NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming is quite clear about the upcoming IPL season as he wants his players to play really well after last year's debacle in the cash-rich league.
CSK finished ninth in the 10-team tournament in 2022 after clinching the title in 2021.
Fleming is quite optimistic about this year's edition as it is set to be played on home-and-away basis after being held inside 'bio-bubbles' for two years but the former New Zealand skipper said players will have to adjust quickly to new ground conditions if they are to do well this season.
"We have to really play well, and we have to re-teach the team how to play (this season). We've had three or four years almost where we've been away, so our style of play has changed," Fleming was quoted as saying in CSK website on Monday.
"So, we quickly have to get back into sync with the ground and make sure that the style of play we play represents what the ground's asking. And, we'll do that and we need to do it quickly. So, we'll work very hard on that."
Fleming added that with IPL action finally set to return to CSK's fortress Chepauk, his team will do its best to maximise the advantages on home turf.
CSK will be bolstered by the addition of England Test skipper Ben Stokes, who was bought by the team for Rs 16.25 crore in the IPL auction at Kochi recently.
"Well, it's a great time because we turned our home ground into almost a fortress, it was really hard for teams to come and play us and we worked hard. It didn't happen by accident. We really developed a team that could specialise here. So, we're really proud of what we achieved here," said Fleming.
"So, this had to be a strong home base for us. And it was, and what we gave and the results we got, we got back ten-fold from the crowd. And as our support grew and our success grew, it just became an absolute juggernaut of a place to come and compete in. And I know the players loved driving here, turning up to play, and I'm pretty sure as opposition it felt pretty daunting."
(With inputs from PTI)
