CSK value Suresh’s experience: Stephen Fleming plays down concerns over batsman’s form
Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming supported Suresh Raina, saying that the senior batter will improve his performance when the IPL 2021 ends in the UAE.
Stephen Fleming said Suresh Raina’s experience is always valued by CSK and he has got a bit of leeway to play an aggressive role in the middle-order without worrying too much about anything else.
Fleming’s comments come after Suresh Raina struggled to get going in CSK’s win over SRH that helped them become the first team of IPL 2021 to qualify for the play-offs. Raina was dismissed for 2 from 3 balls by Jason Holder who set the left-hander up brilliantly with a Yorker after a couple of short balls.
Suresh Raina, who retired from international cricket in 2020, has managed just 157 runs in 11 matches at an average of less than 20. Raina, who is only among the 6 batsmen to have scored more than 5000 runs in the IPL, has looked a shadow of his former self as he has been struggling for timing. Opposition teams have targeted Raina, who has batted in the middle-order, with short balls and the ploy has worked well so far.
“We have a pretty clear role for him. He has got an optimal time. We want him to bat and we’ve afforded the luxury of a player coming out and being aggressive. So, just getting the timing right without managing the batters,” Fleming said after CSK’s victory over SRH.
“We value his experience and everything has got a part to play in the middle. Suresh is an experienced player who has earned a bit of leeway and as the tournament goes on, his performance will improve.”
CSK won’t be too experimental: Fleming
CSK are at the top of the IPL 2021 points table with 18 points from 11 matches. The 3-time champions will be looking to seal a top-two finish with 3 more games left for them in the group stages.
Stephen Fleming said a good position on the points table allows them room to give fringe players opportunities in the last 3 matches but stressed that CSK won’t experiment too much.
“I am not big on momentum. Momentum can go as quick as you have it. We don’t really talk about that. What we have probably been afforded is that we can manage workloads of players a bit better,” Fleming said.
“We have got a day and travel to Abu Dhabi and a day and then a game. The opportunities for guys who are on the fringe… we have afforded that luxury now. But we won’t be too experimental,” he added.
