Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in an away IPL 2025 game at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Monday, as the MS Dhoni-led side aims to recover from a dismal start to the season.

CSK have lost their last five matches and are currently reeling at the bottom of the points table. In their last game against Kolkata Knight Riders, which was Dhoni's first game as captain this season, CSK suffered an eight-wicket defeat to the visitors.

As the pressure mounts on Dhoni, who took over the captaincy for the first time after stepping down from the position in 2023, CSK mentor Stephen Fleming warned against unrealistic expectations from Dhoni’s captaincy.

“His [Dhoni’s] influence will always be prominent but he is not a soothsayer, he has not got a magic wand,” Fleming said at the pre-game press conference before the IPL 2025 game against the Super Giants. “He cannot just rub it over the side otherwise he would have brought it out earlier."

Fleming also asked the CSK players to work hard to make a turnaround in IPL 2025. “It is a case of us working very hard along with MS to turn it around, and certainly in both of our cricketing careers, we have been in situations that require a lot of energy, and we have got to make sure that the energy is put in the right place," said Fleming.

The morale of CSK players were down after their horrific defeat to KKR in the last game, where CSK managed to score 103 for 9, their lowest total at Chepauk. Defending champions KKR chased down the target in just 10.1 overs with eight wickets in hand.

“There is a lot of hurt that we can turn to motivation but it is not about words, it is about players grabbing the moment, finding form, finding their groove and almost shaking off any apprehension which can creep in,” said the CSK coach.

“We have got to look at it in small steps and just continue to work to get better at all three facets really, and then you start competing,” Fleming added. “I think the disappointing aspect, in particular the last game, was the lack of competition we put up and that hurt a lot. So there has certainly been a lot of internal soul searching, but also a lot of work around what we need to do, and it’s important that we put a performance out that is representative of the proud franchise that we are.”

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