'MS Dhoni doesn't have magic wand': Coach Stephen Fleming amid CSK's IPL 2025 struggles

CSK coach Stephen Fleming gives reality check to CSK fans.

IPL 2025: The five-time champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be working with stand-in captain MS Dhoni to turn things around after five straight losses, but the legend is not a "soothsayer" and does not have a "magic wand," head coach Stephen Fleming said ahead of his team's away match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

With four victories and two defeats in six games, fourth-place LSG will be looking to extend their winning streak against bottom-place CSK, who have only won once in six games thus far. Their five straight losses, three of which occurred at Chepauk Stadium, followed their victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the campaign opener.

Their last batting display in Chepauk came against the defending champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), at home, where they could only muster 103/9 that was chased down in 10.1 overs.

While fans have enjoyed watching Dhoni bat for longer, their middle-order hitters Vijay Shankar (109 in four matches with a fifty), Shivam Dube (137 runs in six innings), and Deepak Hooda (seven runs in three matches) have not performed as well as fans would have hoped.

Their top-order consists of Rachin Ravindra (149 runs in six matches with a fifty), Devon Conway (94 in three matches with a fifty), and Rahul Tripathi (46 runs in four matches).

After a strong start, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (122 runs in five games, including two fifties) was suffering from a poor run before suffering an elbow injury that ended his season.

Dhoni has amassed 104 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 146.47, ranking fourth in the team's run totals through six games thus far. The team has frequently needed Dhoni to deliver a miracle after the top and middle order have underperformed. This season, he hasn't done so, primarily because of his late entry point.

Speaking ahead of the match in the pre-match presser, Fleming was quoted by ESPNCricinfo saying that Dhoni's influence will always be prominent, but, "He is not a soothsayer, he has not got a magic wand. He cannot just rub it over the side; otherwise, he would have brought it out earlier."

"It is a case of us working very hard along with MS to turn it around and certainly in both of our cricketing careers, we have been in situations that require a lot of energy and we have got to make sure that the energy is put in the right place," he added.

Fleming noted that the "lack of competition" in the previous game would be a major setback for the team, which is working to improve in all three areas of the game.

"So there is certainly been a lot of internal soul searching but also a lot of work around what we need to do, and it is important that we put a performance out that is representative of the proud franchise that we are."

"There's a lot of hurt that we can turn to motivation but it is not about words, it is about players grabbing the moment, finding form, finding their groove and almost shaking off any apprehension which can creep in," he added.

None of CSK's batters have scored more than 150 runs this season, and they have only hit 32 sixes overall, averaging about five sixes per game. Additionally, none of them had a strike rate higher than 150.

Fleming believes that the batting would be alright with various techniques and that the strike rate and absence of sixes are not as significant problems.

"We do [talk about the sixes], but it is not everything," he said.

"I know there is a fascination with power and six hitting, but there is also a couple of teams doing well with good craft, and It would very sad if the day came to us just being in a baseball competition and talking about sixes and fours," he said.

"The beauty of the game is that there is still balance between bat and ball. Conditions play a big part, but there is still room for craft, and you are still seeing top-class players playing pivotal innings when it is not flat like a road, and I just hope the balance can remain," he added.

Shivam Dube, who hobbled off the field during the last match against KKR, will be fit for the upcoming match, Fleming added. He also discussed the difficulty of taking on Nicholas Pooran, who is regarded as the "best player in the world right now."

"Yes, he [Nicholas Pooran] is very threatening. He is the best player in the world at the moment by some distance, - consistent, powerful and a real threat. To get him out and keep him in check will be a big part of winning the game tomorrow," Fleming said.