Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in deep trouble in the IPL 2025 campaign, having lost five consecutive matches and now sitting at the bottom of the points table. With just one win from six games their playoffs hopes are quickly fading. To make things worse captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been sidelined due to injury exposing the team’s fragile top order.

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Ahead of CSK’s must-win clash against Lucknow Super Giants head coach Stephen Fleming addressed growing speculation about MS Dhoni possibly returning as captain. However the former New Zealand skipper ruled out any quick fix saying leadership alone won’t solve their issues overnight.

"His [Dhoni's] influence will be always prominent but he's not a soothsayer, he hasn't got a magic wand. He can't just rub it over the side otherwise he would have brought it out earlier," Fleming told reporters in Lucknow.

Fleming stressed the importance of focusing on the basics and working hard to improve in all departments batting, bowling, and fielding.

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

"We've got to look at it in small steps and just continue to work to get better at all three facets really and then you start competing. I think the disappointing aspect in particular the last game was the lack of competition we put up and that hurt a lot." He added.

Fleming also highlighted the emotional toll of their losing streak, but believes the team can turn their hurt into motivation if the players rise to the occasion.

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