Stephen Fleming Defends Kedar Jadhav, Explains His Role In The Side

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has defended the team-management’s decision to send Kedar Jadhav ahead of MS Dhoni during the loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday.

The three-time IPL champions lost the game by seven runs to suffer their third consecutive defeat in IPL 2020. With just one win from four games, the Chennai-based outfit are now languishing at the last spot in the eight-team competition. Their batting department failed to deliver again as the MS Dhoni-led side could not chase down 164.

The team-management’s decision to send Jadhav at number four has invited criticism. However, Stephen Fleming defended the call and stated that the right-handed batsman is the designated No.4 for the side.

“He is our number four, Dhoni primarily is a middle to backend player. Kedar Jadhav is our number four, he plays a dual role, if we get off to a good start he might move down and let Dhoni up. If you lose early wickets then your number four batsman goes in,” said Stephen Fleming during the post-match press conference.

CSK were reeling at 26/2 when Jadhav came out to bat. But he failed to deliver and was dismissed for a 10-ball 3. CSK soon found themselves at 42 for 4 before Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja got together to form a 72-run partnership. Jadeja went on to score his first IPL half-century, and Dhoni remained unbeaten on 47 as CSK finished on 157 for 5.

“Jadeja’s innings was good, we were in trouble so it meant Dhoni and Jadeja had to take their time. They got us pretty close and Dhoni’s momentum was pretty encouraging,” Stephen Fleming said of Jadeja’s knock.

CSK will be in action next on Sunday when they take on Kings XI Punjab who are struggling too. While KXIP batsmen have done well in the tournament so far, the team has failed to cross the finishing line in three of its first four games.

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