It is difficult to win without MS Dhoni, says CSK coach Stephen Fleming

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) without MS Dhoni is almost like the sky sans the sun. The defending champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) played their first match without their quintessential leader against Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this week only to be humbled by 6 wickets. Dhoni missed the match because of a back spasm. However, he did not show any signs of discomfort while facing the spinners at the practice session for the CSK in Bengaluru where the yellow jerseys will take on RCB on Sunday.

Dhoni is the highest scorer for the CSK this year with 230 runs from six innings at an average of over 76 and strike-rate of close to 130. With the CSK sitting comfortably at the top of the table with 14 points in nine games and with the ICC World Cup not too far, Dhoni perhaps did the right thing to take a break.

The fans welcomed him with a cheer as he entered the ground for the CSK’s training on Saturday, albeit late which gave birth to speculation whether he would come at all.

Not having Dhoni means a ‘hole to fill’ for CSK

CSK coach Stephen Fleming was of the opinion that it is indeed difficult to win games without MS Dhoni at the helm. “He is a great player. Whenever a great player isn’t in your side, it means there is a hole to fill, and he has been in great form. So it does have an impact on your side, as well as the captaincy,” Fleming was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

“You get used to a certain style of play and when you lose arguably your best player and your captain, you have to make adjustments but it doesn’t mean that we are not competitive.” Last year, Dhoni played a key role in the match against the same opponents in Bengaluru by slamming 70* off 34 balls as the CSK chased down a target in excess of 200.

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