Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming feels that it would be difficult for the defending champions Gujarat Titans to win back-to-back titles in the Indian Premier League. So far, only two teams in history–Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians – have managed to defend their titles and win back-to-back IPL trophies.
Hardik Pandya-led side became the first team in the history of the cash-rich league to reach the final of their first two seasons in the Indian Premier League. Gujarat Titans are on a roll in this edition of the cash-rich league making it into the second consecutive final in the 2023 and in the league stage they have ten games out of the 14 games.
Speaking to the media ahead of their game against Gujarat Titans, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming believes that it would huge task for the defending champions to win the IPL 2023, as their team would give a big fight for them in the final and hailed their management for doing so well in the limited period in the cash-rich league.
“So hard! It is impossible, it is going to be so hard for them (GT) to do it (laughs). No, they are a good side; you got to say ‘really well done to what they have put together in a short space of time,” Stephen Fleming said.
In the previous season, Gujarat Titans performed consistently throughout the league and they finished the league stage at the top of the points table with ten wins from 14 games and then went on to beat Rajasthan Royals in the Qualifier and the final to lift the title under Pandya’s captaincy and will look to win the second consecutive title to achieve the massive feat in the IPL.
We Have A Huge Amount Of Respect For Gujarat Titans Have Done – Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming credited the coaching staff of the Gujarat Titans for keeping the team balanced in the two seasons they have played and lauded their head coach Ashish Nehra for his cricketing brain as they both worked in Chennai Super Kings during his playing days.
“I like the coaching staff a lot, they are balanced guys. Ashish, for all his talking, has got a really good grasp of the game, and his enthusiasm is high after working with him in Chennai. We have a huge amount of respect for what they have done but it is very hard to go back to back,” Stephen Fleming added.
Defending Champions Gujarat Titans will take on four-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the grand final of the IPL 2023 on May 28 (Sunday).