Not putting white flag up just yet: CSK's batting coach Hussey after 5th consecutive defeat in IPL

The Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful franchises in the tournament's history, stand on the verge of hitting rock bottom after surrendering to a comprehensive defeat against the defending champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders.

With Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the season, MS Dhoni returned to captain Chennai for the first time since 2023, looking to change his beloved side's first of worst as CSK continues to walk on thin ice.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane's Knight Riders led his troops mercilessly to bring down Chennai's long-standing fortress, Chepauk. The flamboyant wave of yellow was reduced to silence after a shambolic batting display in the first innings.

The jaded Super Kings tried to force a comeback, but with lightning-quick speed, the Knight Riders gunned down the trifling 104-run target in just 10.1 overs to trounce the hosts with a commanding 8-wicket triumph.

With CSK just one spot up from the bottom, courtesy of the sole story of success in their six encounters, the qualification hopes for the playoffs are fading away. But Hussey and Chennai are not willing to go down without putting up a fight.

"Well, this one hurts a lot. I mean, it really does. The players are hurting, and the support staff are hurting. And as I said earlier, the fans, I'm sure, are hurting with this one as well. This is a time where you really find out who are your true supporters. We're certainly not putting the white flag up just yet. You only have to get in to scrape into that fourth [and final playoffs] place," Hussey said at his post-match press conference as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"In a big, long tournament like the IPL, it is about momentum. Now, certainly, the momentum is not with us at the moment whatsoever. We haven't been playing good cricket consistently. We definitely acknowledge that, put our hands up, and say that that is the fact at the moment. But that's not to say things can't turn around and can't turn around quickly," he added.

Before the gloomy affair on Friday night, Chennai had never lost three successive home games at Chepauk. With CSK's think tank intensively hunting for a way to find their lost mojo, Hussey has entrusted his faith in the experienced leadership hierarchy to navigate the franchise through the turbulent phase.

"I just know Stephen Fleming. Obviously, he is a great coach. He will, really, and MS Dhoni... he's been a great captain for a long time as well. Ruturaj [Gaikwad] is still going to be around the team," he said.

"I think they'll really try and bring this team as tight and as close together. They will make sure there's no fractures, make sure we're still sticking tight because I'm sure we're going to cop plenty of criticism from the outside and look, we deserve it. We haven't performed as well as we would have liked so far in the tournament. But from an inside, internal side of things, we've got to stick really tight," he added.