IPL 2020 – Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming says it’s like every game is like an away game


Adaptability, choosing the right personnel and reading pitches correctly in the absence of pitch advantage will be key to success at IPL 2020, according to Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming.

“This season is going to be very different tactically,” Fleming told the Super Kings website. “Without a real home advantage here, we have to be very good at adapting to the conditions of each field. We have three different courses (Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi) to evaluate and each field has its own character and nuances, and we have to be what Good enough to pick the right team and get the right game plan to match that. It’s like every game is an away game. “

In addition to being unable to train in Abu Dhabi, the site of their first tournament against the Mumbai Indians on Saturday, many of the Super Kings’ first-choice players, including Shane Watson, MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu and Deepak Chahar, have been out of the game longer than others. Add in the challenges of playing in Abu Dhabi without having seen the wicket or assessed the conditions, something Mumbai has had the opportunity to do because they are based there.

“It is one of the challenges of having to travel to Abu Dhabi; we have to be very good on the day to have to assess the wicket and choose the right combination,” Fleming said. “One of the big challenges for IPL teams is getting the combinations right.

“There are a lot of skilled players that are part of the team, but there are also many skilled players that don’t. Picking the right side for the right conditions is one of the big challenges and we have a good record on That’s it. But I have to admit going to Abu Dhabi without seeing the gate or assessing the conditions will be one of the great challenges to start with. “

That said, Fleming also believes that the Super Kings will be able to fill the lack of game time with their combined wealth of experience. For the record, Mumbai has triumphed in the last two meetings between the parties. “We have experienced players, and experienced players identify key moments and that is why they have done so well in their careers, that they can change the games, absorb the pressure or just summarize the situation. That is what experience is about and why we value it very much.

“And that is why we have been able to overcome the line in so many close matches because the key player has been one with a lot of experience. And you also mix that with skill. You are aware of having a skillful side and adding youth when we can and with that we get the perfect balance. “

The run-up to the Super Kings campaign has been chaotic. Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh withdrew from the season for different reasons, while two players, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Chahar, along with several members of the support staff tested positive. Among all teams, the Super Kings have trained the least in the UAE, as they were only able to start on September 6 after long periods of quarantine. But Fleming doesn’t think this is a disadvantage.

“It has been different, and that has been part of the challenge: understanding the unknown,” Fleming said of its development. “We didn’t get off to a great start, with some positive Covid-19 cases, but I think we handled it very well.

“We were calm in our approach, we took very good care of the players and the staff, and the rest of the players were calm in the hotel room. There was a bit of anxiety about wanting to go out and train. It is what it is, and the players. They handled it really well. In hindsight, the amount of preseason training we’ve done so far, and the extra few days in the room, it was probably a blessing. “

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai captain, does not think the past has anything to do with his team’s performance in this year’s IPL, although they had lost each of their five games in the UAE in 2014, the last time the tournament was held. played in the field.

“We didn’t have a great experience last time, yes, but now it’s a different team,” Rohit said at the pre-tournament press conference on Thursday. “The thought process is different. Six years is a long time. Like I said, it’s about understanding pitches and conditions, that’s crucial, so we’re putting a lot of emphasis on that.

“Over time, the fields will play an important role, so understanding and adapting quickly is important. But yes, the past will play no role – it was just me, Kieron Pollard and Jasprit Bumrah from that team. I think Bumrah played alone. one game. So the team is different, the staff is different [and] the thought process is different. We look forward to a great IPL. “

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