Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have faced a significant dip in their performance after a strong start to their IPL 2025 campaign. Following their impressive first match, the team's batsmen and bowlers have failed to deliver, leading to widespread criticism. Despite the setbacks, CSK's coach, Stephen Fleming, has defended the team's captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, amidst the growing pressure.
Cricket Isn't Just About Sixes and Fours, Says Fleming
CSK's batsmen have struggled to hit big in this season, with the team managing only 32 sixes across their matches, averaging just five per game. Additionally, none of their players have scored more than 150 runs, and the team's overall strike rate has failed to impress. However, Stephen Fleming downplayed the significance of these statistics, insisting that cricket isn't just about hitting sixes.
"Strike rate and the lack of sixes are not a big concern," Fleming explained. "We discuss these things, but this is not everything. Cricket is not just about hitting sixes. Craft and class are also important. If cricket was limited to only sixes and fours, it would become baseball." He stressed that for CSK to succeed in future matches, they need to improve across all areas—batting, bowling, and fielding.
Dhoni's Struggles Continue
One of the biggest concerns for CSK this season has been Dhoni's own performance. With just 104 runs in six matches, Dhoni is the fourth-highest scorer for CSK, but his limited opportunities to bat have raised questions. Often sent in late in the batting order, Dhoni hasn't had the chance to turn games around, leaving fans and analysts disappointed with his contribution.
Fleming responded to the criticism of Dhoni, saying, "Dhoni’s influence will always remain, but he is not an astrologer, he does not have a magic wand. If he had one, he would have used it by now." Despite the struggles, Fleming remains hopeful that Dhoni's experience and leadership will play a key role in turning the team’s fortunes around.
CSK's Consistent Batting Failures
In their last match against Kolkata Knight Riders, CSK posted a meager total of just 103 runs, which Kolkata easily chased down. The team's biggest issue has been the lack of contribution from their top and middle-order batsmen. Players like Rachin Ravindra (149 runs in 6 matches), Devon Conway (94 runs in 3 matches), Rahul Tripathi (46 runs in 4 matches), Vijay Shankar (109 runs in 4 matches), Shivam Dube (137 runs in 6 matches), and Deepak Hooda (7 runs in 3 matches) have all failed to make a significant impact.
Captain Rituraj Gaikwad, who had shown promise earlier in the tournament with 122 runs, has now been ruled out of the rest of the season due to an elbow injury, adding to the team’s woes.
As CSK looks to regroup, Fleming and Dhoni remain committed to improving the team’s performance, but the challenges ahead remain substantial. With a few matches left in the tournament, the team will need to make some critical adjustments if they are to have any hope of making a turnaround.
