"Fitting That We Are Bottom": CSK Coach Stephen Fleming Spares No One At Press Conference
In a candid admission of their pathetic run this IPL season, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said they deserve to finish at the bottom of the table but promised to come back with "strong ideas". One of the most consistent sides in the popular league, five-time champions CSK are set to finish last behind Rajasthan Royals to whom they lost by six wickets on Tuesday in their penultimate IPL clash this season.
It is not a sight cricket fans are used to considering CSK's tremendous success in the past.
"No, we don't obviously like being down here, but it's not a motivation. We wanted just a good performance. We're trying to string some performances together. The aim was two good performances (in last two matches).
"Now it'll be one good one to finish. It's probably fitting that we're at the bottom. We've played that type of cricket, so you can't hide away from it," Fleming said after the match.
The New Zealander said they know the road ahead and failure of top-order batters has played huge role in the ordinary run.
"Our order is not right at this stage, and that is something that we are always looking to reshuffle. We've got some strong ideas for next year, so all those facets are covered. But that hasn't been possible this year because of the lack of runs at the top.
"A lot of the batting positions are determined by how well a start we have, and then guys can fall into line. We haven't had that. So we've been just patching innings up, really, rather than constructing good innings," he explained the reason behind the wretched run.
Pacer Anshul Kamboj has managed to impress this season with his pace and Fleming feels he will be a good asset for India after his selection in A side for the England tour.
"His speeds have been around 138, 139 (kph). He is deceptive and the ball always seems to hit the gloves harder. His big strength is his length and he just gets the ball to wobble. You saw that today on a reasonably flat wicket and he'll do well on that tour (of England) if he gets conditions that seam a bit and a little bit of swing.
"He'll be an absolute handful. He has got some real potential with both white and red ball. We're happy with his development and the opportunity he has taken this year." The former Kiwi captain also spoke highly of pacer Matheesha Pathirana but said the Lankan needs to improve further.
"We have high expectations of him, which is why we retained him. But he is coming back into some form. He was really out of form. He's made improvements, but it's still not to where we or he would like. So there's some room for him to get some form and get some confidence. But he's just at that crossroads where batsmen are playing him better." In his last 10 IPL matches he managed 10 wickets, and went wicketless in five contest.
"They've seen more of him. So now he just has to drill down on what he needs to do to be as effective as what he's been for the first part of his career. It's a unique skill set, but it's been a little bit off," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
3 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's luxury in Ranchi: From intricate artwork on walls to patio and bike collection, peek into Thala's dream residence
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, or as the fans know him, Mahi, has been playing cricket for the past two decades. Following his retirement from two formats of the sport in 2020, the athlete has continued to captain the IPL team, Chennai Super Kings. Amid the success and the victories, the former captain of the India Cricket team has managed to build his dream house in Ranchi, where he has settled with his wife, Sakshi, and daughter, Ziva. The luxurious mansion away from the metropolitan cities speaks volumes in terms of comfort and Dhoni's simple yet elegant taste in design. M.S. Dhoni's luxurious residence in Ranchi Dhoni's residence in his hometown is called Kailashpati, with a spacious living room having intricately designed walls. The sitting area also has some of the intricately designed walls, with one of them having a huge mirror installed. The cricketer and his wife, Sakshi, have opted for muted tones, like grey, yellow, and white, to give a comfortable feeling to them as well as the guests who arrive. The lights in the house are also soothing, and a blue painting in the residence catches the eye immediately as one enters the house. Moreover, the mansion is designed in such a way that it allows an ample amount of light. The family of three has also installed a flat-screen TV opposite the sofas. Additionally, the bedrooms in the former captain's house are designed in the palette of beige and gold. The bedroom in the mansion has a brown headboard, spongy bedding, and golden decor all over. The cricketer has also installed a TV on the wall opposite the bed. Meanwhile, Mahi often spends time in his backyard, as seen in the multiple Instagram pictures uploaded. The lawn outside of the living area is huge, with a wooden patio, providing elegance to the naturalistic view. The cricketer spends time out with his dogs and even his family. In addition to the huge mansion, Dhoni has also installed a two-story garage to keep his collection of bikes. According to the reports, Thala is quite fond of his motorbikes and has more than 70 of them.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Gautam Gambhir Returns To India From England Due To Medical Emergency: Report
