Chennai, Oct 1 (IANS) Coach Stephen Fleming sent out strong signals that his team, the Chennai Super Kings, will be shifting gears in a bid to retain the Champions League T20 crown as they prepare to take on Trinidad and Tobago in a must-win Group A game here Sunday.
‘We ran Mumbai close in the first game, we won the second. We are in good shape with crucial contributions from a couple of guys in key times. We are not far from playing well,’ said Fleming at a Media conference here Saturday.
‘Our campaigns usually get better with each game that goes on. We have to win the last two games to go through, the guys are aware of that, they are working hard in training.’
‘In Twenty20, you get important contributions from a couple of guys each game. You don’t really get an even contribution. It is just the case of when the opportunity comes up and the players are good enough to take it,’ Fleming added.
Despite persistent questioning on his team’s probable line-up and game-plan, Fleming preferred to keep things close to his chest, especially regarding skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting up the order.
‘We try and maximise his potential. We don’t want him caught up in two or three roles. His main role is to come in the later part of the innings. He is such a great finisher of the game and keeps it very simple. There are some good heads in the side to lay the foundation for the innings,’ he said.
Regarding playing all matches at home and thus enjoying advantage that could be unfair when compared to other sides, Fleming said the pitch neutralised this factor.
‘It is not an unfair advantage, but we have an advantage. The crowd is very important, we enjoy playing here. We play a certain style, but here, we batted first (in the first match), bowled first (second match). So we are still trying to figure out what is a good score on this pitch.’
‘We are watching matches to see how much it turns. So, in terms of the pitch, the advantage is negated. But we are comfortable playing in Chepauk, we enjoy the home support.’
‘It is a new surface. If it had been last year’s pitch, we would have been a lot more confident. We are still working out how best to approach it,’ Fleming said.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago plan to go especially hard at compatriot Dwayne Bravo who will be turning out for the Super Kings Sunday, as they had against Kieron Pollard who represented Mumbai Indians.
‘Yeah. Definitely because Pollard and Bravo are very good players. Dwayne was the important player for Chennai the other night (against Cobras). There will be aggression not just for Dwayne, but every player who steps out. But there will be a bit more for Dwayne, as he is our home boy,’ said T and T spinner Jason Mohammed.
