Chennai Super Kings opener Rahul Tripathi has faced criticism after a rough beginning to the Indian Premier League season. The right-handed batsman has managed to score only 30 runs across three matches, failing to make a mark at the top of the batting order. CSK acquired Tripathi for INR 3.40 Crore during the mega auction, and the team opted to start him as an opener, pushing captain Ruturaj Gaikwad down to the number 3 spot. The 34-year-old had disappointing performances in his first two games, scoring just 2 and 5 runs, although he did show some fight against the Royals with a 19-ball 23. Unfortunately, CSK faced their second consecutive defeat.

Former CSK player and veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his concerns about Tripathi's batting technique, noting that he seems to be overly shaky at the crease.

"Chennai has lost two matches in a row, and they're making several errors. First off, they’re starting Rahul Tripathi as an opener. He’s moving around too much without scoring runs. I respect Tripathi as a player and know he works hard, but I firmly believe he shouldn’t be in the playing XI. If you’re shaking that much while batting, how can you focus on the ball? He’s not scoring, and right now, his intent is lacking," Harbhajan commented on his YouTube channel.

Tripathi's struggles with the bat have persisted over the last few seasons, and his slow start in IPL 2025 has only added to the pressure.

I don't believe Tripathi deserves a spot in the starting eleven

Harbhajan isn't too happy with CSK's choice to put Tripathi ahead of Gaikwad in the batting order.

"Ruturaj Gaikwad is a true opener, and he's taken one for the team by batting at number 3 for Tripathi. The opening partnership has always been a key strength for the Chennai Super Kings, whether it was with Matthew Hayden, Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, or even Devon Conway," he pointed out.

The seasoned spinner believes that the CSK management has been a bit lost in their decisions and suggests that they should replace Tripathi with Devon Conway in the lineup to shake things up.

"Conway is part of the squad, but he hasn't been given a chance in the XI. Their selection process has been off so far. I don't think Tripathi deserves a spot in the XI, but Conway absolutely does," he stated.

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