Stephen Fleming, the Chennai Super Kings' Head Coach, does not aim to waste any time, whether it is for the current Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season or moving their emphasis to next year.
The five-time champions have had a horrible start to the 2025 season, sitting at the bottom of the points standings with only four points in eight games.
Nonetheless, Fleming stays committed to the franchise, hoping to learn from this experience and turn things around again after finishing ninth in 2022, only to win the championship the following year in 2023.
“It is hard when you are playing below par to get enthusiastic about staying in the competition, but that is what we must do. Nothing will be wasted during this tournament, we will look back at other tournaments that have not gone our way, and some of the work we have done at the back end of the tournaments that set us up for wins the following year.
We’re realistic about the position that we’re in, but there will be no stone unturned looking for players for next year, combinations for next year, and we’ll see it as an opportunity," Fleming said in post-match press conference.
He also stated that they do not want to rule anything out just yet and would continue to compete for a playoff spot, but that if their chances are ruled out before then, they will focus on next year.
“(It is) not a great opportunity because we want to be at the pointy end of the competition, but if it works out that there is no chance of us getting through (to the playoffs), we’ll certainly make the most of it,” Fleming said.
CSK's batting has been a major source of concern, particularly their lack of aggression at the top. Ayush Mhatre, a 17-year-old star, scored the team's maiden boundary in their latest encounter against the Mumbai Indians. However, Fleming feels that it is a lack of confidence rather than a lack of ability.
“We’re not trying to play a conservative brand of cricket, we’re just lacking a little bit of confidence, and we’re just changing personnel through one reason or another," he said.
CSK will next face SRH in Chennai on April 25.
(PTI inputs)
