Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said MS Dhoni is “still going strong” and putting an end to the former skipper’s run in the IPL is not a role assigned to him. The presence of Dhoni’s parents Pan Singh and Devaki Devi at the Chepauk for CSK’s match against Delhi Capitals on Saturday had fuelled speculation about an imminent his retirement. “No, that’s not my role to put an end to it. I have no idea. I’m just enjoying working with him. He’s still going strong. I don’t even ask these days. You guys are the ones that ask (about retirement),” said Fleming in the post-match press conference.
Batting Position Of MS Dhoni Under Scrutiny
The move to play Dhoni at No. 9 was heavily criticized. While on Saturday the cricketing legend came out at No. 7 but could not muster any sort of momentum in his 26-ball 30. Resulting in CSK losing the game by 25 runs, their third consecutive loss in the season.
Conditions Made Batting Difficult, Says Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming did not notice Dhoni arriving in the 11th over as a damage limitation ploy and asserted batting at that point was pretty difficult.”The intent was there. When he went out, I think the ball started to grip a little bit more. We understood it was going to be good for the first half and then gradually get slower. So, we were keen to bat and then take pace with the ball” Fleming stated.
“They did it really well. Vijay Shankar struggled to get timings all the way through his innings. But that period from 12 to 16 overs was difficult for all. It was tough to watch and certainly tough to be out there. So the game was just slipping away, and even with intent and different methods to do it, it was just too big a scale,” said Fleming.
Stephen Fleming Says CSK’s Batting Needs to Step Up
Yet Fleming conceded that CSK must get better performances from the bat, and they haven’t actually taken advantage of what is available within their ranks.
“We are focusing still very hard on bowling-wise to restrict teams but we do need to be better with the bat, We need to have one or two players in form, predominantly the top three or four. “We need a bit more production there, and that then allows the power hitters to finish off to come in at the right spots. Here, we’re having to introduce players just not quite at the right time said Fleming.
“We’ve got Dube as well, who’s close, but just not quite getting the job done. So there are thereabouts, but six to 20 to 15-run losses are annoying,” he noted.
Hemng Badani Pats KL Rahul
Delhi Capitals’ experienced batter KL Rahul did not give CSK left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad a chance to settle down, and DC head coach Hemang Badani acknowledged it was one of the main reasons his side won.
“Rahul was clear enough that he was not going to let Noor settle down because he felt that Noor was somebody who was a crucial bowler for CSK” Badani said.
Badani stated “He wanted to make sure that once you put the opposition’s best bowler down, it becomes difficult for the opposition to keep coming back after that.” Rahul opened the innings for DC against CSK much against his middle-order slot in recent times, and Badani said the right-hander has the experience to tackle such shuffles.
KL Rahul’s Versatility Praised by Badani
“He is somebody who has been around long enough to understand the need of the hour, KL has opened for India. He has batted at 4-5 in the recently concluded Champions Trophy” Badani highlighted.
Badani said “So I genuinely don’t think it’s difficult for someone of his calibre, If I had to make someone else do that, then I completely get your point that it’s not easy for a batter to shift” on KL’s batting position switch.
Badani stated “But I think he has got the calibre, the mindset, the understanding of the game to go up the order or bat at number 4,” highlighting KL’s versatility as a batter.
