Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have faced an uncharacteristically challenging season, prompting introspection from their long-standing head coach, Stephen Fleming.
Known for their remarkable consistency and a trophy cabinet boasting five IPL titles, CSK’s struggles in the 2025 season have sparked discussions about the team’s approach of backing experienced players over youngsters and adaptation to the evolving dynamics of T20 cricket.
As the tournament nears its business end, Fleming opened up about the franchise’s philosophy, giving his take on the balance between youth and experience on the side.
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“Age No Barrier for CSK”, Says Stephen Fleming
CSK’s campaign this year has been marred by inconsistent performances, with experienced players struggling for form and the team failing to replicate the dominance that has defined their legacy. This forced them to include fresh faces in their lineup in the middle of the season.
While Ruturaj Gaikwad, who injured his elbow during the tournament, was replaced by Ayush Mhatre, Gurjapneet Singh’s injury led CSK to call Dewald Brevis. In another change, Vansh Bedi, who got injured during the warm-up just before a match, was replaced by Urvil Patel.
Though CSK banked upon youngsters like Mhatre and Brevis at the time of adversity, Fleming, who has often been a vocal supporter of experienced players, reiterated that age is no barrier for the franchise.
Addressing questions about the team’s reliance on experienced players ahead of the match against Rajasthan Royals (RR), Fleming was unequivocal in his stance.
"No, I don't care how old players are," Fleming said as quoted in the pre-match presser.
"I do like experience though, experience has served us really well over the proud years that we have had. It hasn't worked out quite well for us this year and that could be a bit of form. It can be the strategy, it can be a number of things, that just don't quite work out," he added.
He cautioned against a blanket approach to youth, noting the challenges in identifying and nurturing correct talent.
"It's one thing to say we want a team full of young players, but you've got to find them. So it's identifying talent and making sure they fit in."
Fleming acknowledged the team’s unexpected dip in performance, stating,
"The competition is very even, so the fact that we have been so consistent over a number of years, to have a poor year has sort of shaken everybody. But it is understandable given the excellence in which all the franchises are operating."
The 52-year-old emphasized the need for a thorough review of CSK’s methods to ensure they remain competitive.
"The challenge for us is to make sure that we do go over everything that we are doing now and have done in the past, to make sure we are keeping up with the philosophies of the time," Fleming opined.
As CSK navigates this transitional phase, Fleming’s insights offer a glimpse into the franchise’s roadmap. The emphasis on balancing experience with emerging talent suggests that CSK is gearing up for a strategic overhaul while keeping their philosophy intact ahead of the next season.
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CSK Fight to Avoid Wooden Spoon
With their playoff hopes already extinguished, CSK’s pride is on the line as they aim to avoid the wooden spoon. If the MS Dhoni-led team wins versus Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming match scheduled on May 20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, they will move to ninth position and will not end the tournament at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table.
For RR, it is the same scenario. If they lose their last league game against CSK, they will finish the season with the wooden spoon.
