Chennai Super Kings, currently enduring five consecutive defeats in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, are in urgent need of a turnaround to secure a playoff spot. As they prepare to face the Lucknow Super Giants, CSK's head coach Stephen Fleming candidly acknowledged that MS Dhoni's reinstatement as captain will not instantly alter the team's fortunes.

Last week, MS Dhoni was appointed as CSK's captain following Ruturaj Gaikwad's withdrawal from the tournament due to a hairline fracture in his elbow. The five-time champions recently suffered an eight-wicket defeat against the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, leaving CSK at the bottom of the points table.

Fleming emphasized that for CSK to improve its situation, a collective team effort is essential rather than relying solely on one individual.

"While Dhoni's impact will always be significant, he is not a magician and cannot simply conjure victories. If he could, he would have done so earlier," Fleming remarked during the pre-match press conference.

"It requires hard work from all of us, including MS, to turn things around. Throughout our cricketing careers, we have faced challenging situations that demand considerable energy, and we must ensure that this energy is directed appropriately," he added.

'There's a lot of hurt'

Stephen Fleming expressed his disappointment following the recent defeat to KKR, where CSK managed to score only 103 runs for 9 wickets in their full twenty overs.

The five-time champions have struggled to establish momentum during the powerplay, and the performance of the batting order has been underwhelming. The batting position of MS Dhoni has also sparked discussions, as the former Indian captain has batted at No. 9 on two occasions.

"We need to approach this in incremental steps and focus on improving all three aspects of our game to become competitive," Fleming stated. "The most disappointing part of the last match was the lack of competitiveness we displayed, which was quite painful," he added.

"There has certainly been significant introspection within the team, along with considerable effort directed towards identifying our needs. It is crucial that we deliver a performance that reflects the pride of our franchise. While there is a lot of pain that we can channel into motivation, it ultimately comes down to the players seizing the moment, regaining their form, and overcoming any hesitation that may arise," he concluded.

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