IPL 2021: CSK head coach Stephen Fleming downplays concerns over form of Suresh Raina

CSK
became
the
first
team
to
qualify
for
the
play-off
stages
of
IPL
2021
following
their
ninth
win
of
the
campaign,
but
the
form
of
experienced
Raina
has
dipped
ever
since
his
fifty
in
the
tournament
opener
back
in
April.

Since
his
knock
of
36
balls
54,
Raina
has
added
103
more
runs
in
9
innings,
but
an
unconcerned
Fleming
said
he
expects
the
southpaw
to
improve
his
performance
as
the
tournament
progresses.

“We
have
a
pretty
clear
role
for
him.
He
has
got
an
optimal
time.
We
want
him
to
bat
and
we’ve
afforded
the
luxury
of
a
player
coming
out
and
being
aggressive.
So,
just
getting
the
timing
right
without
managing
the
batters,”
Fleming
said
at
the
virtual
post-match
conference.

“We
value
his
experience
and
everything
has
got
a
part
to
play
in
the
middle.
Suresh
is
an
experienced
player
who
has
earned
a
bit
of
a
leeway
and
as
the
tournament
goes
on,
his
performance
will
improve.”

IPL
2021,
SRH
vs
CSK:
Full
List
of
Award
Winners,
Man
of
The
Match,
Post
Match
Presentation
Highlights

CSK
produced
a
convincing
performance
against
Sunrisers
Hyderabad
to
maintain
their
remarkable
consistency
this
season
and
sailed
into
the
play-offs
on
Thursday
with
a
six-wicket
win
at
the
Sharjah
Cricket
Stadium.

Despite
registering
four
wins
on
the
trot,
Fleming
said
he
is
not
on
big
on
momentum,
which
he
believes
can
go
quickly
as
it
comes
and
with
the
play-off
berth
sealed,
the
coach
said
CSK
have
a
chance
to
manage
workload
of
players.

“I
am
not
big
on
momentum.
Momentum
can
go
as
quick
as
you
have
it.
We
don’t
really
talk
about
that.
What
we
have
probably
been
afforded
is
that
we
can
manage
workloads
of
players
a
bit
better,”
Fleming
said.

“We
have
got
a
day
and
travel
to
Abu
Dhabi
and
a
day
and
then
a
game.
The
opportunities
for
guys
who
are
on
the
fringe…
we
have
afforded
that
luxury
now.
But
we
won’t
be
too
experimental,”
he
added.

The
three-time
IPL
champions,
who
had
a
season
to
forget
in
2020,
have
18
points
on
the
back
of
nine
wins
from
11
matches
and
are
the
first
team
to
secure
a
spot
in
the
playoffs.

And
Fleming
said
they
finished
well
after
a
poor
start
last
season
and
took
confidence
out
of
it
to
emerge
stronger
in
this
campaign.

IPL
2021:
Bravo
back
to
his
best,
bowling
at
death
outstanding,
says
CSK
coach
Fleming

“I
think
I
mentioned
it
at
that
time.
We
were
really
proud
of
the
way
we
finished.
The
way
we
won
the
last
four
games
in
a
row
and
started
to
get
a
little
bit
of
rhythm
together.
In
the
first
half
of
the
tournament,
a
number
of
things
went
wrong,”
Fleming
said.

“Our
form
and
confidence
were
really
low
but
the
way
we
finished
was
really
encouraging
and
gave
us
the
look
of
what
we
could
be.”

“We
sat
down
and
analysed
to
get
competitive
and
took
confidence
out
of
it
and
knew
it
was
just
a
couple
of
positions
that
might
make
a
better
balanced
side.

“In
fact
though
it
was
a
bad
year,
we
were
only
a
win
away
from
a
semifinal.
Just
about
trying
to
create
a
balanced
side
that
would
suit
us.
It
was
just
about
creating
an
environment
that
was
positive
and
making
sure
there
was
no
doubt,”
he
concluded.

CSK
will
look
carry
on
the
winning
momentum
when
they
next
take
on
Rajasthan
Royals
at
the
Sheikh
Zayed
Stadium
in
Abu
Dhabi
on
Saturday
(October
2).