CSK’s fire lit by 2-year ban

Mumbai, May 28

Chennai Super Kings have won three IPL titles, but the one they won on Sunday has to be the most special and satisfying. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming almost said it in so many words. “It was difficult two years for the franchise. The desire to get back to the competition was high. It was sustainable to keep winning throughout. The players were motivated (to win),” said Fleming. “I am proud of how different individuals stood up at key times. I am proud the way experienced players showed their way. We believe experience coming back into the competition was going to be a key component. There were lots of emotions in the franchise for what had happened, there was a lot of reasoning behind this team,” said Fleming.

Back in IPL after serving out a two-year ban for their team management’s role in the 2013 spot-fixing scandal, CSK outplayed Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the summit clash on Sunday night to clinch their third title. CSK had previously won the title in 2010 and 2011.

Fleming said the consistency that the likes of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina bring to the table played a major role in his side’s campaign. “We value experience for consistency, guys who keep doing it and not the one-offs. The Dhonis and Rainas take you deep into the tournament,” he said.

The coach said communication and defining roles were important for his team. “Communication and defining roles are crucial. We needed to look at characters; Rayudu is a character who I valued. Dhoni was open about him batting at the top. Kedar Jadhav is another good character who we lost (due to injury). It is not rocket science, but looking after little things,” Fleming said.

Fitness matters, not age: MSD

Not many would have given Dhoni’s men much chance this time around. Having as many as 11 players on the wrong side of 30s, the Chennai squad was ridiculed as a Dad’s army. Yet, they ended up thrashing the more fancied teams and lifting the trophy. Incidentally, Rayudu and Shane Watson, two of their 30-plus, ended up among the top-five run-getters. “We talked a lot about age but what matters is fitness. Rayudu, for example, is 32, but he’s fit, covers a lot of ground... So it’s fitness that matters more than age,” said Dhoni. “Captains want players who move well in the field. It doesn’t matter which year a player is born in, you have to be agile. You have to accept your shortcomings.

“For example if I push Watson to stop a single, there is a very good chance that he’ll burst his hamstring and won’t be available for the next game. So what you tell yourselves is that they have to commit and try, but there’s no point getting injured for a single,” explained Dhoni.

Interestingly, while he captained India, Dhoni never gave any leeway to any player as far as fielding was concerned. He firmly believed that easy singles released pressure, and hit the team hard. But that’s another story for another day. — Agencies