IPL 2021: As The Tournament Goes On, Suresh Raina's Performance Will Improve: Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming backed senior batsman Suresh Raina who is having a tough time with the bat.

Raina, who missed IPL 2020 due to personal reasons, is playing competitive cricket after almost one year as he also took retirement from international cricket along with MS Dhoni in August 2020.

Suresh Raina is an experienced player who has earned a bit of a leeway: Stephen Fleming

Raina has scored 157 runs from 11 matches at an average of 19.62 in IPL 2021 so far and in his last innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad he could score only two runs before getting trapped before the wicket by Jason Holder.

When Fleming was asked about Raina’s form, the CSK head coach said that with the tournament going ahead his performance will improve and they are giving him optimal time to get in the groove.

“We have a pretty clear role for him. He has got an optimal time. We want him to bat and we’ve afforded the luxury of a player coming out and being aggressive. So, just getting the timing right without managing the batters,” Fleming said at the virtual post-match conference.

“We value his experience and everything has got a part to play in the middle. Suresh is an experienced player who has earned a bit of a leeway and as the tournament goes on, his performance will improve,” he added. 

We won’t be too experimental: Stephen Fleming

Fleming said that he won’t be experimenting much with his players even though they have qualified for the playoffs and still have three more league matches left.

“I am not big on momentum. Momentum can go as quick as you have it. We don’t really talk about that. What we have probably been afforded is that we can manage workloads of players a bit better,” Fleming said.

“We have got a day and travel to Abu Dhabi and a day and then a game. The opportunities for guys who are on the fringe… we have afforded that luxury now. But we won’t be too experimental,” he added. 

CSK will next play Rajasthan Royals on October 2 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Watch – Robin Uthappa Carries Bats Of MS Dhoni And Suresh Raina After CSK’s Win Vs RCB