Have huge respect for what Gujarat Titans have done, but it is very hard to win consecutive IPL titles: CSK coach Stephen Fleming

Ahead of the crucial IPL Final, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has opined that defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) will find it challenging to win a second title on the trot. Notably, the two franchises will lock horns for one final time in the summit clash on Sunday, May 28, at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Gujarat could potentially become the third team to win consecutive titles, after CSK (2010, 2011) and MI (2019, 2020). However, CSK coach Fleming believes that winning trophies in back-to-back editions will prove to be quite tricky for the newly-formed franchise. He further lavished praise on GT coach Ashish Nehra and the management for the way they have gone about things in their campaign at such short span of time. 

“So hard! It is impossible, it is going to be so hard for them (GT) to do it (laughs). No, they are a good side; you got to say ‘really well done’ to what they have put together in a short space of time. I like the coaching staff a lot, they are really balanced guys,” Fleming told in the pre-match conference.

“Ashish (Nehra), for all his talking, has got a really good grasp of the game, his enthusiasm is really high after working with him in Chennai. We have a huge amount of respect for what they have done but it is very hard to go back-to-back,” he added.

The yellow brigade comprehensively triumphed over the defending champions in Qualifier 1 and in doing so, became the first team to obtain a berth in the summit clash. However, Hardik Pandya and Co. bounced back with a resounding 62-run win against Mumbai Indians in the Qualifier 2, with jaw-dropping performances by Shubman Gill (129 off 60) and Mohit Sharma (5/10 in 2.2 overs). 

Gujarat will seek redemption in the final and look to add a second title in their cabinet. On the other hand, MS Dhoni-led CSK will be keen for a record-extending fifth title.