IPL 2018 | I don’t think Dhoni-Kohli is as big a subplot as what it was maybe years back: Stephen Fleming

04/24/2018

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that the hype around the Dhoni-Kohli clash has died down over the years and it is not a big subplot in the RCB-CSK game anymore. He also termed the game between the two sides as a special one given the proximity of the two cities.

If there is one rivalry apart from the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings one in the history of the IPL, it is between the two southern-most cities – Chennai and Bangalore. Chennai and Bangalore have been fierce competitors over the years despite CSK enjoying a comfortable 13-7 head-to-head lead. The last encounter between the two teams in the second Qualifier in 2015 where CSK emerged victorious.

One of the main reasons for this rivalry has been the presence of two of the biggest superstars in Indian cricket on either side. Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni literally define their respective sides. While Kohli has been leading the RCB team since 2013, Dhoni has been at the helm since the beginning of the IPL. However, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming feels the hype around the two captains facing off against each other has died down.

“I don’t think it (Dhoni-Kohli clash) is as big a subplot as what it was maybe years back. It’s going to be a good contest with two of India’s finest players captaining the teams. It makes for a great game, that’s for sure. But in terms of any other pressure or anything, it’s just a good contest,” Stephen Fleming was quoted saying by Wisden India ahead of the marquee RCB-CSK clash.

Given the tension and the proximity between the two cities and teams, it has always been a special game between the two sides. Fleming felt both teams are talented but CSK have the momentum.

“It is a special match, given the proximity of the two cities,” Fleming accepted. “Both the teams are very talented. We got over the line a couple of times more this season, so we’ve seen a little bit more of the winning form. But given the quality of players in the RCB line-up, it will be one of the tough games of the season. We know we will have to play very well if we want to put any pressure on their top-order. They also have some good bowlers. Umesh Yadav has been excellent with the new ball. Chahal … So there are a lot of good contests throughout the game,” Fleming said.

CSK have been playing with two leg-spinners (Imran Tahir and Karn Sharma) in the last two games. The 45-year-old coach also revealed that the impact leg-spinners have is huge.

“We are just playing around with the combination. These big two legspinners (Imran Tahir and Karn) can help out win the games. You can see the impact wrist spinners are having on T20. So why not have two? Harbhajan Singh is there for his experience.”

“We just balance it up on what we think is the batting line-up of the opposition. We try and pick a combination that would make it tough for them. We have a good left-arm spinner, two leg spinners and a world class off spinner, so we have options. Could they all play together? Maybe some day. At some stage. That would be quite unique. The other thing is we picked a team that was going to be playing predominantly in Chennai where you get turn and bounce which Harbhajan would have liked,” Fleming added.

CSK have a lot of players who are in their 30s and they were criticized for picking ‘old’ players. He also said that older players add experience and are more consistent.

“They are 35-36, not 55-56. I go back to the fact that experienced and professional players dominate a big part of the IPL. Chris Gayle has come back, he’s playing really well. Shane Watson’s hundred has been a highlight. Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni… these guys still have a lot of cricket to play,” the CSK head coach said.

CSK face RCB in a much-awaited clash on April 25 (Wednesday) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.