Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey has leapt to the defense of the team’s experienced players, placing complete faith in their capacity to recover from a poor start to the IPL 2025 campaign. With five consecutive losses and only two points to their name, CSK are currently positioned close to the bottom of the points table in ninth place.
Veterans In The Dock As CSK Suffer
CSK’s underwhelming performances have raised questions about their squad composition, particularly their continued reliance on experienced, aging players. While other franchises have focused on injecting fresh blood and nurturing young talent, Chennai’s batting line-up is still anchored by players who may have passed their peak years. Names like Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, and even MS Dhoni have been criticized for their fading impact.
Hussey Stands Firm: Experience Still Matters
Hussey remains hopeful despite growing pressure he is convinced that CSK’s experienced players have much to give, pointing to success stories such as Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane, who gained form late in their careers while playing for CSK.
He also took a subtle jab at franchises that only turn to youngsters when their campaign is all but over. “We don’t just throw youngsters in for the sake of it,” Hussey emphasized, reiterating that Chennai’s philosophy revolves around backing proven performers, regardless of age.
“I would argue that they’re not beyond their prime. We’ve had players in the twilight of their careers come and play for CSK in the past—Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane come to mind—and they’ve performed really well. I still believe the players we have now have good cricket left in them and can offer a lot. I don’t necessarily agree that they’re past their best. I think we can still see some great performances from them,” Hussey said in the post-match press conference.
Michael Hussey Takes A Dig At Other Franchises
“As for blooding youngsters, we want to pick players when they’re ready to perform. We do have some very talented players waiting for their chance—no question about that. But sometimes, when teams feel like they can’t win the tournament anymore, they just throw in the youngsters to give them a go. We’re not in that mindset. We’re still here to progress as far as we can in the tournament. We’re certainly not giving up yet,” Hussey added.
