Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming laments absence of key players as Chennai Super Kings ‘struggle’ in IPL 2024 | Crickit

Danijones8 months ago05 mins

Five-time former champions Chennai Super Kings have fumbled lately in the Indian Premier League 2024 with only two wins from their last five games. On Wednesday, they were outclassed by the Punjab Kings where they could only manage to post 162 runs on the board. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad played another outstanding innings of 62 runs from 48 deliveries to climb to the top of the orange cap list. However, the CSK opener couldn’t count on his team as wickets kept tumbling and bowlers leaked a lot of runs. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming addresses media.(PTI) CSK coach Stephen Fleming revealed that the team was plagued by injuries to the players and the unavailability of a few. The former Kiwi player began with ace bowler Deepak Chahar who left the field without completing the first over followed by Matheesha Pahirana and Maheesh Theekshana, who have flown back to Sri Lanka to get visas ahead of the T20 World Cup. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Meanwhile, CSK’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman also went back to fulfill the international commitments for Bangladesh. “Deepak Chahar doesn’t look good. Initial feeling wasn’t great. So we are waiting for more positive report. Physio and doctors will have a look. Sri Lankan boys are off to get visa. So we are hoping that their process is smooth. And we get them back for our next game up north (at Dharamshala). Richard Gleeson was good, he was positive,” Fleming revealed at the press conference. The Kiwi coach also disclosed that pacer Tushar Deshpande had also got flu which led to the changes against PBKS. “Tushar Deshpande got flu, so we had to make a few changes today, which is a bit unusual. But again that’s part of it and we have got resources. It’s just they haven’t got time to be comfortable about their roles and us to be comfortable with the game plan that we are struggling with,” he added. Skipper Gaikwad also expressed the difficulties while playing the match without the top players “It’s a real problem (on the player missing due to injuries and Chahar walking away in the first over), there are phases where you want wickets, but you have only two bowlers, the dew took the spinners out of the equation. It was tough, but there’re four games left and we will try and come back to winning ways,” the Chennai opener stated. CSK are currently placed at no.4 in the table with 10 points, with 5 wins from 10 games. The side will once again face PBKS in their next encounter and will look to settle the scores of defeat from their last match.

IPL 2024: Stephen Fleming hoping for a positive report from CSK medical team on Deepak Chahar | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago07 mins

NEW DELHI: Although seamer Deepak Chahar‘s most recent injury “doesn’t look good,” Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming expressed optimism for a positive report from the team’s medical staff ahead of the ongoing IPL’s business phase.Fleming did not provide any information regarding Chahar’s recent injury, but in just the second ball of the Punjab Kings’ chase in Chennai on Wednesday night, the 31-year-old seamer was seen pulling off his run-up.IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLEAfter speaking with the physiotherapist and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Chahar appeared to be suffering from a hamstring injury. He did not bowl during the remainder of the match.Injuries have plagued Chahar’s career in the past few years, depriving him a berth on the Indian squad.“Yeah, the travelogue is pretty busy. There’s a lot of ins and outs. So, Deepak Chahar doesn’t look good,” said Fleming during the post-match presser.“The initial feeling wasn’t great. So, I’m hoping for a more positive report when the physio and the doctor have a look.”Due to Chahar’s injury, Gaikwad was compelled to insert Shivam Dube, who has mostly been employed as a batter this season, for one over.However, Fleming acknowledged that Dube is not fit for the role in the IPL due to the Impact Player rule after Dube went for 14 in the one over he bowled. Dube will have his opportunity under the right circumstances.“He (Dube) is ready to bowl and is working hard on it. He will play a role in the right conditions, and with the Impact Player rule, we have players who can fit the role better. Currently, his necessity to bowl is pretty much small,” the coach said.CSK suffered a seven-wicket defeat to PBKS, their second loss at home this season, managing a meagre 162 for 7, which was comfortably chased down with 13 balls to spare.Talking about the demanding wicket at Chepauk, Fleming said, “It’s difficult, and we have spoken on the unpredictability of the wickets here before. Batting first makes it difficult for us to judge as to what a good competitive score is.“We had a couple of 200s (before), which was in our minds today. But, the wicket was very sticky.“We also had a good start in the (first) six overs before things became difficult. We also tried a few lefties in the form of Dube and (Ravindra) Jadeja but we just couldn’t get anything through the middle. They bowled really well, they got good purchase and held onto it. We just got stifled through the middle, which prevented us from getting a score of 180,” he said.With a low score to defend, Fleming was impressed with the commitment and performance shown by English pacer Richard Gleeson, who made his debut last night.“Richard Gleeson was good, and it was a positive. Losing Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) is disappointing.“Tushar (Deshpande) has a bit of flu going around as well. So, we’ve had to make a few changes, which is unusual. Again, that’s part of it, and we have got the resources,” he said.“Just they haven’t had the game time to be really comfortable with their roles and us to be comfortable with a game plan, which we’re struggling a little.”Ajinkya Rahane, the experienced opener, reached double figures despite struggling in the last four games, although he was only able to get a score of 29 off of 24 balls.“I thought he (Rahane) was good today. He’s been probably a bit too aggressive in what he wants to do,” Fleming observed.“Keep in mind, we’re batting on wickets here that we don’t know how they are gonna play. So, we got to take a bit of a pause to see what a good score is. If you are 3 for 30, the game is pretty much over.“His (Rahane) hitting that was so good last year, is more crisp. It’s not for lack of intent. He has doubled up on intent. We’re fine with Jinks and the role he plays.” (With PTI inputs)

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

He doesn’t look good: CSK coach Stephen Fleming provides update on Deepak Chahar’s injury | Crickit

Danijones8 months ago05 mins

Chennai [India], : Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming provided an injury update on pacer Deepak Chahar and said that the 31-year-old “doesn’t look good”. He doesn’t look good: CSK coach Stephen Fleming provides update on Deepak Chahar’s injury On Wednesday, during their Indian Premier League 2024 clash against Punjab Kings , Chahar walked off the field after sustaining an injury while bowling. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! He was given the first over of the second innings. Just after the second delivery, the CSK bowler pulled up in his delivery stride. Following this he talked with the skipper Rututaj Gaikwad and stepped outside the field after bowling just two balls into his spell. Shardul Thakur was called in to complete the remaining four deliveries of Chahar’s spell. While speaking at the post-match press conference, Fleming said the initial feeling “wasn’t great” on Chahar’s injury. He added that the CSK team management is waiting for “more positive report”. The head coach added Tushar Deshpande is currently suffering from flu for which he was not added in the playing eleven. “Deepak Chahar doesn’t look good. Initial feeling wasn’t great. So we are waiting for more positive report. Physio and doctors will have a look. Sri Lankan boys are off to get visa. So we are hoping that their process is smooth. And we get them back for our next game up north . Richard Gleeson was good, he was positive. Tushar Deshpande got flu, so we had to make a few changes today, which is a bit unusual. But again that’s part of it and we have got resources. It’s just they haven’t got time to be comfortable about their roles and us to be comfortable with the game plan that we are struggling with,” Fleming said. Recapping the match, the vibrant yellow wave in the stands of Chepauk was reduced to silence after PBKS effortlessly chased down 163 with more than two overs to spare. Stand-in skipper Sam Curran’s decision to put CSK to bat turned out to be the ideal one as the dew factor kicked in to become a hindrance for CSK bowlers in second half of the match. Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front and scored 62 off 48 deliveries and MS Dhoni provided the finishing touches at the death to power CSK to 162/7. In reply, PBKS batters hardly broke a sweat while chasing 163. Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw forged a 64-run stand to completely shift the momentum in their favour. Curran and Shashank Singh applied the finishing touches to seal a 7-wicket win for PBKS. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

“What Have They Identified?”: CSK Coach Stephen Fleming’s Blunt T20 World Cup Message To BCCI

Danijones8 months ago06 mins

Former New Zealand captain and five-time IPL-winning coach Stephen Fleming believes that India should decide on their style of play for the upcoming T20 World Cup and pick the in-form players accordingly. India will head into this year’s T20 global showpiece in the Caribbean and the USA to make yet another bid to end their wait for an ICC trophy, which extended further after they lost to Australia in the final of the 50-overs World Cup last year. It has been more than 10 years since India last won a global competition, which has, in a way kept ageing stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the mix despite growing calls for the T20I side to be blooded with young talent. “The thing for me is, what type of game plan do they want to play during the World Cup? What have they identified as the right style of play for India in an away condition?,” Fleming said when asked if CSK’s all-rounder Shivam Dube is primed for India call-up for the World Cup. “Then put players into that rather than just picking players and trying to find a game plan. I would be looking at the style of play that I would want, and then pick the players that are in-form and can perform the role that will best win that design,” Fleming said on the sidelines of CSK’s training session ahead of their IPL match against Mumbai Indians. Fleming said the amount of sheer power which Dube generates is good enough to compel the selectors into looking at him as one of the prospects for the T20 World Cup. “It’s probably one of the hardest jobs in world cricket, isn’t it, being an Indian selector. On one hand, very jealous as a New Zealander looking at the amount of talent that is on show and new players every game sort of pop up,” he said. “I love his power. I’m biased, aren’t I? But I think when you have a bit different power like that; I would have him in the side,” Fleming said. The former Kiwi skipper said Dube is reaping the benefits of the work that he has put in to face different kinds of bowlers, which has complemented CSK in return given the rule changes in the IPL such as the introduction of the impact player. “A lot of work last year to be honest, working him into that role and trying to use the change of rules to our advantage. He did a lot of work mentally last year on what that would look like, and then it was about opportunity. How long an opportunity would take for us to realise his potential,” Fleming said. “Or more importantly, for him to realise how good he could be. Since then, he has gone to another level. He works hard on all aspects. I know there’s a short-ball aspect that has been much publicised. But there’s a lot more to him than that,” he added. Fleming once again mentioned Dube’s power-hitting which has been a standout factor in his batting. “If anything, it deflects away from other areas. He uses that predictability to his advantage now. I haven’t seen a guy hit it harder (and) consistently hit it harder.” “Some of the power he can generate both from spin and from seam bowling is quite unique. When he’s in form like this, he’s a real weapon for us during those middle overs,” the CSK head coach added. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

‘No difference between Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni’: CSK coach Stephen Fleming’s big claim | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago08 mins

NEW DELHI: Stephen Fleming, the head coach of Chennai Super Kings, came to the defence of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, asserting that it’s unfair to label him as “slow” while batting and drawing comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni.Gaikwad, who assumed the captaincy role for CSK at the start of this IPL season, has faced criticism for his batting pace despite a mixed start to his leadership stint.Fleming highlighted Gaikwad’s qualities and contributions to the team, emphasising that he shares similarities with Dhoni in terms of his approach and style of play. While Gaikwad’s strike rate may not be as high as some of his counterparts, Fleming believes that his value to the team extends beyond mere statistics.IPL: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPIn his five matches so far, the 27-year-old right-handed opener has accumulated 155 runs at a strike rate of 117.42. While these numbers may not dazzle on paper, Fleming and the CSK management recognise Gaikwad’s ability to anchor the innings and build partnerships, qualities reminiscent of Dhoni’s leadership on the field.“There’s no difference. He’s as cool as it gets. I know the last captain was pretty cool. But this guy is cut from the same cloth, so that’s rubbed through,” Fleming said when asked if he had any discussion with Gaikwad in terms of differentiating between his leadership and his batting.“He is such an impressive young man around his game and what he needs to do. He’s been, I think, unfairly put into a bracket where he’s been called slow. But you have to have context to some of these stats,” Fleming told the media during CSK’s training session at the Wankhede Stadium.“We know that it’s a bit of a Bollywood movie, sometimes getting these things up onto the screen. But he’s fine. He’s playing well. The last game (CSK vs KKR) was a great example of how a leader plays, and there’s class as well. I have absolutely no doubt about Ruturaj,” Fleming added.Fleming clarified that the decision to appoint Gaikwad as the skipper of CSK is a strategic and long-term one, rather than a temporary or makeshift arrangement by the five-time IPL champions.“I hope so. That’s the plan, and so far it’s worked well. The transition has been really smooth. He’s judged by wins but we judge it differently. His leadership around the team is top-class. I would imagine it would be hopefully for many years like the last captain,” Fleming added.The former New Zealand captain said CSK are the benefactors of the love Dhoni has got from fans which, at times, has been overwhelming.“It’s magnificent, to be honest. It is truly astounding, the love that… Let’s be honest, the love that India has for MS Dhoni, and we are benefactors of that,” Fleming said.“The team, without (a) doubt, feels pride when they walk out to an away game and there’s a large amount of yellow. If not all yellow, it’s in some cases, overwhelming.”“But we are under no illusions about what has created it and who has created it. We’re very proud of him and his involvement with the side. We look at it as a real honour that people will come out and support him, and if it’s secondary, then the team. We’re both very closely linked,” Fleming added.Fleming said a two-month dose of IPL every year has become contagious but the league must keep finding ways to evolve.“In terms of fan following, naturally it has grown. The skills of the players are evolving. Batting in particular has evolved at a huge rate, in particular the last five years,” he said.“The challenge of the IPL, from a skill point of view, is how the bowlers can even the game up a little bit. The two bouncers (per over rule) is one. Maybe we need to keep looking at other ways to do that.”“The fact that it becomes intoxicating after two months of cricket and fandom and support, it’s a wonderful injection for cricket. So how can you not love it? How can it not be contagious?,” he added.Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians’ Mohammad Nabi said getting the team combination right was one of the key factors for the five-time winners to get back to winning ways.“The plans from the bowling and batting groups are going really well which is why we won the last two games. The team combination was good for the last two matches,” he said.Nabi said the nature of the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium makes an off-spinner’s job tougher.“The conditions at Wankhede as a spinner are really tough to bowl as an off-spinner. Leg-spinners have a lot of varieties but as an off-spinner is tougher to bowl here,” he said.(With PTI inputs)