Three games. Three losses. No MS Dhoni in sight yet. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wouldn’t have asked for a worse start in an IPL season, but here we are. The five-time IPL champions were left clueless at the bottom of the points table with just four wins in the previous season, and the ordinary cricket they exhibited in IPL 2025, uncharacteristic of a franchise primarily known for its ruthless dominance, seems to have carried over to the current season, much to the disappointment of CSK loyalists.
At the time of writing this, CSK have registered 14 losses in their last 18 IPL encounters. A formidable force at home, CSK have lost six consecutive games at Chepauk, registering their sixth loss at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium against Punjab Kings, where
they lost by 5 wickets.
In their most recent outing, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered an emphatic 43-run win over Chennai.
“Great fight by Sarfaraz, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, and even to some extent Shivam Dubey. So I think, maybe I would have, contributed more top of the order. You never know, they would have chased it down. So definitely it’s on me today,” CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said during the post-match interaction after losing to RCB.
The three consecutive losses in IPL 2026, the continued disappointments at home ground, and the missing presence of Dhoni have, unfortunately, left the Yellow Army with memes and humour to balm their pain. Others have vocally expressed what they think CSK, as a unit, has been lacking.
Chennai Super Kings: A Meme Fodder Of IPL 2026
If you are someone who has just tuned in to watch the newest season of IPL that kicked off on 28 March, these memes might fill you in on the CSK action or lack thereof.
Template officially belongs to Dhoni & Csk 😭🤣 pic.twitter.com/GQJjmrmAuV
— Sai (@SamanthaFreak_) April 5, 2026
Also Read: Avesh Khan Boundary Celebration A Needless IPL Controversy: Umpire Anil Chaudhary Explains Why
Sad to see CSK like this 🥲🥲#RCBvsCSK pic.twitter.com/br4WEez8bf
— Byomkesh (@byomkesbakshy) April 5, 2026
Sarfaraz Khan in CSK’s batting lineup pic.twitter.com/7Li70O7YD8
— Kamina (@bittu7664) April 6, 2026
Mr Nags said there’s hope for the five-time champions, something they could learn from the Men’s RCB team, who remained trophyless until IPL 2025 came along and changed their fortunes.
mr. nags is the only someone from rcb no csk fans can ever hate 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/gZRJtP4eeq
— mr. villa™ (@Luccydevil07) April 6, 2026
Why Are CSK Underperforming? Fans Offer Opinions
When a CSK fan asked the community on X (formerly Twitter) to list reasons why the franchise was experiencing a sharp decline, one responded by saying: “For too long, they’ve tried to extend the same core instead of aggressively refreshing it. Transition planning hasn’t been smooth. Younger players haven’t been groomed early enough to take over. When seniors dip in form, there’s no ready replacement. Now a team caught between eras! (sic)”
The players are not bad at all, this team is underperforming way too much and its cuz of the think tank. Thats why im so pissed off and need a change. https://t.co/yO2oHy3Ouy
— Sergio (@SergioCulerCSK) April 7, 2026
“In 2024 while choosing Ruturaj as our captain (sic),” remarked another in the X thread.
The Loss Of Ravindra Jadeja
One cricketer that the Chennai Super Kings camp has dearly missed in CSK uniform was the superstar all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was traded to the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026.
CSK has made huge mistake. Trading a player with calibre of match winner or even a trophy winner is a poor decision.
Last time Rajasthan Royals won the IPL trophy, Jadeja was playing for Rajasthan Royals. pic.twitter.com/B1JgcKcyAi
— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) November 15, 2025
A player of Jadeja’s calibre and capabilities should have remained in CSK, argued many.
“Ravindra Jadeja started crying hearing ‘Jaddu’ chants from CSK fans.💛🥹” pic.twitter.com/jrDQggZSmW
— Muffatball vikrant (@Vikrant_1589) March 30, 2026
CSK Coach Stephen Fleming Catches Strays
Former Kiwi veteran Stephen Fleming, who has been the Head Coach of CSK since 2009, wasn’t spared from the ongoing criticism against Chennai. Fleming’s defeated and deflated demeanour in the team’s dugout also became an unlikely online meme.
Stephen Fleming during this season pic.twitter.com/anY2IiShBS
— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 5, 2026
CSK supporters have also argued that their team’s dominance heavily relied on the peak-era Dhoni. With Thala’s “golden days” a thing of the past, the online cricket “pundits” opined that Fleming’s role as team coach and strategist has faltered in recent years, resulting in a dry spell.
“21-Year-Old CSK’s Biggest Problem”: Irfan Pathan
Former India all-rounder turned commentator Irfan Pathan called Noor Ahmad the biggest problem in the Chennai Super Kings squad at the moment. Ahmad has remained wicketless in his three outings and leaked runs with a poor economy rate of 11.1.
“He (Noor) is CSK’s biggest problem right now. He has bowled around 10 overs this season and conceded over 100 runs. He doesn’t have a single wicket. I believe that if he corrects the angle of his run-up, the alignment will improve and his hand, which has been falling on one side, will become straighter as well,” Pathan said while speaking on his YouTube video.
Pathan also reprimanded CSK pacer Matt Henry for his bowling against RCB. “I am very disappointed with his bowling because he brings in a lot of experience. He has had performances and a good economy, but has not been able to perform like that in this league,” Pathan said.
There’s Still Hope, Ask Mumbai Indians
As the captain, coach, and players of CSK face continued warranted and unwarranted criticism during the beloved franchise’s worrisome period, Dhoni, who has been a spectator to action due to a calf strain, may return to the playing XI as early as Saturday for the CSK vs Delhi Capitals game at Chepauk if he passes his fitness test. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter’s return could very well boost the team and supporters’ morale as the Yellow Army chases the team’s first win in IPL 2026.
It’s also worth reminding that the down and dispirited CSK fans could revisit the Mumbai Indians’ journey to the IPL 2015 triumph. MI had started their campaign with four losses on the trot. It became worse from there as they lost five games out of six.
Not only did Mumbai Indians recover from the ashes, but they ended second on the points table. More importantly, they defeated CSK in the finale to script an unexpected turnaround.
MI faced a similar fate in IPL 2014, when they lost their first five matches before bouncing back and ending fourth on the points table. Their journey ended when CSK defeated them in the semi-final.
