Stephen Fleming, head coach of Chennai Super Kings, made it clear that CSK is going along with its “experience-first” policy. He further explained to News 18 that while they are still giving youngsters a go, it is about maintaining the right balance more than about changing who they are.
So, before the game against RR, Fleming said they were very much open to bringing in young talent. However, they felt that experienced players were critical in terms of winning tournaments. “I don’t care how old our players are. Experience has really helped us over the years. We need to keep reviewing what we’ve done and find new talent,” he said.
Due to the absence of some of the key older players through injuries, CSK has been forced to give chances to youngsters such as Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Urvil Patel, who have all delivered. Fleming said it doesn’t mean we’re bigger change; it is an evolution that is necessary right now. He mentioned, “These youngsters have made a positive impact, especially this season. We realized early on that we needed to speed things up. Bringing in these players is part of our plan for the future while we keep our style of play in mind. I believe in mixing youth with experience because experience wins tournaments, but we can’t overlook the talent out there.”
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Hence, CSK is not transitioning into a ‘youth-only’ team; they want a proper mix for this competition. It’s more about finding the right players than focusing on youngsters.
Regarding Dhoni, the future of his IPL 2025 stint looks muddled. Amidst the fitness niggles and a few other CSA struggles, a report in Times of India had it that he has not actually ruled out retirement while also probably playing in IPL 2026. CSK officials are optimistic as Dhoni will be looking at his fitness before taking a decision.
