CSK Coach Fleming Acknowledges Top-Order Woes After Third Straight IPL Defeat

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that the team is struggling to find the right balance at the top of the batting order, following their third consecutive defeat in the 2025 Indian Premier League. The latest setback came at the hands of the Delhi Capitals, who defeated CSK by 25 runs at Chepauk on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 184 set by Delhi, Chennai once again faltered early, losing three wickets in the powerplay. Despite a late recovery led by Vijay Shankar (69* off 54 balls) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (30* off 26), whose unbeaten 84-run partnership for the sixth wicket brought some fight, the Super Kings fell short, ending at 158-5.

The defeat mirrored Chennai’s previous two matches, where lackluster starts in the powerplay — scoring under eight runs per over — left them on the back foot. Fleming acknowledged the recurring issue and called it a “conundrum” the team is yet to solve.

“To get more solidity at the top, we have to obviously remove an overseas player, so we’re grappling with the combination that we need,” Fleming told reporters after the match. “It’s not an easy decision with the four-foreigner limit.”

Chennai currently features overseas openers Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, along with key foreign bowlers Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana, both of whom are among the team’s top wicket-takers this season. Fleming noted that adjusting the top order would require a tough call on which overseas player to bench.

“We felt that our batting in the powerplays has been below par,” he said. “Going too hard is probably not the way, particularly on our wicket, which is a little bit tricky. So we’re looking to settle that with guys who have been in good form and have done it before.”

Despite the defeats, Fleming indicated that the team is committed to making incremental adjustments rather than overhauling the lineup entirely. He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure and backing experienced players to turn things around in the coming fixtures.

Chennai, a five-time IPL champion, now faces growing pressure to recalibrate its strategy and revive its campaign. With only four overseas players allowed in the playing XI, the coaching staff faces a delicate balancing act to improve the top order without compromising on bowling strength.

As the tournament progresses, CSK will be eager to break the losing streak and rediscover the form that has made them one of the IPL’s most consistent franchises.