Coach Fleming wants batters to play with intent
CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said that the team is working out its best opening pair, adding that the first phase of the IPL provides an opportunity to experiment.
In the season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru here, Rachin Ravindra and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad operated a t the top of the order, with the former taking the match away from the visitors with a quickfire 37. Besides Ravindra and Ruturaj, Ajinkya Rahane, who has shone for CSK in the middle-order, is a contender for the opening slots.
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"Rachin was nice and positive the other day. It could be Ruturaj or another opening combination tomorrow. We are still early on in the tournament playing with the combinations. But we want the players to be positive. If both (openers) are going at the same time, it will be great," said Fleming ahead of the clash against Gujarat Titans.
Fleming emphasized that he wants the batters to play positively and that even cameos could massively help the team's cause. In the chase against Royal Challengers, five of the six batters who took the field played with a 120-plus strike-rate, with the individual highest score being only 37.
"You do not get to the target with one big score always, so it is a positive that everybody is contributing. It is always easy when a player scores 75-plus, but it does not always happen. The players are training well and the intent they have got is encouraging," Fleming said.
"It is more about the intent, which probably helps. The 'Impact Player' rule helps teams get extra batting. We have a longer batting line-up with the extra player. But the way in which you do (bat) is important. The method in which our players played the other night was encouraging. With pressure, they took the game on, which is good," Fleming added.
Fleming also said that allrounder Ravindra could roll his arm over if the situation demands. "At times (he could be used for bowling). The conditions are pretty good at the moment, but his bowling is an asset for the team as well."
