CSK head coach Fleming: "Dhoni can't work miracles overnight."

With the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table after five defeats in six matches, head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that staging a comeback would be a “major challenge.” He also emphasized that MS Dhoni's return as captain, stepping in for the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad, wouldn’t lead to an instant turnaround in form.

“Dhoni’s influence is always significant, but he’s not a fortune-teller — he doesn’t have a magic wand,” Fleming told reporters on the eve of their clash with Lucknow Super Giants. “If he did, he would’ve used it earlier. This isn’t something that turns around with a wave of the hand. It’s going to take hard work, and MS is very much a part of that effort.”

Fleming added that both he and Dhoni have been through tough patches in their long cricketing journeys and understand the kind of energy and focus required to dig a team out of a hole.
“We’ve both experienced situations that demand serious resolve, and it’s all about channeling that energy in the right direction,” he said.

Following a humiliating loss to Kolkata Knight Riders — where CSK managed just 103 for 9 and were chased down in only 10.1 overs — the mood in the camp is understandably somber. That result marked CSK’s fifth consecutive defeat and their worst-ever batting display at Chepauk.

“We have to take things one step at a time,” Fleming said. “We need to improve in all three departments of the game. What hurt most in the last match was how little we competed — that’s not the CSK way. There’s been a lot of reflection, a lot of soul-searching, but now it’s about putting that into action. We need to deliver a performance that reflects the pride this franchise stands for.”

On Dhoni’s role in this moment of crisis, he added:
“There’s definitely pain in the group, but we can use that as fuel. This isn’t about speeches anymore — it’s about players rising to the occasion, finding their rhythm, shaking off the self-doubt, and stepping up.”

So far, CSK have hit only 32 sixes in six matches — an average of just over five per game — and not a single batter has crossed 150 runs this season. No one in the side boasts a strike rate over 150 either. However, Fleming played down concerns about lack of power-hitting.

“We do talk about the sixes, but it’s not everything,” he said. “There’s this obsession with big hits, but some of the most successful teams are doing it with smart, crafted innings. I’d hate to see the game reduced to just a baseball-like contest of sixes and fours. The real charm of cricket is the balance — between bat and ball, power and finesse. And thankfully, we still see players thriving with skill, not just brute force.”

Looking ahead to their match against the in-form LSG, Fleming offered a fitness update on Shivam Dube — who limped off during the KKR game — saying he is expected to be available.

He also singled out Nicholas Pooran as the biggest threat in the upcoming fixture.

“He’s the most dangerous player in the world right now, by a long shot,” Fleming said. “He’s consistent, powerful, and a genuine match-winner. Containing him will be crucial if we want to get back to winning ways.”

As it stands, CSK sit at the bottom of the table with just two points from six games, while LSG are riding high in fourth place with eight points, having won three in a row.

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