Last Updated: Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly returned home from England days before the Tendulkar-Anderson trophy due to a family emergency. Indian men's head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly been forced to return to India from England due to a medical emergency just days before the start of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy on June 20. According to Sportstar, his mother, Seema, has suffered a cardiac arrest and is currently in Intensive Care. Gambhir reached England with the team on June 7. This is his fourth Test series as the head coach. He reportedly missed India's net session on June 12, too, and is no longer with the squad. The date of his possible return is currently uncertain, though some reports say he might come back by next week. Gambhir's return comes on the day of India's intra-squad game. The match, likely to be played between teams drawn from the senior and India 'A' squads, will be played behind closed doors in Leeds, i.e., it won't be broadcast or streamed, and a scorecard is unlikely to be available either. According to news agency PTI, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will assume the charge for the match. Bowling coach Morne Morkel and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak will assist him. It's the last bit of red-ball preparation for several first-time members, who are coming straight from the IPL. The first Test will be played in Headingley from next Friday. Earlier, Gambhir gave a stirring motivational speech to his young team about moving on from the retirements of greats like Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and previous captain Rohit Sharma. 'All I want to say is there are two ways of looking at this group. One is that we are without our three most experienced players, or we've got this phenomenal opportunity to do something special," Gambhir said in a video shared by the BCCI, which was shot before his departure. 'And when I look around this group, the hunger, the passion and the commitment to do something special… If we make sacrifices, if we come out of our comfort zones, if we start fighting, not every day, but every session, every hour and every ball, I think we can have a memorable tour. So make sure we start that today. Start enjoying playing for the country because there's no bigger honour," he added. First Published:
Hans India
8 hours ago
- Hans India
1xBat becomes sponsor of Eagle Nashik Titans in MPL 2025: Investing in the growth of regional cricket in India
The sports news platform 1xBat Sporting Lines has become the official partner of the promising cricket team Eagle Nashik Titans in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) 2025. This collaboration aims to strengthen support for regional sports, create new opportunities for young athletes, and increase visibility for this ambitious tournament. Eagle Nashik Titans entered the regional cricket scene in 2023 and have played a key role in revitalizing the Maharashtra Premier League. In their debut season, the team reached the state playoffs, and in 2024, they advanced to the final, where they were narrowly defeated by the Ratnagiri Jets. All MPL matches are held at the MCA International Stadium in Pune, which seats 45,000 spectators. The league's broadcast reach has expanded to 170 million viewers, making the Maharashtra Premier League the largest regional cricket tournament in India after the IPL. The MPL now serves as a bridge between the Ranji Trophy and the Indian Premier League, offering young talent from Maharashtra a platform to showcase their skills at a higher level. Scouts from India's top teams closely follow MPL matches. The league has already helped launch the careers of Rajneesh Gurbani and Sachin Dhas, and fans can expect even more breakout stars in the upcoming season. "We are proud to sponsor Eagle Nashik Titans — a rising franchise that shares our ambitions. Over the past two seasons, the team has shown steady progress and impressive results. They're also doing a great job developing young talent — just look at top-scorer Atharva Kale's performance in MPL 2024. The league has become a launchpad for the next generation of stars, many of whom move on to IPL clubs and achieve global recognition. We're excited to support regional cricket and contribute to the broader growth of India's sporting landscape," said a representative of 1xBat. As part of the partnership between 1xBat Sporting Lines and Eagle Nashik Titans, the brand's logo will appear on the team's jerseys, training kits, official website, and social media. It will also be featured on giant screens and sight screens during MPL 2025 matches, with regular giveaways of team merchandise and tickets to Eagle Nashik Titans games included in the collaboration. "We're excited to join forces with 1xBat, a respected and well-known platform. Their media and financial support will help us grow stronger and shine a brighter light on our emerging players. This season, we're going all in for the trophy, and wearing the 1xBat logo on our jerseys gives us even more drive to succeed," said a representative of Eagle Nashik Titans. The MPL 2025 season opener is scheduled for June 4, where the Eagles will face defending champions Ratnagiri Jets. Don't miss the kickoff of one of India's premier regional cricket leagues — and follow all the key action with 1xBat! About 1xBat Sporting Lines 1xBat Sporting Lines is an online news platform from India where you can find the most important sports news. 1xBat readers get daily updates on cricket, kabaddi, football, and other sports. Site visitors can see team rankings and find predictions for sporting events. 1xBat Sporting Lines has become the sponsor of Desert Vipers in the International League T20 (ILT20 2025), Eagle Nashik Titans in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL 2025), and Lyca Kovai Kings in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL 2025). Also, the news platform signed a sponsorship agreement with Tamil Thalaivas for the 11th season of the Pro Kabaddi League. The brand is the official sponsor as the 'powered by' partner of the 8th season of the Abu Dhabi T10 2024 Cricket League.
