Chennai Super Kings may have been the most successful team of the IPL but this season has been quite disappointing for the franchise.
CSK’s head coach Stephen Fleming expressed his frustration as his team fell short yet again, marking their fourth consecutive defeat in this IPL season. Despite a promising performance by the top-order batters in their chase of Punjab Kings’ target of 220, CSK ended 18 runs short.
After the match, Stephen Fleming admitted the season has been tough so far. He pointed out that both the teams struggled with catching but CSK’s issues in the field have been particularly costly. With 11 dropped catches across five matches, including three in this game alone, he felt that poor fielding may have been the difference between victory and defeat.
On a positive note, Stephen Fleming highlighted the improvement in CSK’s batting. Openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra gave the team a solid start, followed by a strong partnership between Conway and Shivam Dube. However, despite these efforts, the team couldn’t maintain the required run rate during the middle overs, which left them with too much to do in the final stages. Stephen Fleming believed that the real turning point of the match happened in the field, where lapses allowed Punjab to pile on runs.
He also praised Punjab’s young batter Priyansh Arya who played a stunning knock of 103 runs off just 42 balls. Fleming noted the confidence Priyansh Arya showed after having been dismissed on the first ball in the previous game. CSK, according to Stephen Fleming, failed to stick to their bowling plans, which allowed Priyansh Arya to dominate with aggressive stroke play.
Punjab’s Shashank Singh who played a key supporting role with a gritty half-century emphasised the importance of state-level T20 leagues in discovering and shaping new talent. He mentioned how platforms like these help players handle pressure and showcase not only their skills but also their mental strength.
Overall, while CSK found some positives in their batting, their ongoing issues in the field and inability to close out games continue to haunt them this season.
