Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a forgettable IPL 2020 campaign in UAE. Under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, the Chennai-based franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the tournament history.

In 14 games this season, CSK suffered 8 defeats. While they enjoyed a three-match winning streak at the end, it came after the team's playoff chances were well and truly gone with only 3 of their 6 victories coming in the first 11 matches.

See Also: MS Dhoni hints CSK's "core group" set for change after first league stage exit 

Reflecting on his team’s campaign, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming on Sunday (November 1) acknowledged that they struggled to get their batting combination right during the first leg of the IPL.

While the veteran Suresh Raina opted out of the competition citing personal reasons, young Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored a hat-trick of fifties in CSK’s last three outings, was sidelined by the COVID-19 initially.

"We had some challenges around the balance of the side. We have some setbacks, players leaving and COVID and we struggled really to find a combination suiting the conditions," Fleming said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"At the start, we played our first three games in each of the venues. We did well in the first game but then got exposed in a couple of games.

"We felt we had holes in the team and then it's all about trying to fill those spots. It just didn't quite click. The start of the tournament was incredibly frustrating. We were in trouble without our Indian batters and we had to fill those gaps with international players," he explained.

Fleming showered rich praise on Gaikwad, hailing the young right-hander as the next big thing for CSK as well as Indian cricket.

"He (Gaikwad) is a big story. We couldn't play him earlier, the COVID really knocked him around. We knew how good he was. One of the disappointments was that he was sick and the fact he hung around for so long," he said.

"People underestimate what it (COVID) does to a player, physically as well as mentally. We tried to get him into the game really early on. We always had in mind that he was going to be a key player.

"He played four games in a row and took his opportunity which is a testament of his ability. We are really pleased and now he is big candidate first going forward," the CSK coach further remarked.

Fleming was pleased with CSK’s performance in the second half of the tournament.

"We stuck together really well and one of the focus was we keep getting better. We are lot more settled now and that's the reflection of our last three games.

"Obviously, the pressure had changed as well. When you re out of the tournament it changes the mental aspect of the side. We played with a bit of freedom and played how we can play," he said.

(With PTI inputs)