IPL 2019: Dependency on MS Dhoni and Rayudu won’t win CSK title, opines coach Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings’ previous match against Royal Challengers Bangalore saw MS Dhoni almost steal a win after the skipper amassed an unbeaten 84 of 48 balls. He single-handedly led CSK to almost win a thriller but they fell short of 12 cms and lost the battle by 1 run. He even scored 24 runs when 26 were needed in the last over bowled by Umesh Yadav.

The top order of CSK failed miserably as they were folded for 30 odd runs. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming opines that if the team depends heavily on Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni for finishing matches, they most likely won’t win the title this time. MS Dhoni has made 314 runs in 7 innings so far with a best of 84 not out and Rayudu has 192 runs in 10 innings with a best of 57. They have held the middle order of the CSK team strong, even as the likes of Shane Watson (147 runs in 10 innings) has found it hard to get going, despite getting so many chances at the top.

Too much dependent on Dhoni and Rayudu, says Fleming

“We’re relying too heavily on Dhoni and Rayudu to patch things up and we won’t win the competition if that continues,” Fleming was quoted as saying in the post-match conference.

Fleming found it difficult to digest that CSK faltered chasing a modest target on 162 on a belter of a pitch at M Chinnaswamy. Watson made 5, Du Plessis scored 5, Raina was trapped for a duck in the first ball, while Kedar Jadhav too fell for 9 runs, leaving a mountain to climb for Dhoni.

“We’re bordering on being a little bit reckless, trying to find that form. And today (Sunday) was an example where, instead of playing sensible cricket when we crossed the line, we were being a little bit reckless. That just comes from guys trying to find form and do the job. So, whilst we’ve been able to get seven wins, we’re by no means happy with the way we have achieved them. Of course, we’re happy to be getting over the line but we’d also like some form to get back into that top order,” Fleming further said.

Fleming, however, was in all praise for his CSK captain MS Dhoni, saying, “He is so calculated that I would never question the last part of an innings with MS Dhoni. Yes, Bravo has the power, but if MS has the feeling that he is going to win it this way then you back him every time. Tonight, he got us so close again, so I never question that.”

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