Can Dube level it up for CSK?

Chennai Super Kings endured a dismal IPL 2025 campaign, winning only four of 14 matches and finishing last for the first time. Crucially, the ten-time finalists missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons for the first time ever. While late-season flashes from Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis showed promise, and a top order featuring Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad adds solidity, a lack of conviction in the middle order risks a repeat of 2024 and 2025's shortcomings.

Traditionally reliant on experience, CSK invested heavily in young Indian batters at the December mini-auction, acquiring uncapped players Kartik Sharma (wicketkeeper) and Prashant Veer (all-rounder) for INR 14.2 crore each. Both are power-hitters, though they have limited experience with just 18 innings between them in 21 T20 appearances. Kartik, with a strike rate of 162.92, hits more sixes (28) than fours (16), clearing the ropes once every seven balls. Their inclusion could influence the role and approach of Shivam Dube, whose IPL 2025 season contrasted sharply with his recent performances for India.

Dube provides two key assets for a modern T20 middle-order batter: spin-hitting prowess in the middle overs and impact at the death. He has excelled in these roles for India, as seen in his performances in the recent T20 World Cup semi-final and final.

However, his returns for CSK dipped significantly last year. His IPL strike rate fell from 159.16 across 2022-2024 to 132.22 in 2025. Most notably, his strike rate against spin plummeted to 118.8, compared to 176.47 during CSK's title-winning 2023 season. This decline appeared more due to instability at the other end affecting his intent rather than a technical flaw. He focused more on rotation, with his boundary percentage dropping from 21.14% in 2023-2024 (one every five balls) to 11.96% in 2025 (one every eight balls).

Dube vs Spin in IPL (2023-2025)

Dube's Shot-Type % vs Spin in IPL (since 2023)

CSK's collective strike rate against spin closely mirrored their fortunes. They led all teams with a 140.92 strike rate against spin in 2023 (with Dube at 176.47), but ranked last in 2025 with 124.36.

Batting SR vs Spin in IPL (since 2023)

A batter's start is also critical. Dube's strike rate in the first 10 balls of his innings fell from 146.56 (2023) and 144.16 (2024) to 123.57 in 2025. This metric is telling: his strike rate in the first 10 balls in CSK wins since 2023 is 155.05, compared to 122.95 in losses. His overall strike rate in overs 7-15 also declined across the last three editions: 152.38, 141.29, and 127.12.

CSK's middle-order (Nos. 4-8) had the worst strike rate (123.15) in the first 10 balls of their innings in IPL 2025, well below the season aggregate of 137.14. In 2023, Dube benefited from an in-form top order and support from Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni—a luxury absent in subsequent seasons.

This was evident in a match against MI at Wankhede last year. Dube, arriving in the 8th over, scored only three singles off his first 10 balls. He finished with 50 off 32, but CSK's 176/5 was chased down by MI with 26 balls to spare. Similarly, in a high-stakes 2024 clash in Bengaluru, he struggled to 7 off 15 balls against short-pitched bowling, causing the required rate to escalate.

His recent form for India highlights how clarity and batting depth benefit him. Among players facing 200+ balls of spin in overs 7-15 across IPL 2022-2024, only Sanju Samson (SR 152.64) and Dube (SR 152.29) had strike rates above 150. They combined effectively in the T20 World Cup semi-final, where Dube was promoted to counter Adil Rashid, smashing 22 off 8 balls against the leg-spinner.

In that scenario, had Samson been dismissed early, Dube still had the security of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, and Axar Patel to follow. In IPL 2025, with Dhoni's entry point fixed and unreliable support at the other end, he lacked that freedom. His approach in the upcoming season will be tested if, for example, CSK are 100/2 after 10 overs but slip to 110/4 after 12.

CSK have Brevis in the middle order, who strikes at 171.78 against spin in T20s since 2025, but one shaky end has often been enough for opponents to exploit. Teams have successfully used spinners in the death overs against CSK recently, unlike the failed experiment by England with Will Jacks in the T20 World Cup. Rajasthan Royals used Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana effectively in Guwahati last year, a tactic others have also employed.

Dhoni's record against spin in the IPL since 2020 is a concern, with a strike rate of just 95.88 (129.35 in overs 16-20), compared to 158.10 against pace. A team once famous for improbable chases has struggled lately, winning only 1 of 13 matches when chasing 180-plus since 2020. That lone win featured an uncharacteristic 45 off 40 from Dube, who had no choice but to bat deep.

While Dhoni famously chased 23 in the final over against Axar Patel in 2016, that is a distant memory. Even with his experience, it's a situation CSK will want to avoid.