Cricket

Despite his impressive form, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming has revealed that Mahendra Singh Dhoni cannot be promoted in the batting order due to his ongoing recovery from a knee injury.Fleming, who affectionately refers to Dhoni as CSK's "heartbeat," praised the 42-year-old's recent contributions, including a nine-ball 28 against Lucknow Super Giants. However, he emphasized that Dhoni's physical limitations restrict his ability to bat for extended periods."Other years he has obviously had problems with his knee and he is sort of recovering from that which is why there is only a certain amount of balls he can function well," Fleming explained.To compensate for Dhoni's limited batting time, Fleming has devised a "two-three over" approach. "I think everyone wants to see him for longer as we do but that amount of time is about right. We need him for the tournament and that 2-3 over cameo he is owning that space," he said.Fleming believes that the rest of the batting unit must step up and provide a solid foundation for Dhoni to finish the innings. "It's up to the rest of the batting unit to get us to a good position where he can push us over the top. He is doing that pretty much every time at the moment which is great to watch," he added.Despite the challenges, Fleming remains proud of Dhoni's contributions and the love he receives from fans. "We are incredibly proud of what he has achieved. We marvel at the amount of love that he gets. It's no surprise with what he has done with Indian cricket and with CSK with us. We are incredibly proud that he is a part of our side and is pretty much the heartbeat of the side. We thoroughly enjoy it," he said.

Shivam Dube's Power-Hitting Prowess Earns Praise from CSK Coach FlemingMumbai's Shivam Dube has emerged as a formidable force in the Indian Premier League (IPL), showcasing his exceptional power-hitting abilities. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has expressed his admiration for Dube's raw strength, suggesting that he deserves a spot in India's T20 World Cup squad."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 stated.Dube's impressive IPL performances this season have further solidified his credentials. In five matches, he has amassed 176 runs at a strike rate of 160.71, including two half-centuries."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 seam bowling is quite unique," Fleming remarked.Fleming emphasized the importance of India defining their game plan for the T20 World Cup before selecting players who fit those roles. He also lauded CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, comparing his batting style to that of MS Dhoni.Meanwhile, Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi shared his insights on the challenges faced by off-spinners in the T20 format. Nabi, who has played only three overs in two matches for Mumbai Indians (MI) this season, attributed this to the aggressive mindset of batsmen against off-spin."Every batsman thinks that an off-spinner is there to be hit. As a batsman, even I think so when I face an off-spinner. I think there is a chance for two sixes. If the conditions are bad, not much would be in my hands. In that case, I attack the batsman, try to take the wicket. To survive, I try yorkers, wide yorkers, or bowl slow. I try my best to survive those six balls," Nabi explained.

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has defended captain Ruturaj Gaikwad against criticism of his batting pace, comparing him to legendary former skipper MS Dhoni. Gaikwad, who took over the captaincy at the start of the season, has faced criticism for his strike rate despite a solid start to his leadership tenure.Fleming highlighted Gaikwad's contributions to the team, emphasizing his ability to anchor innings and build partnerships, qualities reminiscent of Dhoni's leadership. While Gaikwad's strike rate may not be as high as some of his counterparts, Fleming believes his value to the team extends beyond mere statistics."He's as cool as it gets," Fleming said of Gaikwad's leadership style. "He's been unfairly put into a bracket where he's been called slow. But you have to have context to some of these stats."Fleming clarified that the decision to appoint Gaikwad as captain is a strategic and long-term one, rather than a temporary arrangement. "I hope so. That's the plan, and so far it's worked well," he said.Fleming also praised the love and support that fans have for Dhoni, which has benefited CSK. "It's magnificent, to be honest," he said. "The team feels pride when they walk out to an away game and there's a large amount of yellow."Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians' Mohammad Nabi said getting the team combination right was key to their recent victories. "The plans from the bowling and batting groups are going really well which is why we won the last two games," he said.Nabi also discussed the challenges of bowling as an off-spinner at the Wankhede Stadium. "The conditions at Wankhede as a spinner are really tough to bowl as an off-spinner," he said.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) kicked off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign with a thrilling victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), chasing down a target of 173 without any of their batters crossing the 40-run mark.CSK coach Stephen Fleming expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, emphasizing the importance of collective contributions rather than relying on individual brilliance. "You don't always get it with one big score. So, to have everybody contribute is a positive as well," said Fleming.Regarding the opening partnership, Fleming clarified that there is no designated aggressive opener between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra. "It's not defined like that. One day a player will get away better than another," he explained.Fleming attributed the team's attacking approach to a strong intent rather than the Impact Player rule. "From our point of view, it's probably the intent. In the years we don't do well, we look at why and we rectify that. And one of the changes was very strong intent," he said.Fleming also confirmed the availability of Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana for selection.