Hussey thinks CSK can still make it through to secure that fourth slot by the end of the league season, though, with eight games remaining. Hussey declared, “We are certainly not putting the white flag up just yet,” following CSK’s crushing defeat against KKR. “All you need to do is get in to barely make it into fourth place. And a major, protracted competition like the IPL, it is about momentum.
“We might be able to scrape into one of those last positions in the table come playoffs time. And it’s a long way ahead, and we certainly need to change things around. But we still believe that we can do that.”
Hussey also reaffirmed that in order to achieve achievements, we must remain together as a team and refrain from enforcing drastic changes. “This is where it’s a time that we’ve got to really stick tight together, keep working really hard, keep working on the things that we think are really important,” he said. There is a lot of discussion regarding our playing style and other related topics, but we don’t want to ask our gamers to play in a way that is entirely different from their natural style. They are here to play in the IPL because they are good at what they do, and I’m not the kind to try to change that.
“You know, things can turn around quickly. So if we start to fracture, if we start to change things too much, which has certainly not been a CSK trait in the past, then I think things can go worse before they get better.”
In particular, CSK has come under fire for failing to give some of its younger batters opportunities and sticking to their core group of seasoned players. Hussey rejected the idea that some of those seasoned players were past their best years, pointing to earlier instances in which players like Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane batted at their peak during their final stays with the team.
“We have had players in the twilight of their career come and play at CSK in the past,” said Hussey. “Shane Watson comes to mind. Ajinkya Rahane comes to mind. Additionally, they have done a fantastic job with CSK. Therefore, I continue to believe that the players we have have a lot to offer us and are capable of playing some excellent cricket. Therefore, I don’t necessarily agree that they’re at the bottom of their game. I continue to believe that they can find their peak [form] and put up some outstanding performances.
“With regards to blooding youngsters, I mean, we want to pick guys when they’re ready to perform as well. We’ve got some very good players that are waiting for their chance. No question about that. But sometimes I think when teams give up and think, ‘oh, well, we can’t win the tournament anymore, well, we’ll just try the youngsters now’. You know, give them a go. And, you know, we’re still here to try and progress in the tournament as far as we can.”
The former Australian batsman has urged CSK’s enormous fan base to support the team through these difficult times and is sure that head coach Stephen Fleming, captain MS Dhoni, and Ruturaj Gaikwad—who will remain with the team despite being ruled out—will keep it together.
“We still believe we’ve got the talent in the dressing room to turn this around,” he said. “It’s going to take some hard work, no question about that. But we’re going to find out who our true supporters are, the ones that really stick with us.
“The fans we have for the Chennai Super Kings have been absolutely phenomenal ever since day one, really. We hope they continue to keep turning out and supporting us. And I know the guys will be really hurting from this and will want to turn it around for the fans as much for the dressing room and for each other as well, but more for the fans because they have stuck tight with us for a lot of the good times. And we hope they stick with us now when things haven’t quite gone to plan just yet.”
