Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming has opened up on MS Dhoni’s stance in the Playing XI as the defending champions get ready to face Gujarat Titans (GT) on the repeat of last season’s Indian Premier League (IPL) final.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking ahead of the contest on Thursday (May 9), Fleming said the team is managing the workload of MS Dhoni, who is set to feature in Friday’s match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The contest will be in a do-or-die territory for CSK with multiple teams involved in a race for a Playoff spot.
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Fleming speaks on MS Dhoni’s workload
“We’re managing his workload,” says Fleming. “It’s risky and we’ve seen that early on in the season with a little bit of muscle injury, that if he bats too long, we run the risk of losing him. So we’re trying to find that balance where he can have an impact on the match by just hitting sixes and fours, which he’s done pretty well and kept as well as some of the best in the competition, if not the best in the competition.”
Dhoni will enter Friday’s contest on the back of a golden duck, having been dismissed on the first ball during his side’s win over Punjab Kings on Sunday. So far in the entire campaign, Dhoni has scored 110 runs in 11 matches with a best of 37. While he has not played too many big innings, his cameos have often made headlines.
Race for IPL 2024 Playoff
CSK will enter Friday’s contest with 12 points from 11 matches and at least need two more wins to reach the IPL 2024 Playoffs. Currently, they are level on points with Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, but a better net run rate sees CSK occupy the last Playoff spot.
On the flip side, Gujarat Titans, despite sitting at the bottom of the IPL 2024 standings, are not officially eliminated from the race to the Playoff.
However, a defeat at home turf against Ruturaj Gaikwad’s men will officially eliminate GT from the race to the Playoff.
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