Michael Hussey, the batting coach for the Chennai Super Kings, has dismissed the idea that the team’s pool of Indian players is past their best and is still hopeful that they can play to the best of their abilities for the remainder of the current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

In addition to their bowlers’ inability to stop the opposing hitters, CSK’s veteran Indian players have not produced much at bat. With the bat, Chennai’s most valued and seasoned players, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, and Deepak Hooda, have been putting up rustic displays.

The Kolkata Knight Riders, the reigning champions, defeated CSK by an overwhelming 8 wickets on Friday. Chennai struggled to 103/9 in the first innings, with Hooda, Shankar, and Tripathi scoring a total 45 runs. Hooda came back with a duck that was four balls long. Tripathi played a tortoise-paced 16 from 22 deliveries after being pushed at number three from the opening position. Shankar scored 29 runs off 21 deliveries, which increased his output.

Despite their poor performance, CSK has chosen the three above IPL rookies who may improve their season, like as Vansh Bedi of Delhi and C Andre Siddarth of Tamil Nadu. Hussey used Shane Watson and other remarkable recovery tales to support his belief that the seasoned players will regain their confidence after CSK lost for the fifth time in a row, their first in the lucrative league.

“That is not something I agree with. Players in their elderly years have already visited CSK to play, you know. Shane Watson comes to mind. Ajinkya Rahane comes to mind, and they have done a fantastic job for CSK. Therefore, I continue to believe that our players have a lot of excellent cricket left in them and can still contribute much to our team. Therefore, I don’t necessarily concur that they’re at the top of their game. According to ESPNcricinfo, Hussey told reporters during the press conference after the game, “I still think we can find their best and see some great performances from them.”

Given their dismal performance in the tournament’s 18th edition, Tripathi and Hooda are in hot water. Tripathi, who was supposed to give Chennai a fast start in the top order, has only amassed 46 runs at an average of 11.50 from four games.

Hooda, on the other hand, has struggled even more, scoring just seven runs at a pitiful average of 2.33 from three games. Shankar has performed best among the three, scoring 109 runs at 54.50 in four games, although his efforts have been overshadowed by CSK’s recent setbacks.

Although Hussey admitted that the Super Kings have young players with potential on their roster, he said that the team’s management is not prepared to give them a head start until they are prepared for the escalating task.

“We want to choose men when they’re prepared to perform as well, when it comes to blooding kids. Some excellent players are waiting for their opportunity. There is no doubt about it. However, I believe that there are instances when teams quit up and decide to try the younger players instead since they can no longer win the event. He said, “We’re still here to try and go as far as we can in the competition.