Following Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) seventh defeat in nine games this IPL season, head coach Stephen Fleming pointed to the auction as a key factor behind their disappointing campaign.
“It’s hard to say we got it right, given the results,” Fleming admitted after CSK were bowled out for 154 and lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets. “We’ve been reviewing our style of play closely and also how the game itself is evolving. It’s not easy—that’s why we’re proud of our consistency over the years. But this time, we just haven’t been able to put it all together.”
Fleming said CSK had tried to compensate for shortcomings by reshuffling roles: promoting Ravindra Jadeja up the order, using Shivam Dube as a finisher, deploying R Ashwin in the powerplay, and asking MS Dhoni—despite his age and fitness limitations—to bat longer than ideal.
“Responsibility starts from the top, and that’s on me, 100%,” Fleming said. “We’ve asked a lot from the players, but the reality is things haven’t worked the way we hoped.”
Statistically, CSK’s struggles are clear: they sit at the bottom in terms of run-rate and boundary percentage while ranking high for dot balls faced. They have already used 20 of their 27 players, and against Hyderabad, they handed debuts to Dewald Brevis and 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre, who opened the innings. This is a stark contrast to the past when CSK thrived with stable, clearly defined roles.
“The auction isn’t an exact science,” Fleming explained. “It’s a long, exhausting process. I still believe we have a good squad and aren’t far off. But a few key injuries and loss of form have left us scrambling, chopping and changing too much, trying to force something that maybe wasn’t there.”
Fleming also acknowledged that CSK’s traditional approach—relying on experience and structured innings—might need to evolve, especially as younger, more aggressive teams are thriving.
“I still believe percentages matter,” he said. “But there’s a lot of chaos in the way teams are playing now—high risk, lots of boundaries. It’ll be interesting to see which teams rise to the top as the tournament progresses. We’ll reflect deeply on this.”
He also praised the young players who’ve stepped up. “Brevis was excellent today, and Mhatre has been refreshing. We’ve given chances that usually wouldn’t come in the IPL, and though it’s not ideal, it’s an opportunity to build for next year.”
Despite the tough season, CSK continue to enjoy strong fan support across India, something Fleming said the team doesn’t take for granted.
“The support we get, especially the sea of yellow at every ground, is humbling,” Fleming said. “It’s a heavy responsibility. When players join CSK, one of the biggest thrills is playing in front of that yellow army. Failing to meet both our own and our fans’ expectations weighs heavily on us.”
He assured the fans that the team is committed to working hard to find solutions and come back stronger.
