Chennai Super Kings will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in a must-win clash for both teams to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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Stephen Fleming Draws Inspiration from RCB’s IPL 2024 Turnaround
With Chennai Super Kings languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2025 table after eight games, head coach Stephen Fleming is holding onto belief and drawing inspiration from a familiar source. Ahead of CSK’s crucial clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Fleming said his team is looking to take a leaf out of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) playbook from last season, when they staged a dramatic turnaround to make the playoffs.
“We’re still hopeful of winning 6 out of 6, and some will giggle at that, but RCB set a blueprint for that the year before,” Fleming said, referring to RCB’s incredible surge in IPL 2024, which ended with a playoff berth secured in their final game – ironically, against CSK.
RCB had won only one match in their first eight and were reeling at the bottom of the table, with their hopes of playoff qualification almost extinguished. However, they staged a dramatic turnaround, winning all their remaining six matches to eventually finish fourth and qualify for the playoffs.
“So while there’s still a chance, we have one eye on making sure that we think the best players for this game coming up will play, but we’re also aware that if it doesn’t work out, that we’ve got to make the most of what has been a poor season,” the CSK head coach added.
Fleming on Dhoni’s remark
Stephen Fleming responded to a question about MS Dhoni’s recent comment on focusing on building for the future if the playoffs slip away. The former New Zealand skipper acknowledged that this transition phase could be crucial for CSK, as it has been in the past.
“And the work we did a couple of times, we were in this position in the past, set us up to win the title the following year. So we’re certainly aware of what needs to be done and how we can go about it,” he said.
Fleming also conveyed a strong message about the team’s mindset going forward, emphasizing that no match will be treated as a dead rubber. “There won’t be a wasted game or an opportunity in the next few weeks, and the players know that as well. And that creates opportunity and creates a bit of competition within. We won’t let any time go to waste,” said Fleming.
