The Chennai Super Kings continue to dwindle in the final stretch of the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side suffered an embarrassing 7-wicke defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings on Wednesday, putting themselves in a tough spot over playoffs qualification. One of the biggest reasons behind CSK’s defeat was injuries to key players and absenteeism of a few others. Speaking to media after the match, CSK coach Stephen Fleming revealed how CSK’s squad has been reduced to bare minimum.
Starting with their marquee Indian pacer, Fleming revealed that Deepak Chahar‘s injury situation isn’t looking good, but the team management is keeping fingers crossed, hoping for a better revert from the medical team once a detailed analysis is done.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled next month, Sri Lankan duo of Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana have also gone back home for visa formalities while Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman has returned for international duties.
Updates about the CSK bowling unit.
– Mustafizur has left for International duties.
– Deepak Chahar is not looking good with injury.
– Tushar Deshpande has Flue.
– Pathirana & Theekshana going back for Visa process but hoping they return for the next game. pic.twitter.com/3JVE3HxbBn— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 2, 2024
“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,” he revealed at the press conference.
Even uncapped Indian pacer Tushar Deshpande has got flue, the CSK coach revealed.
“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,” CSK coach Fleming added.
Though CSK are placed 4th in the IPL 2024 points table, with 5 wins in 10 games, the final run of 4 games could be tricky for them without the support of some of the star players.
Even skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted that the absence of some star players is a big blow to the team.
“It’s a real problem (on the player missing due to injuries and Chahal 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,” he said after the game.
