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Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming on Friday rejected suggestions that he is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving IPL, asserting that he remains very much in touch with the modern T20 game despite recent setbacks. Addressing criticism following inconsistent performances this IPL season, Fleming acknowledged that results dictate perception but maintained that scrutiny is part of the role. "Criticism is fair when you don't do well," he said, while pointing out that his year-round involvement in coaching and player auctions across competitions keeps him closely aligned with global T20 trends. "Look, I'm coaching throughout the year and two other competitions, and I'm doing auctions across a lot of players. So it's not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. "In fact, it's the other way. I probably never spent more time studying T20 cricket around players around the world, just to service the other teams as well
Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has revealed that he could have played the IPL a bit longer had it not been for a "mentally disturbing" and "painful" phase that he went through during his time with the Chennai Super Kings. On his youtube show 'Ash Ki Baat', the veteran, who retired from international cricket in 2024 before ending his IPL run last year, said he decided to call it quits to save the franchise the dilemma of deciding his fate.. "...I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, but I quit because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play while managing everything else," Ashwin said. Ashwin, before announcing his IPL retirement, had sought clarity from CSK about his role after being used sparingly during the 2025 season. He appeared in only nine of CSK's 14 matches in what was to be his homecoming after starting his IPL journey with the same team.. The ...
Head coach Stephen Fleming downplayed Sanju Samson's underwhelming run in IPL 2026, saying the wicketkeeper batter is "going through the process of connecting" with Chennai Super Kings and he is "desperate" to score runs and contribute to the team's success. Samson, who joined the Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals amid much hype ahead of IPL 2026, has so far managed 6, 7, 9 in first three matches. "It's difficult when you've been at a franchise (RR) for some time and even though he probably feels pretty comfortable there's still an element of belonging and he's going through the process of connecting with this team," said Fleming in the post-match press conference. Samson's modest outings at the top has robbed CSK of the desired quick beginning in this IPL, but Fleming said the Kerala man is "desperate" to find his rhythm. "The team (CSK) has got five or six changes. So, it's not like it's a set team. There's a little bit of work to be done off the field that we're doing just to ma
Bogged down by a third successive loss this IPL season, Chennai Super Kings team management must work on keeping a "hurting" dressing room in good spirits to arrest the slide, Indian spin legend R Ashwin has said. CSK suffered a crushing 43-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday to remain at the bottom of the points table with three straight reverses. Speaking on JioHotstar, Ashwin and former South African captain Faf du Plessis analysed CSK's problems. "I am sure the dressing room atmosphere is going to be hurting. I am not too sure how hard the words can be, but honestly, with such a young side, there is only one way you can go and that is upwards. "The way to go upwards is to get a really good work ethic going and a good team atmosphere. I am sure it is going to be extremely deflating inside that Chennai dressing room after this thumping defeat to RCB," Ashwin said. The former India spinner said it is not fair to expect accountability from the inexperienced ...
An emotionally distraught Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad didn't have much explanation to offer after a third straight defeat as he took the blame on himself. CSK lost to RCB by 43 after Tim David wreaked havoc and the visiting team's top order blown away quickly by Jacob Duffy. "If I would have contributed more, maybe it could have been different. It (the loss) was definitely on me today," he said.. "We still had the game in our hands till the 13-14th over (of the bowling innings but let momentum slip after it." On Tim David's smashing a 25-ball-70, Gaikwad expressed his disappointment on not getting him quickly when Anshul Kamboj yorked the batter only to find that he had overstepped. "Almost got a wicket of him but it was an illegal delivery. After that, he smacked it all around the park. Hats off to him." Pleased as punch after his game-turning knock, RCB's Australian big-hitter Tim David attributed his superb performance against CSK to the inputs provided by his