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However, CSK retained most of their senior players, who according to many were the reason for the poor show. Former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris felt they will continue to suffer if they have to depend on senior players again in this year’s IPL.

Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, Aaron Finch and Dale Steyn are among the players released by teams

The 40-year-old spinner revealed this ahead of next month's IPL auction and hours before the list of retained players for the upcoming edition is announced

But debutant Ruturaj Gaikwad made an impression scoring three fifties at the back end of the tournament as his side finished with three consecutive wins. Speaking during a question and answer session on Instagram

The 60-match tournament, which started on September 19, ended on November 10 with Mumbai Indians defeating Delhi Capitals to emerge as IPL champions for the fifth time.

The 39-year-old retired from international cricket in 2016 and bid adieu to the Australian Big Bash league last year.

The former Indian cricketer squashed the IPL retirement-rumours ahead of the CSK’ final match against Kings XI Punjab saying that it was definitely not his final match.

Kings XI Punjab captain KL Rahul was disappointed at their batting failure in the must-win game

Ruturaj Gaikwad remained not out on 62 off 49 balls after striking six boundaries and a six

KXIP's chances of a top four finish took a serious hit after Rajasthan Royals handed them a seven-wicket loss, snapping their impressive five match-winning streak.

“He will of course be disappointed with his personal form but with only one game to go, I don’t think there is any point in trying to salvage that."

Despite three defeats on the trot against Kings XI Punjab, KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad, DC are placed third with 14 points from 12 games

With majority of the senior players struggling to find the form, the aging CSK were under scrutiny and many feel the management will go for an overhaul of the team.

Riding on Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 72-run knock and Ravindra Jadeja’s match-winning unbeaten 31-run innings, Super Kings chased down 173-run target with six wickets in hand.

Jadeja scored 30 off 11 balls and followed up Ruturaj Gaikwad's 72 and Ambati Rayudu's 38 to take CSK to their second consecutive win.

KKR with 12 points from 12 games would like to win the next two encounters to ensure a smooth passage while CSK, currently at the bottom of the eight-team table, are only playing for pride.

Table-toppers MI are on course to make it to the play-offs but the game is crucial for Rajasthan, who are languishing at seventh place and a loss would mean a step closer to elimination

CSK still have a theoretical chance to make it to the playoffs, provided they do not lose any of their remaining three games, improve their net run-rate and all other match results go their way

Fleming added that the loss to Mumbai Indians was symptomatic of the entire season which has gone totally wrong. He added that CSK deserve the bottom place in the points table. The Chennai franchise is placed eighth with six points.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag criticised Chennai Super Kings. Speaking on his show ‘Viru ki Baithak’, he said, “This (MI vs CSK) is probably IPL’s biggest rivalry and already in this season