“We weren’t comfortable”: CSK coach Stephen Fleming’s interesting take on the loss against LSG

After his team’s six-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming said the team is not focusing on finding quick solutions to its problems but rather on finding a right combination. Is doing that will contribute during the back-to-back. End of the tournament. Marcus Stoinis challenged the odds with his relentless attack and scored his maiden century to lead Lucknow Super Giants to a 6-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Tuesday in Chepauk.

“We’re a little bit uncomfortable in some areas,” Fleming said in his post-match press conference. “So, we’re not just trying to find a quick solution, but we’re trying to find the right combination where the players are.” ” We are going to contribute at the end of this tournament. We have had injuries and we are a bit shaky, but the main thing is to get people in key areas and into form and that sometimes takes a while. There has been further change, some of which has been imposed on us and some of which is our nature.”

Talking more about the game, Fleming said that the team knew that dew was going to come after 20-25 overs of the pitch being slow so the toss was important. He also praised captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and LSG all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for their centuries.

“We saw a brilliant century from Ruturaj, absolute craft, brilliant innings and he played incredibly well with some strength to get us to 210. So, we were not comfortable with that score, but we knew we In the game, we saw another brilliant century from Marcus Stoinis. And in the end, we felt we competed well considering the conditions.

He praised Stoinis, saying he had “power and good batting”.

“They (LSG) needed someone who did what Ruturaj did and Stoinis did it beautifully. But not surprisingly, we knew he is a dangerous weapon, a dangerous player, we needed him to do that with Pooran and others. “Needed to get out on top with two on.” So, we came close but we couldn’t score the last century, good game though and two brilliant centuries again.

On welcoming former captain and legendary wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni to the crease, Fleming said the franchises and fans are really lucky to have experienced Dhoni’s “magic” in the last 16-17 years.

“I think I said this already, but the love for him all over India and the world is testament to how he has played. People talk about MS as a person, but he is a Great players too and have put in some great performances.” Things to do for India and Chennai. So, people were putting time, energy and effort into appreciating him and we do that every day and we’re very fortunate to have him on the team for so long.”

Fleming also said that batting all-rounder Shivam Dubey, who has not bowled since IPL 2022, has been working really hard on his bowling over the last 12-18 months and knows how important he is as a bowler. Are.

“He knows the importance of his bowling. So, he is working very hard on it. It has not been possible for him to have overs in games yet, but he is working very hard on it. And he is working hard too are doing.” It’s his batting and I think that’s been a real area of ​​improvement over the last 12 to 18 months, today he was a lot more comfortable against fast bowling, but he still has that power, which is quite unique.” Fleming .

Fleming concluded, “He’s been a good, consistent performer for us this season. And I think to win the IPL you need a little bit, a little bit of magic sprinkled in and he’s providing that.” Used to be.”

Shivam Dubey is the sixth highest run scorer in the current season. He has scored 311 runs in eight matches at an average of 51.83 and a strike rate of 169.94 with three half-centuries. His best score is 66*.

Talking about the match, LSG decided to bowl first. After a slow start, it was a century from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (108 runs from 60 balls, with the help of 12 fours and three sixes) and a century from in-form Shivam Dubey (66 runs from 27 balls, with the help of three fours and seven sixes). Run) had an explosive half-century. ) which took CSK to 210/4 in their 20 overs.

Matt Henry, Mohsin Khan and Yash Thakur got one wicket each for LSG.

In the run-chase, LSG struggled to find the right pace in the first half and were 88/3 in 11 overs. But it was Stoinis, who was sent up the order, who kept his side in the hunt with his brutal hitting. Cameos from Nicholas Pooran (34 runs from 15 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes) and Deepak Hooda (17* runs from 6 balls with the help of two fours and a six) took some pressure off the shoulders of the Australian star as he Scored 17 runs within three balls. The victory was confirmed by six wickets in the last over. Stoinis remained unbeaten after scoring 124 runs in 63 balls with the help of 13 fours and six sixes.

Stoinis received the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

LSG are in fourth place with five wins and three losses, giving them 10 points. CSK has slipped to fifth place with four wins, four losses and a total of eight points.