Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has thrown his support behind struggling skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has has not been able to to find rhythm in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League.
Gaikwad has managed just 63 runs from five innings so far, registering the lowest aggregate, average (12.60), and strike rate (105) among openers who have batted at least three times this season. Despite the underwhelming numbers, Fleming remained confident in his captain’s ability to bounce back.
“He’s going fine. He hasn’t had the returns that he would like, and he’s working hard on that. But that can be the nature of T20. He’s training well, he’s hitting the ball well, he has a positive mindset, he just hasn’t got away yet,” Fleming was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
The CSK coach further stated that in a competition like IPL, every player is bound to face some kind of lean patch as it is hard to maintain consistency.
“But we’ve seen over the years that he’s a quality player. And if we can cover for him for a few games and he comes into form, then that’s the way an IPL can go. Very rarely someone dominates the whole way through, but if we have players coming in and out of form and they dovetail, then that’s a good thing. But he’s working hard and he’s got a lot of support around him,” he continued.
CSK’s upcoming fixture at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad could present the ideal platform for Gaikwad to rediscover his lost touch. Traditionally known for producing high-scoring contests, the venue offers favourable batting conditions, especially against an SRH bowling unit that has lacked consistency.
However, the SRH found some positives in their previous outing against Rajasthan Royals, where debutants Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain impressed with four wickets each. With the match set to be played on the same surface, CSK will be wary of a repeat performance from the young pacers.
Interestingly, Sanju Samson has enjoyed significant success at the venue, amassing 593 runs in 13 innings at an impressive strike rate of 164.26. Meanwhile, Ayush Mhatre’s recent contributions also provide CSK with the option to rethink their opening combination if needed.
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