With just one win needed from the remaining four matches, there is no stopping from CSK to reach the playoffs. They might even qualify in the next match when they face Rajasthan Royals.
Cricket News: CSK will not be complacent, says coach Fleming
At this juncture many teams feel that they have done enough and stops their pursuit for achieving higher aim. But CSK Stephen Fleming have confirmed that this will not be the case with his team.
In a pre-match conference, Fleming said, “The teams (like Rajasthan Royals) which are in a situation where they have to win each game can be dangerous. We would be playing with full intensity. We know we are a couple of games ahead but we don’t want to be in a situation where we need to scrape through in last games. We will not be complacent.”
Fleming’s team is currently in the second place with 14 points from 10 games and does not need any improvements. Still they want to get better each game and try to find the right rhythm.
Regarding the pitch in Sawai Mansingh Stadium, which has been slow and low, Fleming commented, “In the last couple of matches, this wicket had slow, low and variable pace. We have an-all round talent in our side suited to all type of conditions. We need to have the right combination to counter conditions.”
Talking about the opposition skipper Ajinkya Rahane, CSK coach said, “He is a fine player and is doing a nice job of captaining Rajasthan Royals. We would like to get him early because he can be a big influence for their innings.
“If he plays well there can be more freedom for the likes of Jos Butler and Stokes. He can be more attacking than what he looks like. It is always nice to have the captain early.”
According to Rajasthan Royals’ leg spinner Ish Sodhi, it is a do or die situation for them. “We have got into a do or die situation in every game but with four matches to go we have to take it game by game. Tomorrow we have a tough match against CSK. In the last game against Kings XI, we had some momentum going, we need to keep same momentum going,” said Sodhi.
Sodhi recalls the mayhem caused by CSK’s Shane Watson in the previous leg match and believes that the conditions are in their favour this time.
“The pitch can be different and bowling has been a trouble for us. We need to fire in tandem. The batsmen and the bowlers need to fire together,” said the New Zealander who was born in India.
Sodhi also thanked team mentor Shane Warne for making him more aggressive. “He (Warne) is the best leg-spinner to play the game. In T20, bowlers are trying to stop runs only but Warne is aggressive and he wants best out of me. He wants me to not only stop runs but to also get wickets,” concluded Sodhi.