Chennai Super Kings (CSK) succumbed to an embarrassing seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chepauk on Wednesday (May 1).
This loss put them in a tough spot over playoffs qualification. The defending champions are currently holding fourth spot in the 10-team points table with five wins from 10 outings.
Speaking to media after the match, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming revealed that they are dealing with injuries and absenteeism of quite a few key players.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 around the corner, Sri Lankan duo of Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana have gone back home for visa formalities while Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has returned for national duties.
Fleming mentioned that seam-bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar's injury situation isn't looking good, but the team management is keeping fingers crossed.
"Deepak Chahar doesn't look good. Initial feeling wasn't great. So we are waiting for more positive report. Physio and doctors will have a look. Sri Lankan boys are off to get visa. So we are hoping that their process is smooth. And we get them back for our next game up north (at Dharamshala). Richard Gleeson was good, he was positive," Fleming said in the post-match presser.
To make matter worse, uncapped Indian pacer Tushar Deshpande has also caught flu.
"Tushar Deshpande got flu, so we had to make a few changes today, which is a bit unusual. But again that's part of it and we have got resources. It's just they haven't got time to be comfortable about their roles and us to be comfortable with the game plan that we are struggling with," the coach added.
Although CSK are placed in the top half of the points table currently, but the run of final four games could be tricky for them in the absence of several key players.
In fact, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged the issue after his team was outplayed by Punjab Kings.
"It's a real problem (on the player missing due to injuries and Chahar walking away in the first over), there are phases where you want wickets, but you have only two bowlers, the dew took the spinners out of the equation. It was tough, but there're four games left and we will try and come back to winning ways," Gaikwad said in the post-match interaction.
