‘We are managing Dhoni’s workload’: Fleming

CSK’s MS Dhoni against KKR last month. Pic/AFP

MS Dhoni coming late in the batting order has prompted former players as well as armchair critics to raise questions about his fitness. However, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming has assured that the CSK Thala is fine and continues to have an enormous influence on the team.

"Don't underestimate his influence on the team just because he comes in at No. 9," Fleming said during an interaction with the media ahead of Friday's crucial tie against Gujarat Titans.

"Put the nation at ease… he's okay," the CSK coach quipped.

Not only the team, but Dhoni's influence is also felt across the nation, and going by the ticket and T-shirt sales, it is obvious that the Narendra Modi Stadium will be full of fans wearing the yellow No. 7 jersey.

‘Don't worry about position'

Elaborating on Dhoni's role so far this season, Fleming said that they are avoiding the risk of losing Dhoni while maximising his values. On Dhoni batting at No. 9, the Kiwi said: "Yeah, don't worry about position. It's the time of the game that we're looking at. We've said earlier that when he recovered from knee surgery last year, which was quite debilitating for him, there was going to be a certain workload this year that he could manage," he explained.

Stephen Fleming. Pic/PTI

"We want to keep MS Dhoni on the field, doing what he does best, which is the last two, three and four overs with the bat. His keeping and ability to share tactical advice with the new captain [Ruturaj Gaikwad] is really important," Fleming remarked.

"If he does bat too long, we run the risk of losing him. So, we're trying to find that balance where he can have an impact on the match by just hitting sixes and fours, which he's done pretty well and keep as well as some of the best in the competition, if not the best in the competition," Fleming added.

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CSK are without three new ball bowlers - Deepak Chahar (injured), Matheesha Pathirana (injured), and Mustafizur Rahman (joined the Bangladesh team) - in Friday's match against the Gujarat Titans, but Fleming put up a brave front, claiming that they have sufficient resources to cover for their absence.

‘We are missing Shami'

The Titans also have similar worries, with their new ball bowlers struggling and spinners not as effective as in the previous two successful seasons. The Ahmedabad-based team are also missing the Purple Cap holder of last season, Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out due to an injury.

"Shami is missed… can't replace a world-class bowler like him," Titans's batting coach and mentor Gary Kirsten said in reply to a question from mid-day. He also said that bowlers from all teams in the tournament have suffered this season. "I am a cricket purist, I like an even contest between bat and ball. There needs to be an even contest," Kirsten said in a disappointing tone about the one-sided games this season. As expected, a full house at the 1,32,000-capacity stadium will hope to see Thala whack sixes in his brief batting appearance in the death overs.