IPL 2019 | MS Dhoni’s absence hurt CSK, says Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming has stated that MS Dhoni’s absence hurt Chennai Super Kings and it also had an impact on the captaincy of the team. Dhoni was unfit for the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 17 and Suresh Raina was named the captain for the encounter which CSK eventually lost.
MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings has been the most successful team of the Indian Premier League. They have always qualified for the playoffs and have three championships to their name. Dhoni has been a phenomenal captain, having led his side in 167 matches, he has won a record 101 matches. The Chennai-based franchise is at the top of the table even in this season with seven wins in nine games. However, the skipper had to miss out the previous encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad due to a stiff back and coach Stephen Fleming did not shy away from the fact that the side dearly missed his services as the captain and in the middle order.
“Whenever a great player (like MS Dhoni) who is in great form is not in your side, it does have an impact on your team as well as captaincy,” said Fleming, reported PTI.
CSK could only manage to set a target of 133 in the encounter against SRH but despite a fine start from the opponents, CSK did make them stutter by scalping five wickets. The head coach was all praise for the side despite the loss.
“You have to make adjustments. But it does not mean that we are not competitive. We still turned out a very good side in the last game and still got well beaten,” remarked the former New Zealand captain.
Dwayne Bravo, who forms a core of CSK has also been ruled out since the game against Mumbai Indians on April 3. But Fleming said that the fitness of the experienced duo of Bravo and Dhoni will be assessed before Sunday’s game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“We tend to look at short form quite separately. We tend to give guys more chances, because we are asking them to play a high-risk game. So it is unfair to look at form after two or three innings, both batting and bowling wise,” explained the 46-year-old.
“The selection policy of the team is more conservative than others, but it tries to get the right team for any condition, which is a challenge in away matches,” he added.
The pitch at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has always been a batsmen’s paradise and coupled with the relatively short boundaries, the coach believes the encounter between the two batting heavy sides will be a high scoring one.
“It is obviously overcast and a little bit damp around, so you need to wait 24 hours, it is going to change a lot in nature. I think it will be a good track, possibly a high-scoring game which is what we expect. So, pressure on bowlers, but also batters as well. We will read the pitch tomorrow, but one cannot assume it is going to be 200 versus 200,” he said.
Leg spinner Imran Tahir has been incredibly successful for CSK this year with 15 wickets in nine games, that too at an economy rate under six. Thereby, Fleming was all praise for the 40-year-old South African.
“This year he has been very consistent and very clear on what he wants to do. He has been our chief wicket-taker. And the way he has done it within the camp please us a lot. His discipline and ability to deliver what we want has been outstanding. At times, he has been guilty of hunting wickets, which means he bowls a different style,” he concluded.
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