Stephen Fleming, the coach, says Chennai Super Kings are looking for “a different personality” after their lacklustre start to the IPL.
Chennai were soundly beaten by Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday night.
The 44-run loss was their second hefty defeat in the space of four nights, after they had been routed by Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah on Tuesday.
They had started the tournament with an uplifting win on the opening day, as they beat the defending champions Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi.
However, the star man of that win, Ambati Rayudu, has been injured since, which is the latest in a string of setbacks for the three-time IPL champions.
They started their training in the UAE far later than everyone else after 13 members of their tour party – including two players – tested positive for Covid-19.
Then two of their most senior players, Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh, opted out of the competition.
Even the fixture list conspired against them. Despite their troubled build up to the campaign, they were drawn to play three matches in the opening week of the competition. Three of the other teams have only played one match to date.
Of pressing concern for them is the lack of potency for their spin bowling attack so far.
Pitches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have generally favoured pace bowlers, and Ravindra Jadeja and Piyush Chawla have faced problems as a result.
The characteristics of the pitches could change through the tournament, given the amount of traffic there will be at the three venues.
But Fleming says Chennai are having to alter the mode of operating that has brought them so much success down the year.
“It is an area concern because [spin] has been such a strength for CSK,” Fleming said.
“The area of play we have developed over the past 12 years is heavily based on spin. What we are trying to do is find a different personality.
“Spin still plays a part. We have played on three different grounds so far, and each ground has had different conditions.
“We are struggling to adjust, and find the pace and style to bowl through the middle.
"In the past two games in particular, that has been an area that we haven’t done so well.
“Going from a strength to an area of concern, we need to rectify that.”
Fleming said his side had been “weak” in terms of the intent in their chase of Delhi’s 175 for three, as they made just 131 for seven from their 20 overs.
“We are a bit muddled at the moment,” Fleming said.
“We are missing some key players, and we are trying to find a balance that makes us competitive.
“It comes back to the spin bowling issue. We are looking to develop a personality based on the wickets we are facing.
“In terms of our batting line up, without Rayudu and Raina, we are looking to find a way and a combination, and give players an opportunity early on so we know what we’ve got as the tournament goes on.”
MS Dhoni again struggled to make an impression with the bat, and fell to a Kagiso Rabada short ball.
“I think, with the dew, it is very difficult to come in and just strike, so whoever it is, they will struggle to come in and just hit the ball out of the middle,” Anrich Nortje, Delhi’s fast bowler, said.
