Chennai Super Kings lead trainer Stephen Fleming on Thursday indicated that there may be changes in the CSK playing XI for their next IPL 2020 match against Delhi Capitals. What comes as a major alleviation for CSK, is that West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is gradually recapturing his wellness and Fleming said he may be considered for determination on Friday.
Bravo, who passed on the initial two matches because of injury, Fleming said could come into thought for determination in the following game.
“Bravo is progressing very well, and if he has a couple of good days of training, he could come into selection consideration for the next game. That would be a good headache for us to have as we’re looking to introduce players and also get our best combination for the rest of the tournament,” he said.
“You don’t necessarily pick your final-winning side in the first two or three games, but as soon as you can settle and get some cohesion into the team you are better off for, and that’s what we are working towards now, giving new players opportunity and then settle.”
With CSK pursuing a gigantic 217-run against Rajasthan Royals, CSK could just oversee 200 for six.
CSK paceman Lungi Ngidi was dismantled in the last over against RR with Jofra Archer crushing him for four sixes and Fleming said it would unquestionably influence his certainty.
It will certainly hit Lungi’s confidence hard, and the key thing for us is just for him to get better and analyze what he didn’t quite get right and make sure that the next time he’s in that opportunity he is better than what he was the last time,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter whether he goes for 30 or five or 10. Trying to get better all the time is what’s important. We’ve one of the best death bowlers in the game in our squad and already Dwayne Bravo has been alongside him. We’ll use the experience in the team to make sure he is okay and looks forward to the next opportunity he gets.”
Ambati Rayudu, who played a blazing 71-run knock in the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians, missed the match against RR due to an injury.
“Rayudu is our in-form player and to lose him at that time (against RR) was disappointing. Hopefully, it’s only a couple of games,” Fleming said.
“We’ve got a six-day break after this (Friday’s match against DC), and we are hoping that he’ll be back for the game on October 2 (against Sunrisers Hyderabad).” On West Indies all-rounder Dwayne
Asked if teams preferred to chase due to the dew, the former New Zealand skipper said: “Both games that we’ve played so far have been the first games of the tournament, in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and to get a feel of the conditions we thought bowling first was the best way to go.
“It does seem to be a trend, but bowling first is a bit of an advantage with the dew (setting in later),” he said.
Fleming said “one of the biggest challenges is to find the right combinations” as “we’ve got a number of players who haven’t played for 12 months.” “We are working hard on a number of fronts, one is to get the right team for the conditions which we’ve been unsure about, and also to get the guys up to speed with their playing form,” he said.
“You can do as much practice and training as you like, but it doesn’t completely replicate what happens in the middle. So, it was always going to be an interesting start for us. I think we’ll take one from one with a lot of areas to improve.”