Mitch wants to shine in blue and gold

I will start by saying that it feels amazing to be back here in India and be involved in the IPL again after a gap of two years, albeit in a different capacity. Even from behind the microphone this tournament looks pretty awesome.I played my last IPL game in 2011 for the Chennai Super Kings and in some way I still feel pretty close to the franchise.

In the last two years I have been pretty unequivocal in my support for CSK despite being far away from the action. They treated me very well and that stays with you even after you stop playing for a team. Also, I had good relationships with the guys at CSK and most of them are still there.

It is only natural that I talk about CSK because it is a team I have been part of and I know a thing or two about how they operate. For me MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming are the two sturdy pillars upon which the team rests so comfortably. They are both very different leaders but also similar in some ways.

The similarity is their calmness and intelligence. They understand and read the game very well and have the answers when the team is in trouble.Because CSK’s leaders are such level-headed individuals, the emotional level and the calmness in the team stays pretty even throughout the campaign.

You look at other teams, when they lose a few games, they implode a bit and their coaches are critical. When they win they can get over-confident. That doesn’t happen at CSK.

What MS and Fleming understand well is that sometimes when you lose, the best thing is to say nothing. And when you win, it is the best time to get a difficult message across.Yes, Stephen Fleming will give you a kick in the backside if he needs to but he doesn’t have to do that very often with this team.

If there is a really bad performance, you will get it from one of them. I understand that happened after their loss to Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad this season, and it surely brought them back on track in Bengaluru.The two are also very different in many regards.

They are very different leaders. MS is not too interested in team meetings and talking a lot about the opposition. He believes in going out there and putting in the performances.

Fleming is more like, ‘Okay, let’s prepare well. Let’s get to know more about the opposition’. I think that mixes really well.

They both feed off each other and make a really powerful combination.Talking of Fleming takes me to another New Zealand cricketer who has embarked on his coaching career through the IPL – Daniel Vettori. I played under both of them when they led New Zealand and I thought it would be a natural transition for them into coaching because they lead well.

I have seen the kind of respect Fleming commands in that CSK dressing room and I am sure it is the same with Dan at RCB. He has always played the game in the right way and leads by example.It is also very heartening to see more New Zealand cricketers getting an opportunity to play in the IPL.

I think it is a reward for the way the national team has played over the last year or two.New Zealand is not traditionally a cricket powerhouse and it takes a lot for the cricketers from our country to be noticed by the IPL franchises. Players from Australia get picked up on the basis of their Big Bash performances.

If you’re a Kiwi you have to do well internationally before they pick you up. I am glad the guys are finally getting their recognition..

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