IPL | Hussey strikes defiant note, says CSK need not panic

RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal at a training session ahead of the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru on May 02, 2025.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

The Indian Premier League has always prided itself for being supremely competitive, with closely bunched teams jostling for the four playoffs spots.

But in 2025, the elimination of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals with more than three weeks still left in the competition has come as a rude shock. However, CSK batting coach Mike Hussey stated that the gulf between teams was not as pronounced.

“I know we’re sitting at the bottom, but I don’t think we’re too far away,” the Aussie said on Friday ahead of the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

“I still think we’re close, and we can compete with any team in the competition. So we’re certainly not going to panic and throw everything out just because it hasn’t gone well this year. But we definitely need to tidy up on a few areas,” Hussey added.

CSK batting coach Michael Hussey at a training session ahead of the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru on May 02, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

One team that has capitalised and turned in superlative performances is RCB, and among the big reasons for that has been the form of its explosive top-three of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.

“When you have players like Virat and Salt at the top, and some really good power hitting towards the end, it makes your job easier,” Padikkal said. “You don’t have too much pressure to really go long in the innings.”