It’s been a testing season so far for Chennai Super Kings, and head coach Stephen Fleming didn’t hold back in acknowledging the frustration. After suffering their fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2025, this time an 18-run loss against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, Fleming admitted that while there were positives to take away, especially with the bat, the team simply hasn’t been sharp enough in crucial moments.
“We’re getting close, but not close enough,” Stephen Fleming said in the post-match press conference. “It’s been frustrating. The catching, in particular, has let us down. It wasn’t just us — both teams were poor in the field — but we dropped three more tonight and that hurt us. If you’re looking for the 20-run margin, it probably lies there.”
Indeed, CSK have now dropped 11 catches in just five games — a worrying trend that has added unnecessary pressure across departments. Against Punjab, CSK looked to have improved with the bat as openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra stitched together a 69-run partnership. Conway then joined forces with Shivam Dube for an 89-run stand, giving Chennai a real shot at chasing down 220.
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“There were positives in the batting. The top order gave us a good base, something that’s been missing. But we couldn’t maintain the required run rate through the middle overs,” Stephen Fleming admitted. “We were in the game much longer than before, which is a step forward. But, ultimately, the game was lost in the field.”
Fleming also gave credit where it was due — to young Punjab batter Priyansh Arya, who smashed a sensational 103 off just 42 balls despite wickets falling at the other end.
“He had a day out. Coming off a first-ball duck in the previous game and playing like that from ball one — that takes guts,” said the former New Zealand captain. “We didn’t execute well with the ball. The plan was to bowl at the stumps, but we strayed too wide. He punished us for it, and we just didn’t adjust fast enough under pressure.”
Shashank Singh, who played a vital hand in Punjab’s total with a mature 52 off 36 balls, later highlighted the value of India’s state T20 leagues in unearthing talents like Arya.
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“These tournaments are huge for player development,” Shashank Singh said. “You get match experience under lights, with the Kookaburra ball, in pressure scenarios — and that shows you not just a player’s skill but also their character. Guys like Arya and Digvesh Rathi are products of that system.”
For CSK, the road ahead is steep. The potential is there, but unless they start converting moments into wins, the frustration that Fleming speaks of may only deepen.
