Former Australia captain Michael Clarke said Chennai Super Kings are too low on confidence and playing conservative cricket. Clarke's assessment of CSK came right after the franchise suffered an eight-wicket defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chepauk on Friday. CSK are now winless in five consecutive matches and sit at the ninth spot with two points.

KKR restricted CSK to 103 for 9 after winning the toss, resulting in the hosts' lowest total at Chepauk. Shivam Dube was their highest scorer with unbeaten 31 off 29 balls.

“The pitch was tough, sure. A bit of seam, some turn. But the way Chennai approached the game, there was no intent. It’s clear they’re low on confidence and just trying to survive, not win,” Clarke said while speaking on JioHotstar as an expert. “Right now, they’re playing conservative cricket, just hoping to stay close instead of pushing for victory. But sometimes, you’ve got to throw the kitchen sink at it. Take the risk. That’s how you spark a turnaround.”

Clarke also said the franchise needs confidence to lift their morale. “Confidence, good or bad, is contagious. When you’re winning, it lifts everyone. But when that losing feeling creeps in, it’s tough to shift.”

Piyush Chawla echoed Clarke's thoughts about CSK.

“Maybe it is time to inject some fresh blood. Someone like Andre Siddarth, a promising middle-order bat, deserves a chance. We have seen plenty of Tripathi and Hooda — maybe it is time for new faces to bring in that spark. Even one or two changes can shift the mood in a dressing room,” said Chawla.

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