Dhoni hasn't got a magic wand, he is not a soothsayer: Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday, April 14 in Lucknow, as they look to bounce back after suffering five consecutive defeats that have left them at the bottom of the points table. Ahead of the clash, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that MS Dhoni’s return to captaincy, following Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, will not instantly turn around the team’s fortunes.

CSK head coach said that while Dhoni’s influence remains significant, he cannot magically change the situation in a flash. The former Kiwi cricketer stressed the need for collective hard work alongside the Indian stalwart to reverse their poor form, adding that both have faced similar challenging situations requiring focused energy.

"His [Dhoni's] influence will be always prominent but he's not a soothsayer, he hasn't got a magic wand, He can't just rub it over the side otherwise he would have brought it out earlier.

"It's a case of us working very hard along with MS to turn it around and certainly in both of our cricketing careers, we've been in situations that require a lot of energy and we've got to make sure that the energy is put in the right place," said Fleming to the reporters on the eve of the match against LSG, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Also read: [WATCH] IPL 2025: CSK players visit Ayodhya to seek divine blessings ahead of LSG clash

Need small improvements and player accountability

The 52-year-old emphasised the importance of taking small steps to improve in all three departments of the game, admitting that the team’s lack of fight in the previous match was particularly painful. He added that while there’s been internal reflection, it is crucial for players to step up.

“We've 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, 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's 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. There's a lot of hurt that we can turn to motivation but it's not about words, it's about players grabbing the moment, finding form, finding their groove and almost shaking off any apprehension which can creep in,” said the former Kiwi cricketer.

Balanced approach amid power-hitting

The Christchurch-born cricketer acknowledged that while six-hitting is needed, it is not the sole focus of the team. He expressed concern over the growing obsession with power-hitting, admitting the importance of skill and balance in cricket. He added that the game’s beauty lies in the contest between bat and ball.

"We do [talk about the sixes], but it's not everything, I know there's a fascination with power and six hitting, but there's also a couple of teams doing well with good craft, and I'd be very sad if the day came to us just being in a baseball competition and talking about sixes and fours.

"The beauty of the game is that there's still balance between bat and ball. Conditions play a big part, but there's still room for craft, and you're still seeing top-class players playing pivotal innings when it's not flat like a road, and I just hope the balance can remain," said Stephen Fleming on the six-hitting abilities of his team.

Stopping Pooran crucial

The former Kiwi top-order batter said Nicholas Pooran is currently the world’s best and stopping him will be crucial to CSK’s chances.

“Yes, he (Nicholas Pooran) is very threatening. He's the best player in the world at the moment by some distance - consistent, powerful and a real threat. To get him out and keep him in check will be a big part of winning the game tomorrow," he added.