Chennai Super Kings have been going through a tough time with successive losses in IPL 2025. The five-time IPL champions, who are known for backing players and placing faith in them, have handed debuts to 20-year-old Shaik Rasheed and 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre in back-to-back matches, while also adding 21-year-old Dewald Brevis to their squad recently as well.

“The work we did a couple of times we were in this position in the past set us up, I think, to win the title the following year,” head coach Stephen Fleming said in Chennai. “So we’re certainly aware of what needs to be done and how we can go about it. When that time comes, we will make sure there’s no stone left unturned to get things right.”

Both Rasheed and Mhatre took some time to make an impression. Rasheed became CSK’s youngest ever opener with a quick 27 off 19 on debut in Lucknow, whereas Mhatre followed it up with 32 off 15 in Mumbai. However, their approach and intent have impressed Fleming.

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“It’s impressive, not always sustainable. But it’s contagious,” Fleming had said in Mumbai. “We’re seeing a wave of young players in India that are just taking on the bowlers from ball-one. Is it sustainable in tricky conditions? I don’t know. Is the subtlety of the game going to keep growing? I’m concerned. With young players, you look to identify them first. But the other thing we need to look at is the top 20 run-scorers this year in the IPL and just tell me how many of the young guys are in that top 20. I think there’s one, maybe two. So just temper it a little bit. I’m a big fan, I have always been of the skill set.”

However, CSK batters’ struggle with form has pushed CSK to try out fresh faces, a significant move for a franchise that is known to back experience. Whether it was backing an out-of-form Shane Watson all season, only for him to smash in the final, or reviving the careers of Ambati Rayudu and Ajinkya Rahane, CSK have consistently backed veteran players as well. Fleming, however, doesn’t believe in an all-or-nothing shift as well.

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“We’ve always looked for a little bit of experience but we haven’t been neglecting youth,” he said. “Mhatre had an opportunity in the last game and he looked very good, and that excites us as we, I guess, have one eye to the future. But it’s a balance,” Fleming stressed. “It’s not all about youth, it’s not all about guys being too old. It’s somewhere in the middle where you get a mix of experience and you also get players who are fearless. You’ve just got to make sure that the right temperament is in the player, and I’m not worried about how old they are.”

“It just seems that the IPL is bossed a little bit more by players who have a bit more experience and can navigate more situations than perhaps a young player who plays just one way. But I am very aware of the talent that is coming through, I’m very aware of the fearless nature in which they are playing and that has been the case for the last two or three years,” Stephen Fleming concluded. “There won’t be a wasted game or an opportunity in the next few weeks and the players know that as well, and that creates opportunity and creates a bit of competition with them but we won’t let any time go to waste.”