Pakistan legend Imran Khan famously called on his team to act like ‘cornered tigers’ after three losses in the first five matches of the 1992 World Cup. They eventually went all the way.

Though Chennai Super Kings’ mascot is a lion, Ruturaj Gaikwad and his men might need to invoke a similar spirit to revive their faltering IPL-19 campaign. Seeking to open its account when it takes on Delhi Capitals at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday, a battered and bruised CSK desperately requires a dose of brilliance to stem the tide.

The five-time champion losing its first three games does not signal the end of the world, but the manner in which it was outplayed should set off alarm bells.