IPL 2019: Yo-Yo test was never part of CSK’s fitness regime, says coach Stephen Fleming

It’s another two days before defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will kick off their campaign for the 2019 season against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at home. The Kings returned to the competition last year after serving two years of suspension owing to a spot-fixing scandal and lifted the trophy straight away. It was their third IPL title and one won after a gap of seven years.

Ahead of the new season, CSK coach Stephen Fleming said that the much-discussed yo-yo test was never a part of the lions’ fitness regime and also conceded the absence of World Cup probable bowlers in the squad makes it lighter for the side when it comes to workload management. The schedule of the WC soon after the IPL has left the managements of a number of international teams, including India, wary of their WC probables’ workload during the IPL as injury to key players is something they do not want.

The CSK’s move of picking not many current players had raised eyebrows and it looked outdated to many. But eventually, the team triumphed in the tournament last year, proving that it was the winning mindset that mattered more than anything else. On the question of fitness, Fleming said the Super Kings, captained by MS Dhoni, follow other ways to keep the players in shape.

‘CSK have other ways to keep the players in shape’

“It’s never been part of CSK’s fitness programme. We have enough ways to keep the guys up to speed and the way we wanted them to play. We can only speak from CSK’s perspective. There are certain expectations of fitness which will be met. We have world-class physio and trainer with us. We don’t spend time policing them because we have other things prioritised,” SportsCafe cited reports as quoting the former New Zealand captain.

Fleming, who recently quit the coaching responsibility of Big Bash League team Melbourne Stars, said the CSK have just two months to ensure that their players are fit – mentally and physically.

“The expectation was the players would do their work so that they can meet the standard set by the Indian team. However, I expect the players to do their work so that they can meet the standard set by the Indian team. And I don’t want CSK players to be labelled as underperformers in fitness,” the 45-year-old said.

The CSK have only two Indian players who are definite for the World Cup squad – captain MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav – while the likes of Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja are still not certain. The absence of probable bowlers for the WC has made it easier for the CSK management to handle the workload management issues.

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