DRS April 26: Dhoni’s CSK out of IPL 2025, massive bad news for India & Umran Malik joins KKR again?

by · Inside Sport India

Welcome to our special segment, DRS or the Daily Review System. In this, InsideSport will provide you with the top cricket stories from a day before that you might have missed in the hustle and bustle of your busy life.

The 400th T20 didn’t go as planned for MS Dhoni. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) badly needed a win at home against an underperforming SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Chepauk. But guess what? CSK wasted their 5-0 record against SRH at home to virtually knock themselves out of IPL 2025. While Dewald Brevis looked cool on his debut, Harshal Patel’s four-fer proved to be extremely vital. Kamindu Mendis, the ambidextrous Sri Lankan, put up an all-around show too. Apart from this, why is there a bad news for India going ahead? And has Umran Malik really rejoined KKR for IPL 2025? Catch all this and more below.

CSK out of IPL 2025?

Chennai Super Kings are virtually out of IPL 2025. Despite having five matches left, their dismal form and points table position make it highly unlikely they’ll qualify for the playoffs. Winning all remaining matches would only give them 14 points, which is typically not enough for a playoff spot. Unless there’s a dramatic turnaround in their form, CSK’s season is likely coming to an end soon. Read more here.

Bad news for India?

We might have bad news brewing for Indian cricket if Rishabh Pant’s form doesn’t improve. Pant’s struggles continue, both in international cricket and the IPL. Since returning from injury, he’s failed to replicate his previous form, scoring just 677 runs in 19 Test innings at an average of 37.61. In IPL 2025, Pant has struggled for Lucknow Super Giants, getting only 3 double-digit scores in 8 innings. His confidence is low, and he’s even demoted himself to No. 7 in the batting order. With India set to face England in Tests, Pant’s form is a major concern for the BCCI. Read more here.

Umran Malik joined KKR?

Umran Malik, the fast-paced bowler, was ruled out of IPL 2025 due to injury, despite being bought by KKR for ₹75 lakh. He has joined the team for rehabilitation, working with the support staff to regain fitness. Malik has struggled with injuries throughout his career, playing only 26 matches since his IPL debut in 2021. He claimed to be fit in November but didn’t get clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Chetan Sakariya replaced him in the team. KKR is supporting Malik’s recovery, hoping he’ll return to his best and contribute to the team in perhaps next season. Read more here.

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Failure in 400th for MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni’s 400th T20 ended in disappointment as he scored just 6 runs before being dismissed by Harshal Patel, his arch-nemesis. Harshal has now dismissed Dhoni four times in T20s, all in 35 balls, conceding just two boundaries. Dhoni struggled to launch big hits, striking at less than a run a ball on a tricky surface at Chepauk. Patel was the pick of the SRH bowlers, taking 4/28. Since IPL 2021, Patel has taken 102 wickets (the most) in 65 innings, with a stellar record at Chennai, taking 15 wickets in 6 innings. Read more here.

Sehwag’s advice for Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Virender Sehwag has cautioned 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi to stay grounded after his impressive IPL debut, scoring 34 runs. Sehwag warned that many players fade away after a single good performance and advised Suryavanshi to aim for a 20-year IPL career like Virat Kohli. If Suryavanshi becomes complacent after earning crores in the IPL, Sehwag jokingly said, “We won’t see him next year.” Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson believes Suryavanshi could play for India in two years. Read more here.

Pakistan says no to India

Pakistan women’s team has ruled out travelling to India for the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, despite sealing qualification with an unbeaten run in the qualifiers. Opener Gull Feroza made it clear the team has no interest in playing in India, saying, “We are not playing in India, nor are we interested.” Instead, they expect to play at a neutral venue, likely Sri Lanka or Dubai. The stance follows the ICC’s hybrid model, which keeps India and Pakistan from playing in each other’s countries for major tournaments. Read more here.