CSK vs LSG: "He Is A Valuable Player To Have On The Field" - Stephen Fleming On MS Dhoni's Fitness

Stephen Fleming, the head coach of Chennai Super Kings, has complimented MS Dhoni as a valuable player to have on the field despite questions about his fitness. Dhoni, who announced his retirement from international cricket, has faced criticism for his fitness level and form.

Fleming thinks that Dhoni’s leadership abilities and experience make him an essential team member. Dhoni has previously captained the Chennai Super Kings to four IPL championships, and many have praised his captaincy style.

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Also Read: CSK vs LSG: MS Dhoni Becomes The First CSK Batter To Hit 200 Sixes In The IPL History

Fleming said that although Dhoni has been dealing with a sore knee, there have been no discussions inside the CSK camp about resting him. Media reports said that Dhoni would sit out of the GT vs. CSK game at the Narendra Modi Stadium because of a knee ailment. However, the 41-year-old captained the group in Friday’s match, in which Chennai lost by a score of five wickets.

The CSK skipper experienced cramping during keeping but received medical attention and kept using the gloves the entire game. At the press conference following the game, Stephen Fleming mentioned Dhoni as follows:

“He was always playing, not sure where that story came from. He was nursing a sore knee throughout the month of pre-season, but today it was just cramped; it wasn’t the knee. He’s not going to be as quick and nimble as he was 15 years ago, but he is still a great leader of the side, and, even with the bat, he is still going to play a part. He knows his limitations, and he is a valuable player to have on the field. He is a legend, isn’t he?” Stephen Fleming said.

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On Friday, Dhoni played for the first time since the end of the IPL season the previous year. The 41-year-old was still in the game against Gujarat Titans on Friday in Ahmedabad during CSK’s IPL 2023 opening game with 14 runs from seven balls.

Also Read: DC vs GT: “We Did Put Ourselves In A Difficult Situation” – Gujarat Titans Captain Hardik Pandya

“We will continue working with him” – Stephen Fleming

Hangargekar’s performance was lauded by Chennai coach Stephen Stephen Fleming, who recognized the youngster’s talent and potential. The youthful fast bowler’s performance surely enhances the hopes of Chennai Super Kings fans for the future.

“There have been some big improvements. His first-class work has been a lot more consistent. There are areas he still needs to work on till you are comfortable. Playing in front of 100 thousand people on your debut is a big ask. He did well. There were some lapses, which is going to come with a young player. But getting some rewards and getting some wickets under his belt is huge for him. We will continue working with him,” Stephen Fleming said.

Rajvardhan Hangargekar, a young bowler, stood out with outstanding 3-36 stats on his debut for Chennai Super Kings despite their failure to secure a total of 178. Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudharsan, and Vijay Shankar were all dismissed by the 20-year-old.

Also Read: CSK vs LSG: “We Could Have Done More With The Bat” – MS Dhoni Slams Chennai Super Kings’ Batters After Loss In IPL 2023 Opener

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