As the dust settled after a thrilling last-over finish, in which the Rajasthan Royals held its nerve to defeat the Chennai Super Kings by six runs in Guwahati, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming analysed where his side lost the game.
“It’s probably the two PowerPlays that made the difference. Our bowling in the PowerPlay went for nearly 80 runs, and when we batted, we could only manage around the early 40s. That’s reflected on the scoreboard and was the key difference. Also, we were sloppy in the field compared to Rajasthan, which was outstanding. Those would be the two immediate takeaways,” Fleming said.
“This is a new group; it’s different from the past. We are still learning about the team combinations and getting to know the players—what they can and can’t do. The start of a three-year cycle is always a bit difficult, especially when you’re slightly out of form. We’re pushing hard to find that form, but we’re making mistakes along the way. We’re not far off, though; you can see the potential. Still, there’s work to do, but we’re not far away, no doubt about it,” he added.
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Reflecting on a couple of key moments that changed the course of the match, Fleming said, “I think Riyan Parag’s catch was the turning point. The Dube match-up was going our way, but Hasaranga had the courage to toss it up. You can’t deny that. He certainly gave the ball air. On another day, the result might have been different.”
“Even Gaikwad’s wicket was very clever. He (Hasaranga) held his nerve and he had a good day,” he added.
With little time between games, the CSK will now look for redemption at home in its next fixture against the Delhi Capitals and aim to get its campaign back on track.