Head coach of Chennai Super Kings Stephen Fleming is excited to play the grand finale against the defending champions–Gujarat Titans on Sunday and is proud of their team’s comeback in this edition of the Indian Premier League after having a poor season in 2022.
MS Dhoni has been captaining the Chennai franchise since the inaugural edition (2008) and led the team to become the second most successful franchise winning 4 IPL titles next to Mumbai Indians, who have bagged 5 IPL titles.
Speaking in the Press Conference ahead of the final game against Gujarat Titans, Stephen Fleming feels it is important for their team to stay at present as they have done consistently well in the cash-rich league and reckons that their team cannot afford to lose concentration in the final game.
“We’ve got to stay very present against Gujarat, one of the most consistent sides in the tournament. They’re an excellent side, and we can’t afford to dream too much, but this is why we’re here. The excitement levels and the nerves of the big stage slowly simmer away, but it’s a good thing to have, it’s just how you work with them in your system,” Stephen Fleming said.
The former New Zealand skipper revealed that the team worked really hard to get to this level, as the team is looking forward to facing the stiff challenge by the Gujarat Titans and reckons that anxiety and nervousness would be there ahead of the important game and said that it is necessary to hold the nerves in the final.
“We’ve worked very hard at that. We’ve got some good people around us. We look forward to this challenge, but you have to have a certain level of anxiety and nervousness to be at your best, I guess. It’s about how you manage that and how quickly you can sync into the game. That’s what we will be looking to do,” Fleming added.
Chennai Super Kings has won four IPL trophies and two Champions League T20 trophies under the legendary Indian Skipper and will look to add one more trophy to his cabinet in IPL 2023.
We’re Really Proud, We’ve Been Able To Bounce Back – Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming believes that the teams have been smarter in picking the players according to different conditions in the cash-rich league and feels that this year’s Indian Premier League has been the toughest one in the cash-rich league and also elated with the fact that the team could make a massive comeback after the disastrous IPL 2022.
“It’s just getting closer and closer as teams get smarter about the players they pick or conditions they play in. This year’s been no different, it’s been the hardest. Each team you come up against it feels like an incredibly difficult challenge. The thing we’re proud of is that when we’ve had a bad season, we’ve been able to bounce back,” Stephen Fleming added.
MS Dhoni will look to equal the record of being the most successful team in the Indian Premier League alongside five IPL titles as they will take on one of Gujarat Titans in the finals of IPL 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.