk¡­ The fortress isn¡¯t the same anymore."

Those days are dead and buried now when Thala used to cook every team at Chepauk!!! except KKR and MI...The fortress isn't the same anymore.#KKRvsCSK

¡ª Aditya? (@iamAditya556) April 11, 2025

One angry supporter wrote: "It's not about winning or losing! But what CSK is doing is frustrating¡ªno intent, no spark. For 17 years, Chepauk was our fortress. You've broken it into pieces. MS Dhoni, sorry to say this, please retire."

It's not abt winning or losing!! But @ChennaiIPL what u doing is literally frustrated not even a single player stood up & show the intent!! What the f**** dis! #Chepauk is our fortress for been 17 years u broke into pieces !@msdhoni sorry to say dis pls retire!

¡ª Manisagar S (@Wanderlust_4595) April 11, 2025

Another simply stated: "Fortress Chepauk has been breached. The Lions have been tamed in their own den."

Fortress Chepauk has been breached ? the Lions have been tamed in their own den. ..#CSKvsKKR #MSDhonipic.twitter.com/bHcO9eb42r

¡ª Mohit Kamal Rath (@mkr4411) April 11, 2025

CSK's batting collapse

CSK's batting woes continued as their top order once again failed to make an impact. Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Rahul Tripathi struggled to get going, while veteran MS Dhoni and Noor Ahmad barely troubled the scorers. None of them managed to stay long enough to build any momentum, leaving the team in deep trouble early on.

It was Vijay Shankar who finally showed some intent, playing a quick 29 off just 21 balls. Shivam Dube also tried to steady the innings with a gritty 27 off 28 deliveries. Despite their efforts, CSK could only crawl to a below-par total.

KKR, on the other hand, were clinical with the ball. Sunil Narine starred once again with a three-wicket haul, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana picked up two wickets each. Moeen Ali and Vaibhav Arora chipped in as well, ensuring all six bowlers in the attack shared the spoils in a dominant team performance.

They hunted wickets as a pack ?

5??-star performance from #KKR bowlers that scripted their victory ?

Scorecard ? https://t.co/gPLIYGiUFV#TATAIPL | #CSKvKKR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/q3cz2anJ0A

¡ª IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2025

CSK vs KKR: Teams

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy
Impact Subs: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Subs: Matheesha Pathirana, Jamie Overton, Deepak Hooda, Shaik Rasheed, Kamlesh Nagarkoti

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