Despite enduring a dismal IPL 2025 campaign, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming on Monday (May 19) made it clear that the franchise will continue to bank on experienced players.

The five-time champions are languishing at the bottom of the 10-team points table, with only three wins in 12 matches. They were the first team to be knocked out of the playoffs race.

"No, I don't care how old the players are. I do like the experience though. The experience has served us really well over the proud years that we've had," Fleming told reporters on the eve of their match against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

In particular, Chennai batters have been a disappointment this season. Not a single CSK player features in the list of the top 20 batters. With 301 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 130.86, Shivam Dube is their leading run-scorer.

"It hasn't worked out quite well for us this year, and that can be a bit of form, it can be strategy, it can be a number of things that just don't quite work out," said Fleming.

The former New Zealand skipper acknowledged that the IPL 2025 debacle has sent shockwaves not only among the CSK fans but also the players and management.

"The fact that we've been so consistent over a number of years, to have a poor year is sort of shaking everybody. The challenge for us is making sure we do go over everything that we are doing, and have done in the past, to make sure we are keeping up with our philosophies, but also identifying talent," he said.

Fleming categorically denied that CSK will change their approach moving forward and will adopt youth-first approach from the next season.

"It's one thing to say we want a team full of young players, but you've got to find them. So it's about identifying talent and making sure they fit," he stated.

"As for the experience, which I'll say again I do like it. You have a look at the top run-scorers and wicket-takers, and you see there is a fair bit of experience there. But what it's sprinkled with is some amazing performances by young players who are playing sort of fearless cricket. So it's about getting that balance right. And that's what we've been looking for," he remarked.