After a third straight defeat in the ongoing IPL, Chennai Super Kings find themselves battling not just on the scoreboard but also in the mood of the dressing room. Indian spin veteran R Ashwin feels CSK’s leadership and support staff need to keep the team “hurting” but focused, as the franchise looks to halt its slide. On Sunday, CSK were beaten by Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 43 runs, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the points table with three consecutive losses.
Speaking on JioHotstar, Ashwin joined former South African captain Faf du Plessis to break down what is going wrong for CSK and how they can steady their campaign. Ashwin said the emotional impact of the defeats is clear inside the camp, stressing that the only direction from here is upward.
“I am sure the dressing room atmosphere is going to be hurting. I am not too sure how hard the words can be, but honestly, with such a young side, there is only one way you can go and that is upwards,” Ashwin said. “The way to go upwards is to build a strong work ethic and keep the team atmosphere positive. I am sure it will be extremely deflating inside that Chennai dressing room after this thumping defeat to RCB.”
Ashwin also argued that it is unrealistic to demand full accountability from players who are still finding their footing at the top level. In his view, the squad’s inexperience is a major factor behind the current struggles, and expecting immediate leadership-by-results from younger members could backfire.
“It is very tough to put CSK’s defeat against RCB into words. The RCB-CSK contest is supposed to be one of the most celebrated clashes in the IPL,” he said. “There are some issues in the squad, but there are also a lot of inexperienced players in that line-up. We cannot really ask them for accountability. They are at an age where they need to go out and enjoy their cricket. You cannot force them into the sort of legacy chase that is normally expected from a franchise of CSK’s stature.”
Turning to the match itself, CSK chose to bowl first after winning the toss, but Bengaluru struck early and kept accelerating. Tim David produced a brutal spell with the bat, smashing 70 off just 25 balls to help RCB post a commanding 250/3.
Du Plessis backed Sanju Samson to respond after a quiet start, noting that the India T20 World Cup hero had not looked at his best in the first three matches. The former captain pointed out that, while Samson may have been under pressure, his class and experience should eventually show up for CSK.
“If you look closely at CSK’s batting order, you would say the quality is already there. So, you trust the talent. You back Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain—he has proven himself over and over again. Sanju Samson is a class player, and he has already answered the doubts during the T20 World Cup,” Du Plessis said.
Du Plessis also highlighted other bright spots in CSK’s top three, including the momentum Ayush Mhatre has shown despite limited IPL exposure. He suggested that CSK’s challenge is not a lack of ability, but getting their resources to deliver consistently together.
“Then you have a highly talented youngster in Ayush Mhatre, who has been outstanding in his brief IPL run so far. So, you have talent at the top. It is simply about allowing them to put it all together,” he said.
On Samson specifically, Du Plessis rejected the idea that a player of his calibre would suddenly lose the ability to score. He argued that it is more about patience and support than harsh judging after a few matches.
“There is no way that Sanju Samson scores runs for fun in the T20 World Cup but ends up failing multiple times in the IPL. He is too good a player to keep struggling like that. You just have to back him and give him time,” Du Plessis added.
When asked how the sequence of defeats might test Ruturaj Gaikwad as a leader, Du Plessis believes this difficult stretch can ultimately shape his captaincy and help him mature faster. He framed the current pressure as part of a captain’s development curve.
“It is not easy as a young captain to suffer back-to-back defeats. Not performing yourself makes things even more difficult as a player. What he will feel right now is the weight of pressure,” Du Plessis said.
Du Plessis added that resilience is essential for leadership, and that even tough phases can strengthen a captain in the long run. He also pointed to the support around Gaikwad, including the presence of an experienced figure in the franchise ecosystem.
“Every good captain has to go through this in their career. They need to develop a thick skin. You have to understand that this could potentially make him a better leader. He has a steady head on his shoulders. He also has a strong support staff around him. And he has a great leader in MS Dhoni, who will soon come back into the fold,” he said.
“So, all the things are there to help him. This will make him stronger as a captain,” Du Plessis concluded.
