CSK lose again in IPL as Mitchell's poor form puts 'pressure' on them

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming admits there is "pressure" on New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell after his side lost again to Lucknow Super Giants.

Defending champions CSK had won four of their opening six Indian Premier League matches this season, but successive defeats to LSG in the space of five days have seen them slip to fifth in the table.

Their latest IPL defeat on Tuesday came after CSK omitted Rachin Ravindra and opened the batting with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane, with Mitchell coming in at number three.

Rahane scored just one run and Mitchell fell for 11 off 10 balls, while captain Gaikwad scored an impressive unbeaten 108.

LSG then chased down their target of 211 with three balls to spare, inspired by a superb innings of 124 not out from Marcus Stoinis.

Mitchell was a major acquisition for CSK in the IPL auction but has so far managed just 146 runs from seven innings at a strike rate of 123.72.

CSK returns to action at home to in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday and Fleming admits there is still work to be done, but takes comfort in the fact that their defeats have not been comprehensive.