IPL 2022: CSK coach Stephen Fleming compares dew in Mumbai to Niagara Falls after loss to LSG

The Chennai Super Kings went down to the Lucknow Super Giants in a high-scoring encounter by six wickets at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on March 31. This was CSK’s second straight loss of the ongoing season. They had suffered a six-wicket defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the curtain-raiser.

It is to be noted that this was the defending champions’ second successive loss while defending a total as well. After Chennai failed to get the job done with the ball in hand during the second innings yet again, head coach Stephen Fleming has come forward and said that the dew factor hampered the CSK bowlers from doing anything exceptional. At the same time, the former New Zealand skipper also compared the dew in Mumbai to Niagara Falls.

Spinning options were taken out of play: Stephen Fleming

“If you’d looked earlier on, spinning options were taken out of play. Because it was like Niagara Falls in terms of the wetness and they [LSG] played well. So it was very hard to, one, grip the ball for a spinner and, two, to be effective,” said Fleming while speaking to the host broadcasters after the contest.

“So early on, we were one over short but they played well. We always knew we had to pick up an over somewhere – we were hoping to be able to create enough of a run-rate towards the end that we could squeeze someone in,” he added.

“We thought it ( referring to CSK’s 210 ) was about par, and that’s the nature of the conditions at the moment – they very much favor the team batting second,” said the ex-opener. Dew has been playing a crucial role in the ongoing IPL season as only once has the team batting first has won out of seven matches so far.

After the first two losses, the four-time champions would be hoping to stage a comeback and also register their first two points of this season. The title-holders will next be seen in action against Punjab Kings at the Brabourne Stadium on April 3.