Follow UsFive-time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings have had a torrid start to their IPL 2025 campaign, with just one win out of six encounters. What makes it worse is that four of those games have come in their own backyard in Chennai, a venue that they have considered a ‘fortress’ for the longest time.
Even MS Dhoni's return as skipper fell into futile hands. CSK were handed its biggest-ever defeat in IPL history, as KKR chased down a meagre 104 in just 10.1 overs. In the post-match press conference, their batting coach, Michael Hussey, was adamant and upbeat that CSK still has the talent to reach the final four stage.
"We still believe we've got the talent in the dressing room to turn this around," Michael Hussey said.
"It's going to take some hard work, no question about that. But we're going to find out who our true supporters are, the ones that really stick with us
"We are certainly not putting the white flag up just yet. You only have to get in to scrape into that fourth place. And a big, long tournament like the IPL, it is about momentum,” he added.
After winning the first game against MI, CSK have fallen off a cliff, with five consecutive losses, one heavier than the other. Hussey acknowledged that, revealing the franchise hasn’t played good cricket consistently but refrained from giving up.
"Now, certainly, the momentum is not with us at the moment whatsoever. We haven't been playing good cricket consistently. We definitely acknowledge that, put our hands up and say that that is the fact at the moment,” he said.
“But that's not to say things can't turn around and can't turn around quickly. So, that's what we're still hanging on to, and that's what we're working hard towards. And if we can change that momentum and get some confidence going and get a few wins on the board, the confidence will grow, and you never know.”
While Hussey has all but ruled out a top-two finish, the former Australian batter was still insistent that the five-time IPL winners could scrape through in that last position towards the last week of the competition.
"We might be able to scrape into one of those last positions in the table come playoffs time. And it's a long way ahead, and we certainly need to change things around. But we still believe that we can do that."
A lot of criticism for the franchise this season has surrounded the construction of their squad, which hasn’t worked well thus far. Despite that, their batting coach reckoned that they still have players who have some good cricket left in them.
"We have had players in the twilight of their career come and play at CSK in the past," Hussey noted. "I think of Shane Watson. I think of Ajinkya Rahane. And they've performed really well for CSK. So, I still think that the players that we've got still have some good cricket in front of them and can still offer us a lot. So, I don't necessarily agree with the fact that they're beyond their best. I still think we can find their best [form] and see some great performances from them.