Chennai, April 12 (NationPress) Following their fifth consecutive defeat in IPL 2025, Michael Clarke, the former captain of Australia, remarked that the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), are severely lacking in confidence. He emphasized that now is the crucial moment for them to risk everything in order to secure victories in the remaining matches of the season.

At the MA Chidambaram Stadium, even with MS Dhoni back in the captain's role, CSK appeared to be a mere shadow of their former dominant self, as the disciplined bowlers from KKR limited them to just 103/9—marking their lowest IPL score at home. With defending champions KKR clinching victory by eight wickets, CSK faced their largest defeat in IPL history based on balls remaining (59), leaving them stuck at ninth place in the points table.

“The wicket was challenging to bat on, with some movement from the new ball and noticeable spin. I believe Chennai Super Kings misjudged their strategy. It's evident they’re lacking confidence, and their intent was missing,” stated Clarke.

“Currently, they seem to be adopting a very cautious approach, merely attempting to get close to winning or to avoid a heavy defeat. Instead, they should go all out, risk everything, and aim for victory.”

“Implementing such a change is easier said than done. Just as a positive, confident vibe can spread in a winning team, the same holds true when it comes to losing. That feeling of defeat can linger and is tough to shake off,” Clarke added on JioStar.

Piyush Chawla, the experienced Indian leg-spinner who played for CSK in IPL 2020, has suggested that the team requires a slight revamp by supporting young, uncapped, and eager players within their squad.

“At this juncture, I believe Chennai Super Kings should look to introduce youngsters. Players like Andre Siddarth, a dependable middle-order batsman, deserve an opportunity. We’ve seen enough of Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda.”

“So why not provide these young talents a chance to demonstrate their abilities? A fresh face might come in, score quickly, and uplift the team’s spirit—not just for themselves but for the entire squad. I’m not advocating for major changes, but perhaps one or two adjustments to reinvigorate the team.”

Chawla, who was with KKR from 2014 to 2019, also commended Sunil Narine for his impressive figures of 3-13 in four overs, during a spell where he didn’t allow a single boundary on a conducive black soil pitch.

“Despite the years, batters continue to find it hard to read Sunil Narine. These types of surfaces suit his bowling style since he maintains a perfect length—not too full, not too short. The pace he bowls at offers little time for batters. We observed this with Rahul Tripathi’s dismissal, and even Ravindra Jadeja struggled with his timing while attempting a late cut.”

“We’ve previously seen Narine dismiss Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a similar manner. While it was a good pitch for bowlers, executing well is crucial—and that’s precisely what Sunil did, deserving much credit,” he concluded.