IPL 2019 | CSK get exposed for the first time this season, says Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming has stated that his side Chennai Super Kings were exposed for the first time in this season after the comprehensive six-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. CSK had lost just one match prior to this game, but this loss might as well serve them as a wake-up call.
After opting to bat first in Wednesday’s encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings were comfortably placed at 79 for none in 9.4 overs. But post the loss of both their openers, Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson in a matter of just three balls, they failed to get going. The middle order, without the services of MS Dhoni, had collapsed, and Ravindra Jadeja and Ambati Rayudu huffed and puffed to take the three-time champions to 132. The bowlers were also taken to the cleaners, but after the wicket of David Warner by Chahar, the SRH batsmen stuttered and CSK bowlers managed to take the match a little deep, until the 17th over. Stephen Fleming, who has been the coach of the Chennai-based franchise since 2009, felt that the team was exposed for the first time in this season.
“What we didn’t do today was respect the little things, the batting was inconsistent and when we started with the ball, we were intimidated and inconsistent. This is the first time in a while we were exposed like that and will be interesting to see how the players respond,” said Fleming, at the post-match press conference, reported PTI.
The head coach did not rule out the fact that complacency might have crept in after seven wins in eight matches, but he suggested the team to be ready for defeats in a format like T20.
“(Nothing would change in training sessions) except for us focusing more on the things we should have done better. I don’t know if there is complacency due to the good run but you have to expect to lose games every now and then,” the former New Zealand captain expressed.
The table toppers will next take on the bottom-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore in an away game on Sunday. The flat pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is in stark contrast with the pitch at Chepauk, and Fleming reiterated that each game will be tough, and his side needs to fix the chunks in it’s armour.Â
“Need to make sure that in the next game against RCB we are better. You can’t assume you’re in the semi-finals. It doesn’t matter how teams are playing because each game is tough. That’s a motto we have had for a long time,” the 46-year-old stated.
The crowd at Hyderabad had emerged in large numbers with yellow flags and jerseys, showing their support for the MS Dhoni-led team. But they were left disappointed to know that the legendary batsman had decided to give a miss to the match, because of his stiff back, and Suresh Raina was named the stand in skipper. Fleming disclosed that the move to rest Dhoni was a precaution, as the business end of the cash-rich league is nearing.
“Every ground he goes to people want to see him play, but we have to make big calls. He (Dhoni) was stiff after the game in Kolkata. So it’s mostly a precaution and it’s also the part of the season where we have to careful so that he gets through the season in good shape,” he concluded.
