Chennai Super Kings’ batting coach Michael Hussey has said that the players and the support staff are hurting by the series of unfavourable results, acknowledging that the fans must be heartbroken as well, adding that this is the time when the team finds out who their real supporters are. It was yet another dismal batting performance by Chennai, who were dismantled by a clinical Kolkata Knight Riders team, slumping to their fifth straight defeat of IPL 2025. The disappointing showing came in a game where the legendary MS Dhoni took charge of the team after regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the remainder of the IPL because of injury. Long way ahead.?#CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/kMiNEWxYvX — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 11, 2025 “Well, this one hurts a lot. I mean, it 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 when you find out who your true supporters are,” Hussey said while speaking at the post-match press conference. “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. And in a big, long tournament like the IPL, it is about momentum,” Hussey added. Before Friday, Chennai had never lost three consecutive matches at home as well in an Indian Premier League season, but Hussey has backed Dhoni & Co. to navigate the franchise through the unfamiliar terrain. Dhoni managed just one run off four deliveries before being dismissed in the 16th over, having come in to bat at number nine. “I just know Stephen Fleming; 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,” Hussey said. “I think they’ll really try and bring this team as tight and as close together. They will make sure there are 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,” Hussey added. CSK play their next game against the Lucknow Super Giants on April 14 at the latter’s home.