Credit: IPL/Star Sports
Former cricketer Suresh Raina blamed Chennai Super Kings management for their auction picks after a poor show in the ongoing IPL 2025. Raina, who has been a part of CSK before his retirement said that skipper MS Dhoni had a very little involvement in the auction strategies, which led to CSK’s horrific performance in the ongoing season. The five-times are currently at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2025 with just two wins and seven losses so far.
In his conversation with Jatin Sapru on Star Sports after CSK’s five-wicket losses against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk on Friday, April 25, Suresh Raina said that the players weren’t selected properly in the IPL 2025 mega auction. "Kashi sir - I think he has been handling the administration for almost 30 to 40 years now. And Rupa Ma'am is managing all the cricket administration - buying the players, maintaining the core group. But everyone knows that the players bought this time weren't selected properly," Raina said.
"They always say MS Dhoni makes the final call. But to be very honest, I never attended any of the auctions. I was never a part of those discussions. I always talked about the players who were retained. MS might get a call about whether to go ahead with a player or not - but he's not that involved." he further added.
Dhoni can’t have this type of auction: Suresh Raina
Speaking further, Suresh Raina hailed MS Dhoni for his contribution towards CSK despite at the age of 43 years. He also mentioned that Dhoni would have picked four to five players in the auction but he had a very little involvement this time. Raina also blamed other CSK players for not taking responsibility.
"The core group handles the auction - you can imagine, Dhoni can’t have this type of auction. He would maybe name four or five players he wants, and out of them, a few would be retained. Even if an uncapped player is working hard, look at MS Dhoni-—being a 43-year-old captain, still giving everything," Suresh Raina said.
"He's playing just for the brand, for his name, for the fandom - and still putting in the effort. At 43, he's doing wicketkeeping, captaining, carrying the entire team on his shoulders. But what are the other ten players doing?" he added. "Those who are paid Rs 18 crores, Rs 17 crores, Rs 12 crores - they're not responding to the captain. Especially when you've never lost to certain teams before - that needs to be rectified. You have to identify - is this player a match-winner?"
