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Key Points

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming admits their unexpected poor season has been a shock to the team. He defends their strategy of relying on experienced players despite the disappointing results. The team's attempts to revive careers of former stars like Ashwin and Tripathi backfired this season. Fleming emphasizes the need to blend experience with young talent while maintaining their core philosophy.

Key Points: CSK Coach Fleming Says Poor IPL Season Has Shaken the Team

  • Fleming defends CSK's reliance on experienced players despite poor season
  • Team failed to qualify for playoffs after 12 successful years
  • CSK tried reviving careers of Ashwin, Tripathi, Hooda
  • Fleming stresses balancing experience with young talent
3 min read

To have a poor year has sort of shaken everybody...: CSK head coach Fleming

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming admits their poor IPL performance has rattled the team but defends their reliance on experienced players.

"To have a poor year has sort of shaken everybody, but it's understandable given the excellence franchises operate in. – Stephen Fleming"

New Delhi, May 19

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has emphasised the value of experience and said that the team not working well has shaken everybody and they are working to find winning form again.

Chennai, a team that boasts five title wins and 12 playoff appearances, crashed out of the playoff race in the group stage. They built their core group around experienced players who could help them navigate through the ups and downs in the cash-rich league.

"No, I don't care how old players are. I do like experience, though, experience has served us really well over the proud years that we've had. It hasn't worked out quite well for us this year, and that could be a bit of form. It can be strategy, it can be a number of things, that just don't quite work out," Fleming said on the eve of CSK's game against Rajasthan Royals in Delhi, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"The competition is very even, so the fact that we've been so consistent over a number of years, to have a poor year has sort of shaken everybody, but it's understandable given that the excellence in which the franchises are operating in," he added.

Chennai brought back their former frontline spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a proven match winner, who failed to live up to expectations. By acquiring Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar, Chennai tried to revive their careers like they did with Shivam Dube and Ajinkya Rahane, but it backfired. The collective failure of their experienced stars led to their downfall, but it hasn't pushed CSK to the verge of rethinking their tactical game.

"The challenge for us is making sure out of this that we do go over everything that we are doing [now] and have done in the past to make sure we are keeping up with the philosophies [of the time], but also identifying talent," Fleming said.

"It's one thing to say we want a team full of young players, but you've got to find them. So it's identifying talent and making sure they fit in. To the experience which I'll say again, I do like [it] and you have a look at the, the top run-scores and wicket-takers and you see there's a fair bit of experience there, but what it's sprinkled with is some amazing performances by young players who are playing sort of fearless cricket," he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rahul K.
As a die-hard CSK fan, this season was painful to watch 😔 But Fleming is right - one bad season doesn't define this legendary team. We need to trust the process and come back stronger next year. #WhistlePodu
P
Priya M.
Maybe it's time CSK rethinks their strategy of relying too much on experienced players. Other teams are investing in young talent and getting great results. Experience is good but needs to be balanced with fresh energy.
A
Arjun S.
The real problem was the bowling attack - no proper death bowler and spinners not performing. CSK needs to go all out for good Indian pacers in next auction. Still love the team though! 💛
S
Sneha R.
Fleming's honesty is refreshing. Unlike other coaches who make excuses, he's admitting they got it wrong. That's why CSK is special - they take responsibility and will bounce back stronger!
V
Vikram J.
People forget CSK was missing Dhoni's captaincy for most matches. No team can replace that leadership easily. Next season with proper planning and maybe a new captain, they'll be back in top 4.
N
Neha P.
The problem isn't just age - it's that other teams have better scouting. CSK needs to find hidden gems like they did with Ruturaj earlier. Too many 'proven' players underperformed this season.

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