The batting coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) commended batters Rachin Ravindra and Deepak Hooda for overcoming their exclusion from the playing XI in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025). Hooda has been in and out of the team, playing in just four of the nine games thus far, while Ravindra was left off of the squad for CSK's previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Hooda struggled to get going with 22 being his highest this season, whereas Ravindra made a strong start to the competition after scoring a match-winning half-century in CSK's opening match against the Mumbai Indians (MI). Hussey recently said that the two were glad to improve their game and accepted their rebuff in stride.

“I actually have to really take my hat off to those guys you mentioned, both Rachin and Hooda. Their attitude has been first class, obviously disappointed to come in and out of the team. They could have easily just complained and moaned and just not been interested for the rest of the season. But their attitude towards training and improving has been unbelievable. I mean, just watching Deepak Hooda go about his work over the last few weeks, even when some younger players were getting an opportunity ahead of him, he was genuinely happy for the new players coming in. I think that speaks volumes of his character,” said Hussey in the pre-match press conference.

Hussey added that Ravindra is eager to work on raising his level of performance.

“Rachin, yeah, he has spoken a lot about he had a choice. He could either just be angry and grumpy about getting left out of the team, or he can use this last 3 or 4 weeks or whatever it is, to improve his game, work on some new shots. If he gets to play again, then fantastic. If he doesn't, then he still wants to use this time to improve his game. Again, it speaks volumes of his character,” he added.

After amassing 191 runs from eight games at an average of 27.28, Ravindra was removed from the line-up in the last game. CSK chose to open with Shaikh Rasheed and Ayush Mhatre in his place. It is unclear if CSK would stick with the young opening pair for their upcoming matchup with Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, April 30.

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