IPL 10: Fleming puts his money on Imran Tahir in the absence of Ashwin

Rising Pune Super Giant players Ravichandran Ashwin and Mitchell Marsh pulled out of the 10^th season of the Indian Premier League due to Injuries leaving their team in a spot of bother. But, Stephen Fleming, coach of the Rising Pune Super Giant who turned a year older on Saturday believes that it is useless to lament over the losses and it is time to use the resources they have effectively.

They have already brought in Proteas leg-spinner Imran Tahir who went unsold in the auction, in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh. Reportedly, skipper, Steve Smith is also looking to bring in Nathan Lyon to replace Indian offie Ravichandran Ashwin.

Fleming quoted “Ashwin was an important part of our plans. It is disappointing not to have him but you can understand with the kind of cricket he has played in the last six months, there were going to be wear and tear injuries”

Now in the absence of Ashwin, Fleming is looking up to Imran Tahir who he thinks to be the best T20 bowler in the world. Fleming also seemed surprised with the fact that Tahir went unsold in the auctions and expressed his thoughts on the same.

“We weren’t aware of Ashwin’s injury (when we picked Tahir to replace Marsh). We picked him because obviously, he is the best T20 bowler in the world. Surprisingly he wasn’t picked in the auctions. With Ashwin not there, Tahir, along with other youngsters will try to use their skills and make the most of it”

The 44-year-old also feels that Steve Smith will flourish as a skipper in the IPL and he is looking forward to working with him. According to the former Kiwi batsman, there are many leaders in his side and it will be a tough task for him as a coach to use their experience in the right way.

“If you look at the team, we have got Steve, we have Faf du Plessis, we have Ajinkya Rahane, who is a Test captain and then MS Dhoni. So without concentrating just on Steve as captain, which I am excited about working with, we have got leadership and it is very important for a young side like us. So using the experience and leadership is going to be my challenge as a coach”