IPL 2025: "MS Dhoni hasn't got magic wand"- Coach Stephen Fleming defends CSK captain amid poor show

MS Dhoni returned as CSK captain for remainder of IPL 2025 after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has defended skipper MS Dhoni amid the team’s poor show in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. CSK currently occupy the last spot in IPL 2025 points table. The Men in Yellow have won just one match and lost five out of six so far. They have two points.

Notably, CSK won their opening game of the season against Mumbai Indians (MI). Later, they lost five back-to-back games to witness their worst start in the tournament. Dhoni currently has taken over the captaincy of the franchise after their regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad got ruled out of remainder of the tournament owing to elbow fracture.

However, the wicket-keeper batter failed to change fortunes of the side as they lost their most-recent clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home by eight wickets. They Posted a below-par total of 103/9 batting in the first innings and then conceded the target with 59 balls to spare.

MS Dhoni’s influence will always be prominent: Coach Stephen Fleming

While speaking to reporters in the press conference ahead of CSK’s next game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), coach Stephen Fleming said Dhoni’s influence will always be prominent as a skipper, but he doesn’t have a magic wand.

“His [Dhoni’s] influence will be always prominent but he’s not a soothsayer, he hasn’t got a magic wand. He can’t just rub it over the side otherwise he would have brought it out earlier,” he said.

“It’s a case of us working very hard along with MS to turn it around and certainly in both of our cricketing careers, we’ve been in situations that require a lot of energy and we’ve got to make sure that the energy is put in the right place,” CSK head coach further added.

While CSK batters have continuously failed to make a mark, Dhoni has been a little impressive with the bat. The right-handed batter has slammed 104 runs in six games at a strike rate of 146.47 with a top knock of unbeaten 30 runs. He has slammed seven sixes and six boundaries.

Meanwhile, the Super Kings are set to clash with LSG in the match No. 30 of IPL 2025 on Monday, April 14. The clash will take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow – the home ground of Rishabh Pant-led LSG.

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