MS Dhoni's first match as captain in IPL 2025 ended in shambolic fashion, with the visiting Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) restricting CSK to their lowest total - 103 for 9 - at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Dhoni was reappointed as CSK captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of IPL 2025 due to an elbow fracture.

After the 8-wicket defeat to KKR, a disappointed Dhoni urged his batters to avoid desperation and focus on application, as his team could manage just 31 runs for 2 wickets in the powerplay. KKR spinners Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Moeen Ali did not allow them to score freely.

KKR chased down the 104-run target with 59 balls to spare, handing CSK their biggest defeat in IPL history in terms of balls or overs remaining.

"It has been quite a few nights that has not gone our way. The challenge has been there, we have to accept the challenge. Today I felt we did not have enough runs on the board," Dhoni said after the match.

"It has been the case over here (Chepauk), when we bowled in the 2nd innings it stopped a bit, today it did in the first innings. When you lose too many wickets, there is pressure and with quality spinners it is difficult."

It was yet another dismal batting performance by the five-time champions, who were completely dismantled by a clinical KKR side, as CSK slumped to their fifth straight loss of the season.

"We never got any partnerships and bit more partnerships, application and we would be fine," Dhoni said.

"What is important is to see the conditions, couple of games we have done decently well, back your strengths and play the shots you can play. Not match to someone else's play. Our openers are good openers, play authentic cricket shots, they don't slog or look to hit across the line. It is important not to get desperate seeing the scorecard. If we start looking for 60 with our lineup (in powerplay) it will be very difficult for us.

"Get partnerships going, maybe capitalise in the middle and later overs and if we lose wickets, the middle order has to do their job differently. And the slog will be delayed for quite a while," he said.

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who previously played for CSK, lauded his team for executing their plans very well.

"We had our plans. I have played here last two years, so has Moeen. DJ (Dwayne Bravo) knows the conditions as well. The wicket is a bit sticky, the ball stops on you a bit. Credit goes to the spinners, our plans worked well today," he said.

"Long way to go in the tournament, don't want to share too much of those plans. I thought the wicket would play together, it looked like a 170 type of wicket. But can't take any credit away from the bowlers."

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