Chennai Super Kings have already set their sight on the next IPL season after the debacle in IPL 2025. Chennai have won two out of their 11 matches and are already out of the playoff race. Barring Noor Ahmad, none of the big names showed consistency. The outcomes were embarrassing for the five-time champions, and the team management had no choice but to drop star players Rachin Ravindra and Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI.

MS Dhoni has been a big letdown as a batter and captain. Although Ruturaj Gaikwad was the designated skipper, his fractured elbow brought Dhoni back as a leader. The slide didn’t stop under the 43-year-old cricketer. Ravindra Jadeja, who has been associated with the franchise for a long time, has disappointed so far, considering his overall performance.

However, the 36-year-old showed a glimpse of what he can do against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The veteran scored an unbeaten 77 runs off 45 balls, laced with 8 fours and two sixes, but couldn’t win the contest.

Jadeja, who generally bats in the lower order in IPL, has been promoted in the ongoing edition. He is expressing himself in the No.4 slot, and Sanjay Bangar has urged the decision-makers to let him play in the top order.

“Ravindra Jadeja is now playing for pride. He has a lot of talent, and I once heard MS Dhoni talking about Ravindra Jadeja. He said Jadeja is so talented that he doesn’t even know what he is capable of doing. We saw his intent against RCB, and some of the shots he played against spinner Suyash were remarkable. We saw vintage Ravindra Jadeja. Don’t waste him at the No.6 or 7 slot. He should bat at the No.4 slot.

Jadeja and Ayush Mhatre’s knocks went in vain as Chennai failed to score the required 214 runs and managed 211 in 20 overs. Bengaluru all-rounder Romario Shepherd was named the Player of the Match for scoring an unbeaten 53 runs off 14 balls, with the help of 6 sixes and 4 fours at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have qualified for the playoffs after recording 16 points from 11 matches.