Why is Ravichandran Ashwin not playing the CSK vs LSG IPL 2025 match? Check CSK Playing XI

Chennai Super Kings are all set to play their seventh game of the IPL 2025 against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. Uncapped skipper, MS Dhoni walked out for the toss a little while ago and elected to bowl first. Chennai Super Kings have lost five games out of six and are currently rooted at the bottom of the points table.

They will hope to turn things around and register their second win today. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni gave an update on CSK's playing XI during the toss. Interestingly, Ravi Ashwin isn’t part of their playing XI for today's clash against LSG. While highlighting the two changes, Dhoni didn’t mention any notable reason behind Ashwin’s exclusion, which suggests that he has been dropped from the playing eleven for this encounter. 

Shaik Rasheed has replaced the CSK spinner, while Jamie Overton has made his way back at the expense of Devon Conway as well. Interestingly, CSK has continued to put faith in Rahul Tripathi, who has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism.  

Coming back to Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian veteran spinner has had a poor outing so far in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League. In six games, he has only managed to accumulate five wickets at an economy of close to 10. Chennai Super Kings spent nearly 10 crores at the IPL 2025 auction for his services, however, the veteran hasn’t been able to do justice to his price tag. 

"If you ask me - drop Ashwin": Krishnamachari Srikkant

Earlier, former Indian batter, Krishnamachari Srikkanth lambasted Ravi Ashwin for his horror show for CSK in the IPL 2025 and reckoned that he should be dropped from the playing XI. In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, here’s what he said:

“You know what I thought at the start of the season? I thought we had a gun bowling line-up. I thought CSK would make it difficult for visiting teams in Chennai with their three world-class spinners, Matheesha Pathirana, and Khaleel Ahmed. We all believed CSK would rely on their bowling attack to win matches after posting totals around 180 at home," he said.

"That plan has completely fallen apart. Where did it go wrong? Ashwin is bowling terribly. He's bowling very, very poorly. I'm not sure if Ashwin will be in the XI for the next game after bowling like this. If you ask me - drop him,." he added. 

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, has made one change with Mitchell Marsh coming in for Himmat Singh. 

Playing XIs: