April 6, 2024

“Without A Doubt”: CSK Coach Stephen Fleming Reveals Key Factor Behind Team’s Defeat to SRH

Pathirana’s slight ailment kept him out of the game, but Mustafizur is in Bangladesh right now getting his visa for the ICC T20 World Cup, which starts in the West Indies and the USA on June 1.

Following Chennai Super Kings (CSK) six-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match, head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the team felt the absence of critical pacers like Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman. This defeat marked CSK’s second consecutive loss in the ongoing IPL 2024, as a blistering knock by Abhishek Sharma, combined with a disciplined bowling performance, led SRH to victory on Friday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

Pathirana was unavailable for the match due to a minor injury. Mustafizur is in Bangladesh, securing his visa for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, set to begin on June 1 in the West Indies and USA.

Mukesh Chaudhary, playing his first game since 2022, struggled in his comeback. The pacer, a standout performer in 2022 with 16 wickets in 13 matches, including a four-wicket haul, had a rough return. He was taken off the attack after giving up 27 runs to Abhishek Sharma in a single over.

Following the match in the post-match press conference, Fleming said, “Without a doubt (If missing Pathirana and Mustafizur affected the outcome), it is part of the IPL. Having injuries and losing players in an IPL is part of the process.”

“We had a chance to introduce Mukesh Chaudhary today. He was good for us a while back. It was not his day. But that is part of the IPL, managing players, and when you do find yourself a little bit short on firepower, it is finding the new hero,” said Fleming.

The coach noted that his team missed crucial opportunities to score, failing to capitalize on the powerplay while batting.

“And, it did not happen today, but we put trust in the players that we introduced and they have been training well and doing the job. Tough baptism. The first five or six overs were the best to bat, and the aggressive way in which they played showed that. So, being able to get a wicket first over and maybe shut down the second, it could have been a competitive score, but maybe 15 short and, not quite accurate enough for first six overs with the ball,” said Fleming.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had an entertaining match. SRH won the toss and elected to bowl first. Captain Pat Cummins’s strategic decision was likely influenced by the favorable conditions for bowlers early in the game. However, CSK, known for its strong batting lineup, faced early challenges as it tried to set a competitive total.

CSK opened with Rachin Ravindra and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Still, both were dismissed early, leaving the team vulnerable. Ravindra managed only 12 runs before being caught, while Gaikwad, despite hitting three boundaries and a six, was out for 26 off 21 balls. At 54/2 in just over seven overs, CSK was under pressure to recover from their shaky start.

In spite of the early losses, CSK’s middle-order hitters performed admirably. Shivam Dube played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings, smashing 45 runs off just 24 balls, including two fours and four towering sixes. His aggressive play helped CSK regain momentum. Ravindra Jadeja also made a significant contribution, scoring 31 runs off 23 balls, including four boundaries. Jadeja’s ability to rotate the strike kept the scoreboard ticking, allowing CSK to maintain a steady pace. Also, Ajinkya Rahane played a steady hand, scoring 35 off 30 balls with two boundaries and a six, anchoring the innings when needed.

Thanks to these crucial contributions from Dube, Jadeja, and Rahane, CSK managed to post a competitive total of 165/5 in their 20 overs. Although it wasn’t a massive score, it gave them a fighting chance, especially after losing early wickets.

On the bowling side, SRH’s bowlers performed well. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was especially effective, taking 1 wicket for 28 runs in his four overs. His disciplined line and length kept CSK’s big hitters under control. T Natarajan, known for his death-over skills, took 1 wicket for 39 runs. At the same time, captain Pat Cummins also bowled economically, picking up 1 wicket for 29 runs. Jaydev Unadkat matched Cummins’ figures, further contributing to restricting CSK’s total.

When it was SRH’s turn to bat, their openers got off to a flying start. The run pursuit was well-founded by Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Head played a steady innings, scoring 31 off 24 balls, but Abhishek stole the show with a blistering knock. He smashed 37 off just 12 balls, including three boundaries and four sixes. His explosive batting put immense pressure on CSK’s bowlers and helped SRH race to 106 runs in under 10 overs.

After the openers fell, captain Aiden Markram took charge of the chase. His composed innings of 50 off 36 balls, with four boundaries and a six, ensured that SRH stayed on course for victory. Markram’s ability to anchor the innings allowed SRH to maintain the momentum set by the openers. In the end, Heinrich Klaasen (10*) and Nitish Reddy (11*) guided SRH to a comfortable six-wicket win, quickly sealing the match.

For CSK, Moeen Ali stood out with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 23 runs. His spell was among the few highlights in Chennai’s otherwise difficult bowling effort. Deepak Chahar and Mahesh Theekshana also took a wicket each, but they struggled to contain SRH’s aggressive batting.

Abhishek Sharma’s explosive innings earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. His quickfire 37 laid the foundation for SRH’s successful chase and provided the momentum needed for victory. With this win, SRH moved to fifth place on the points table with two wins and two losses, while CSK remained in third due to a superior net run rate. This win boosted SRH’s standings and showcased their potential as strong contenders in the tournament.

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