IPL 2025 PBKS vs CSK: Forget the Catch Drops and Death Over Batting – Lack of Sixes Sinks Super Kings in Mullanpur!

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The Chennai Super Kings' campaign in the IPL 2025 season hit a new low as they slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of a spirited Punjab Kings side that outgunned the five-time champions by 18 runs in Mullanpur on Tuesday (April 8).

Chasing a daunting 220-run target, CSK once again faltered while batting second, extending their painful record of losing all four chases this season - and their 11th consecutive loss in a 180-plus chase since 2019.

This match, however, underlined a glaring shortcoming in the CSK arsenal - their inability to consistently clear the ropes.

Sixes Make the Difference in T20s

T20 cricket, more than ever, is a power game. And as PBKS showed on a flat deck, sixes are the currency that buys you victories in high-scoring encounters. The hosts hammered a staggering 16 sixes during their innings, with uncapped Delhi batter Priyansh Arya leading the onslaught with nine maximums in his blistering 103 off 42. Shashank Singh (3) and fast-bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen (2) chipped in as well, helping Punjab post a massive 219 for six in the stipulated 20 overs.

In contrast, CSK could only manage seven sixes during their entire chase - less than half of PBKS' tally - a shortfall that ultimately proved decisive.

CSK's Passive Powerplay, Passive Mindset

What was particularly baffling was CSK's approach in the power play. Openers Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, though unbeaten at the end of six overs, failed to hit a single six during that period - a missed opportunity given the fielding restrictions.

Their boundary-hitting was largely limited to finding gaps rather than clearing the ropes, and the team's first maximum came only in the 10th over when Shivam Dube took on New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson.

Compare that to PBKS, who launched six maximums in the powerplay - setting the tone for an aggressive innings despite losing half their side inside eight overs.

Middle-Overs Muddle for CSK

While Conway (69 off 49) and Dube (42 off 27) stitched a 91-run partnership for the third wicket, their boundary-scoring was sporadic, with only four sixes between them. The reluctance to take the aerial route in the middle overs, especially with wickets in hand, allowed Punjab to dictate terms. The CSK batters focused on strike rotation and finding gaps - effective in the 150-160 range chases - but inadequate in a 220-run pursuit.

PBKS vs CSK: Late Surge, Too Late for Super Kings

MS Dhoni's late cameo - 27 off 12 balls, including three sixes - gave the crowd something to cheer for and momentarily raised hopes, but by then, the asking rate had ballooned. Ravindra Jadeja, promoted as a last-minute tactical move after Conway was retired out on the penultimate ball of the 18th over, also hit a maximum in the final over, but the match was already lost by then. Had CSK shown some intent in the middle overs (between the 7th and 15th over), the outcome might have been different.

Tactical Moves, But Not Timely

The decision to retire out Conway - the second instance of a tactical substitution this season - showed some innovative thinking from the CSK think tank. But the timing of the move raised questions. With just 19 deliveries left and 49 needed at that point, sending in a fresh hitter like Jadeja was logical, but perhaps it should have happened earlier. Conway, though solid, lacked acceleration during the crucial death overs.

Fielding Fumbles Continue for CSK

While their lack of sixes was the headline issue, CSK's fielding woes again hurt them dearly. With 13 dropped catches in just five games, including crucial missed chances against Arya and Shashank Singh, CSK have repeatedly let opposition batters off the hook - a luxury no team can afford in a tournament as unforgiving as the IPL.

The Bigger Picture for CSK

The defeat also underlined a larger concern: CSK's outdated approach in big run chases. On a belter of a track, with a target of 220, the batting template needs to be rewritten. Cautious accumulation followed by a death overs blitz doesn't work anymore, especially when the opposition batters are clearing the ropes with regularity.

With this latest loss, CSK's vulnerabilities have been laid bare: an aging core, a predictable middle-over approach, and most critically, an inability to hit enough sixes to match the evolving tempo of T20 cricket.

If they are to salvage their season, Ruturaj Gaikwad and the CSK management must inject urgency and aggression into their batting blueprint. Because in today's IPL, it's not just about batting deep - it's about batting big.