Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming is under pressure after a poor start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The team has lost three matches in a row. The five-time champions have struggled to find rhythm. Their recent record has also raised concerns. CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2024 and 2025. It was the first time in their history that they missed out in back-to-back seasons.
Ahead of their fourth match against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Fleming spoke about the situation. He accepted the criticism and admitted the team has not performed well. He also said that some decisions taken during the IPL 2025 mega auction did not work as expected.
“Results dictate that. That’s fair. Criticism is fair when you don’t do well. That’s part of the position. Look, I’m coaching throughout the year and two other competitions [the SA20 and MLC], and I’m doing auctions across a lot of players. So it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. In fact, it’s the other way,” said Fleming.
Focus on Young Players and Rebuilding Phase
CSK finished at the bottom of the table in 2025. After that, the team changed its strategy. They invested in young players during the auction. Names like Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer were picked. The franchise spent big money on them.
“I probably never spent more time studying T20 cricket around players around the world, just to service the other teams as well, which feeds into the IPL. So, yeah, we were off the pace last year, I’m the first to put my hand up and admit it. And we pivoted quite quickly now and we’re in a position where we’ve got some younger players. I feel very confident about this group of players,” said Fleming.
“And in line with other teams, we haven’t shown that this year as we settle. One of the challenges is the number of players we’ve changed in the squad means there is a little bit of a settling process, whereas other teams have been together for a season. We understand that, so we’re trying to accelerate that process. We just need a little bit of confidence and a bit of evidence, and that comes from getting across the line. And we haven’t been too far off. We got Tim David the last game. We weren’t as accurate with the ball towards the end, but we still managed 210. So, look, it’s a really good sign that we’re working very hard and we’re well aware, I’m well aware, and the criticism is appropriate. So, we just have to work harder and find a way forward. But I do feel in touch with the game, thank you,” he added.
CSK had a five-day break before this match. The coaching staff worked with players at Chepauk and their academy. Fleming said the young players have talent. But they need time to adjust. The team now hopes to return to winning ways soon.
