IPL 2025: CSK coach Stephen Fleming suggests team changes if things 'don't go well over next couple of games'

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming admitted on Saturday that the five-time IPL champions are in a critical position, currently sitting at 10th place with only two wins in seven games. He indicated the team might introduce new players in place of experienced ones if their performance doesn't improve in the next two matches.
Fleming acknowledged the delicate balance between giving experienced players extended opportunities and achieving necessary results at this crucial stage of the tournament.
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"It's a delicate phase isn't it? We are still in the competition but we are hanging on by the thread, trying to find a balance between giving the guys an extended run to show some form and also, wanting to get results," Fleming told the media before CSK's match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
The head coach emphasised the team's current situation has left them with limited time to be patient with player selections.
"Unfortunately, the position we find ourselves in, we have run out of time to be too patient. On the other hand, we don't want to keep chopping and changing, trying to find the magic formula, quite possibly our tournament has been that far."

"We've got eyes on the season, but we've also got a little bit of a look forward, making sure that we are developing players for the future and that might be the second half of the season, if it doesn't go well over the next couple of games," he said.
The coach indicated that their current results have brought all squad members into consideration for selection.
"Our results to date have brought all the squad members into play. It's been our tradition in the past to stick with more experienced players and they've given us the results that we were after," he stated.

Fleming remained optimistic about the team's chances of turning their season around."We're still focused very much on being part of this tournament right to the end. It's going to take some doing, but it's that determination within CSK that's got us there before," he added.
The coach highlighted several promising young players in their squad, including Ramakrishna Ghosh, newly brought in Ayush Mhatre, and Shaik Rasheed.
"We've got a few, actually. Ghosh is one. He is an all-rounder. I think he has got a nice future. Ayush has just joined us. He was impressive in trials, but he's really young in terms of experience," he said.

Fleming expressed satisfaction with their pace bowling resources while noting batting as an area needing improvement.
"Probably the batting is the weakest side of it, so batting is getting the focus. But we've got a nice crop of seam bowlers as well who are doing well. We've seen Mukesh Chowdhury come in."
Regarding opener Rachin Ravindra, who is currently their highest run-scorer this season, Fleming expects more contributions.
"Rachin has been good, he has been so very pleasant on the eye but we just need a little bit more and he is aware of that," he said.
The coach concluded by emphasising the need for improved performance to remain competitive in the tournament.
"It's middling to be fair. We need good to excellent if we're going to stay in this competition and keep getting better," he added.