Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added a dash of humour and self-awareness to the latest episode of his YouTube show, where he gently but firmly reminded his fellow panellists to avoid discussing MS Dhoni or anything remotely connected to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during the ongoing IPL 2025 season. This moment of spontaneous banter featured former cricketer Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan and CSK’s Strength and Conditioning coach Rajamani Prabhu, and quickly turned into a light-hearted viral highlight that IPL fans couldn’t get enough of.
The comedic moment unfolded when the trio was chatting about captaincy styles across IPL franchises. As Rajamani began praising Shreyas Iyer and segued into admiring MS Dhoni’s tactical leadership in CSK’s recent win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Ashwin immediately stepped in with a mock-serious “Shush, that shouldn't be spoken here,” motioning to drop the topic mid-sentence.
Rajamani, with a smirk, cheekily responded, "You shouldn't be talking about it (CSK). I can. I am a member of the audience." Ashwin then elaborated on his position, reminding everyone, “We decided we won’t talk about our own team. When we were with Rajasthan Royals, we didn’t talk about them. So, let’s not start now.” The back-and-forth drew laughter from the studio and served as a funny reminder of Ashwin’s commitment to impartiality — even when the topic is as tempting as MS Dhoni.
The veteran off-spinner had previously come under fire earlier this season after episodes of his show included analysis and critique of CSK’s matches. This didn’t sit well with fans or certain analysts like Prasanna Aghoram, especially during the team’s rough patch, which saw them lose five consecutive games. The backlash prompted Ashwin to pull down a contentious episode and publicly declare that the show would no longer cover CSK matches — a move widely appreciated by fans for its professionalism.
Meanwhile, Ashwin’s own performance on the field has been under the microscope. Returning to CSK after over a decade, expectations were high. However, his numbers haven’t lived up to the hype — just six wickets in six matches, with an economy rate hovering near 10 runs per over. This dip in form led to his exclusion from CSK’s playing XI in their match against LSG in Lucknow, where Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad were entrusted with spin duties.
That decision seemed to work out for CSK, as they managed to limit LSG to a below-par 166 and chased the target successfully, winning the match with four balls to spare. It was a much-needed win for the struggling franchise, which has found itself at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table, with just two wins in six outings so far.
With the pressure mounting and every match becoming increasingly crucial, CSK is now preparing for a highly anticipated showdown against their arch-rivals, the Mumbai Indians, at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 20. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if the team can turn its fortunes around and make a late push for a playoff spot.
Ashwin’s show continues to gain traction for its candid takes, expert insights, and moments like these that give fans a peek into the lighter side of professional cricket. But for now, Dhoni talk is off the table — at least until the season ends.
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