Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming was left disappointed after his team's yet another batting failure and loss in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 this Saturday (October 10) against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Dubai.
Chasing the target of 170 on a surface that deteriorated through the game, CSK could only manage to reach as far as 132/8 in their 20 overs.
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Youngster N Jagadeesan (33) looked the most fluent batsman on show on a day where the rest struggled. Even though Ambati Rayudu (42) top-scored, his 40-ball knock came under scrutiny as Fleming pointed out how they lacked urgency through the middle-overs, which put the lower middle-order under pressure to hit from ball one.
"If we don't get a good start at the top with our two overseas players, we're falling into a hole. So we're looking for positive solutions. What I'd like is a little bit more intensity through the middle overs," Fleming said in the post-match press conference, as quoted by PTI.
"We've got plenty of batting, and while we're recovering pretty well, we are just ending up with too much to do at the back. So, trying to release the shackles and just allow the hitters towards the end a little bit more freedom," he added.
The defeat by 37 runs was CSK's fifth of the season in seven games, including just two wins. The three-time champions seem far from their best, with threat of first elimination without reaching playoffs looming the largest in their otherwise rich history.
"It's getting further away if we keep playing like this," said Fleming. "If you look at a couple of other factors, this one is an ageing team. Also, the conditions...the spinners at this stage are playing a small role but still not playing the substantial role we are used to."
"We are looking for ways to compete and change the style of play, given we have been so consistent with our selections. We are certainly scrapping...trying to find a way, it is a bit foreign and the results are showing," he added.
Unlike Rayudu, whom CSK would've liked to see them provide the late flourish to his innings, RCB had their skipper Virat Kohli doing exactly the same after taking his time through the magnificent innings of 90* off 52 balls to take RCB to 169/4.
But to put the outcome entirely down to CSK batsmen would be slightly unfair on RCB bowlers, Chris Morris (3/18), Navdeep Saini (0/18) and Washington Sundar (2/16), who showed excellent discipline.
"The other point is we've chased every game and the wickets are getting slower. It's not easy, once you lose wickets... But I'd love to see more intent. It's not that you can just keep swinging. There is some challenging bowling but intent is what we're after," Fleming said.
"When you play well, usually your top 3-4 batsmen get substantial score, like Virat Kohli today. Unfortunately, we're not having games where it's working for us. We're lacking a little bit of confidence."
Among CSK bowlers, only pacer Deepak Chahar (1/10) could claim to have had a decent outing.
"Today was a great response to a below-par performance in the last game. He responded beautifully, his challenge again is to back that up" Fleming said.
