As the Chennai Super Kings grapple with one of their most disappointing seasons in IPL history, batting coach Mike Hussey has opened up about a glaring weakness in the franchise’s setup—talent identification. Despite being five-time champions, CSK now finds itself at the bottom of the points table, with fingers pointing squarely at a flawed auction approach and lack of youth investment.
Hussey acknowledged this in a candid statement, saying, “I think one area that we’ve really identified that we want to improve on is the talent identification side of things.” CSK, traditionally known for relying on experience, has indeed seen success with players like Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube, but critics argue that such short-term revivals can’t substitute long-term planning.
The franchise is now shifting its focus toward fresh faces. After underwhelming performances from top-order options like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Rahul Tripathi, CSK has given IPL debuts to 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre and 20-year-old Shaik Rasheed. The young talents had undergone rigorous match-simulation training at CSK’s high-performance centre before being tested in real-game conditions. They also brought in 22-year-old South African Dewald Brevis, aiming to inject some spark into the lineup.
“I mean, we get sent all the videos, packages and stuff. But to be able to actually watch them in the flesh, it does give you a bit more to go on,” Hussey added, underlining the value of real-time scouting over digital reels. “If we can play some practice games, see them (youngsters) under pressure, we can make more informed decisions about the talent that we’re looking at moving forward.”
While Hussey admits mistakes in recruitment are inevitable, he remains optimistic. “We’re still going to make mistakes, no question. But if we can make more informed decisions, then I think that will help the franchise moving forward.” With their high-performance centre now a key asset, CSK is hoping its pivot toward youth will pave the way for a stronger, more sustainable future.
