Chennai Super Kings Still Finding It Tough to Achieve Playoff Spot Despite Setbacks

Chennai Super Kings are not having the season that their fans would have wished. With five successive losses this season they are facing their worst IPL run. Presently CSK is at ninth position at the bottom of the table. They are just behind Sunrisers Hyderabad because of a marginally higher net run rate. The squad is still not ready to give up and morale in the camp is high. CSK's batting coach Michael Hussey remains optimistic and positive. He feels that even with all the setbacks the team can still make it to the playoffs if they are able to fix things in the remaining games.

According to Hussey the side has eight matches left to play which is enough time to gain momentum. He adds that it is a long competition like the IPL where things turn on their head quickly. At the moment CSK has not been very consistent and the players themselves admit that their show has not been good enough. But that is not to say that the story is over yet. Hussey suggested they are continuing to grind out the hard work and are intent on returning to their winning form. If they can pick up a few wins the confidence within the team will grow and things can begin to go in a positive direction. His hope is that this confidence and momentum will carry them into one of the last positions in the playoffs.

Hussey also urged the team to hold together through this difficult moment. He explained that wholesale changes or changing the style the players naturally play are not the time to do it. He said that the majority of the players have earned their places in the IPL because of their own playing style and skill. Changing that would possibly make things worse. Instead, he wants the team to focus on improving in their current state and keep having faith in themselves. He warned against panicking and said the CSK team culture has always been to keep calm even at the worst of times.

A lot of buzz has been happening about CSK relying too heavily on old players and not giving chances to the young guns of the team. But Hussey does not agree with the fact that the older players are past their prime. He pointed out that the likes of Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane played some of their best cricket for CSK towards the end of their careers. He believes that the experienced players still have a lot to offer and that their best can still be seen this season. At the same time he indicated that there are a couple of good young players in the bench but they shall be brought in when the time comes. He proceeded to include that they do not want to add children into the mix just because the team is not doing well. The top agenda is an attempt to go as far as they can in the tournament.

The team's leadership is also doing a lot at this trying moment. Hussey had total confidence in head coach Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad's captaincy. While Ruturaj has been left out of playing he is still with the team motivating the team. This kind of unity and leadership is something Hussey feels will guide CSK through this challenging period. He further added that the team is still working hard and still has faith in its own merit and capability to turn the table around.

There was also a message from Hussey to CSK fans, who have remained loyal to the team despite all the twists and turns. He thanked them for their loyalty and asked them to keep supporting the team. The players are going through the pain of the defeats and are all geared up to give their best not just for themselves but also for the supporters as well. CSK has one of the biggest fan base in the IPL and their determination to stand by their team during this tough moment is a huge morale booster for the players. Hussey feels that with pure hard work belief and backing of their fans CSK can still manage to keep their playoff hopes alive.