Chennai Super Kings' IPL 2025 campaign has been nothing short of disastrous. With just two wins in nine matches and seven crushing defeats, CSK is virtually out of the playoff race — needing a miracle and favorable results from other teams to stay alive.

After their recent defeat at home against Sunrisers Hyderabad, head coach Stephen Fleming made a shocking revelation about what truly went wrong.

CSK's Big Mistake: A Flawed Auction Strategy

Following CSK’s 5-wicket loss to SRH at Chepauk on April 25, Fleming candidly admitted the franchise made major errors during the season's mega auction.
“We got it wrong at the beginning," Fleming said. "We failed to pick the right players. We trusted our old formula and did not focus enough on bringing fresh talent into the squad."

While CSK began their season with a victory over Mumbai Indians, the momentum quickly evaporated — with just one win in their next eight games. Fleming admitted that the team’s reliance on tried-and-tested names backfired badly.

Players Failed to Deliver

Fleming pointed fingers at underperforming players like Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar, who failed to make an impact with the bat.
He highlighted that young guns like Ayush Mhatre, Sheikh Rashid, and Dewald Brevis offer hope for the future but admitted that their lack of experience hurt the team this season.

Adding to CSK’s woes was the injury to regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, which severely weakened their batting lineup.

Looking Ahead

"We made a lot of mistakes, and I take responsibility," Fleming concluded. "But we’ll learn from this and rebuild stronger."