Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) horror run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 continued as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at home. This is the third time they have lost four games at home in a season. The last time they were not impressive at home was in 2012 but they still managed to reach the final. As MS Dhoni-led side was beaten by five wickets by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), CSK head coach Stephen Fleming rued injuries to key players and lack of form of few others for the team's struggles. He still feels that CSK had a good auction and were able to assemble a good squad but lack of form has led to chopping and changing this season.
"It is also not perfect science. The auction is a very fluid beast. It's like buying [for] 25 hours and see it come away at the end of it mentally and sometimes physically exhausted. And to be fair, I still think we have got a good squad. We are not far away," Fleming said in the post-match press conference.
"A couple of key injuries, just a bit of a lack of form. And we have just struggled really to nail a gameplan. We've chopped and changed too much. I think it was trying to look for something that perhaps we felt wasn't there. So yeah, there is a lot of responsibility and soul-searching and it certainly starts with me at the top, 100%."
On April 25, injured Ruturaj Gaikwad's replacement Ayush Mhatre contributed with another cameo. He scored 30 runs from 19 balls, including six fours before falling to SRH captain Pat Cummins. Dewald Brevis on his CSK debut impressed with four sixes in his 25-ball 42. He had to return to the pavillion as Kamindu Mendis took a spectacular catch.
Fleming on his 'grumpy interview' and the evolution of game
Fleming is still adamant that the hasn't changed enough that CSK are left far behind. He will wait till the end of the season to see the changes CSK need to make. In addition, he admitted that the changing phase has already begin with Brevis and Mhatre playing the way they do.
"I'm a believer that the game hasn't evolved that much. So just trying to be smart and trying to be positive and give evidence that percentages still work. But all around there is a bit of chaos, isn't there, with teams playing well [by targeting boundaries and playing high-risk shots]. And I think I said it in a grumpy interview a few weeks ago that we'll see towards the end of the tournament which team will come through," Fleming said.
"And it's an intriguing watch to see settled sides and teams with younger sort of flair battling it out and watching the cream rise. And I will watch with interest to see towards the end what the highest run-scorers are and what teams are doing well, because that's part of the reflection as you move forward.
"I thought Brevis was excellent today [making 42 off 25]. Mhatre has been refreshing. We've given guys opportunities and that's something that often doesn't come along in an IPL. You don't want it to come along. It's an unwanted bonus. So we'll work very hard on every game to try and find some more answers for next year."
CSK are at the bottom of the points table with seven losses from nine games. Their next match is against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 30 at home.