CSK head coch Stephen Fleming reflects positives from disappointing season

Four-time champions Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2022 campaign ended with another defeat in their last league game. This season went almost like a nightmare for Dhoni & Co, who won only four of their 14 league-stage games. On Friday, against Rajasthan, it was only Moeen Ali (93) who scored most for Chennai in the first innings amidst their batting collapse.

CSK scored a total of 150 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs which was chased by Rajasthan with two balls left, thanks to an amazing all-round show from Ravi Ashwin. After a disappointing season for CSK, head coach Stephen Fleming figured out some positives for the team found from this season. He named Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh as the findings on those Chennai can see their future.

Its a normal story of a season where you don’t qualify: Stephen Fleming

During the post-match press conference after a five-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals, CSK head coach Fleming, narrating Choudhary and Simarjeet’s performances, said : “I think he (Mukesh Choudhary) was excellent. He had a nervous start, but we stuck with him and we reaped the rewards towards the end.  He just got better with every passing day.  Simarjeet, he got a handful of games too, is also responding to the pressure. So, those two boys definitely were a positive.”

Appearing in 13 matches out of total of 14 games, Choudhary registered 16 wickets against his name with an average and economy of 26.50 and 9.31 respectively. His best bowling performance in a match are four wickets he scalped conceding 46 runs. On the Contrary, Simarjeet Singh has appeared in six matches for his team, he scalped four wickets with an average of 34.50 and an economy rate of 7.66.

Head coach Fleming termed this season as a mixed one considering some of the games close for the CSK to win but they couldn’t click on the time. Talking about Chennai’s early elimination, Fleming opined: “But we were not good enough to get across the line and that is the normal story of the season where you do not qualify.”