IPL 2018: 'It is MS Dhoni Who Handles Me,' says CSK Coach Stephen Fleming
Published - 28 May 2018, 02:28 AM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:51 PM
During the highly anticipated auctions of Indian Premier League (IPL) this year, the most exciting event was how Chennai Super Kings (CSK), on their comeback trail, resume their campaign by retaining their successful core group.
As it turned out, their selection strategy, headed by coach, Stephen Fleming, was mocked at, looking at the number of players featuring over the age of 30.
In a game which demands agility of youth, CSK came up with a team which housed as many as nine prime players above 30.
It’s the professionalism that we looked at, not age: Fleming
Interestingly, Fleming’s strategy turned out to be a masterstroke, as the likes of Watson, Ambati Rayudu, and Harbhajan Singh were integral components of CSK’s title-winning campaign this year.
Fleming, who has been one of the founding members of Chennai’s franchise, as a player and then as a coach, claimed it is the professionalism which matters the most and not the age.
It is now Fleming’s third successful campaign with the men in yellow, but the Kiwi stated each win has been different.
“Each year has been different for us. We stayed pretty consistent with the core of our team when others kept chopping and changing. It’s one thing that players are older, but it’s the professionalism that we got to look into as well,” Stephen Fleming quoted during the post-match presentation.
On being asked about what it takes to handle someone like MS Dhoni, Fleming wittingly replied it is MSD who handles him and not vice-versa.
Also Read: IPL 2018: Michael Vaughan Lauds Chennai Super Kings for Winning IPL Season 11.
“MS Dhoni handles me (smiles). It’s about man-management. When he goes on the field, he can do the things. There’s a lot of trusts as well, and it’s a nice relationship to have with him,” concluded Stephen Fleming.
