NEW DELHI: Stephen Fleming, the head coach of Chennai Super Kings, came to the defence of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, asserting that it's unfair to label him as "slow" while batting and drawing comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni.
Gaikwad, who assumed the captaincy role for CSK at the start of this IPL season, has faced criticism for his batting pace despite a mixed start to his leadership stint.
Fleming highlighted Gaikwad's qualities and contributions to the team, emphasising that he shares similarities with Dhoni in terms of his approach and style of play. While Gaikwad's strike rate may not be as high as some of his counterparts, Fleming believes that his value to the team extends beyond mere statistics.
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In his five matches so far, the 27-year-old right-handed opener has accumulated 155 runs at a strike rate of 117.42. While these numbers may not dazzle on paper, Fleming and the CSK management recognise Gaikwad's ability to anchor the innings and build partnerships, qualities reminiscent of Dhoni's leadership on the field.
"There's no difference. He's as cool as it gets. I know the last captain was pretty cool.
But this guy is cut from the same cloth, so that's rubbed through," Fleming said when asked if he had any discussion with Gaikwad in terms of differentiating between his leadership and his batting.
"He is such an impressive young man around his game and what he needs to do. He's been, I think, unfairly put into a bracket where he's been called slow. But you have to have context to some of these stats," Fleming told the media during CSK's training session at the Wankhede Stadium.
"We know that it's a bit of a Bollywood movie, sometimes getting these things up onto the screen. But he's fine. He's playing well. The last game (CSK vs KKR) was a great example of how a leader plays, and there's class as well. I have absolutely no doubt about Ruturaj," Fleming added.
Fleming clarified that the decision to appoint Gaikwad as the skipper of CSK is a strategic and long-term one, rather than a temporary or makeshift arrangement by the five-time IPL champions.
"I hope so. That's the plan, and so far it's worked well. The transition has been really smooth. He's judged by wins but we judge it differently. His leadership around the team is top-class. I would imagine it would be hopefully for many years like the last captain," Fleming added.
The former New Zealand captain said CSK are the benefactors of the love Dhoni has got from fans which, at times, has been overwhelming.
"It's magnificent, to be honest.
It is truly astounding, the love that... Let's be honest, the love that India has for MS Dhoni, and we are benefactors of that," Fleming said.
"The team, without (a) doubt, feels pride when they walk out to an away game and there's a large amount of yellow. If not all yellow, it's in some cases, overwhelming."
"But we are under no illusions about what has created it and who has created it. We're very proud of him and his involvement with the side.
We look at it as a real honour that people will come out and support him, and if it's secondary, then the team. We're both very closely linked," Fleming added.
Fleming said a two-month dose of IPL every year has become contagious but the league must keep finding ways to evolve.
"In terms of fan following, naturally it has grown. The skills of the players are evolving. Batting in particular has evolved at a huge rate, in particular the last five years," he said.
"The challenge of the IPL, from a skill point of view, is how the bowlers can even the game up a little bit. The two bouncers (per over rule) is one. Maybe we need to keep looking at other ways to do that."
"The fact that it becomes intoxicating after two months of cricket and fandom and support, it's a wonderful injection for cricket. So how can you not love it? How can it not be contagious?," he added.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians' Mohammad Nabi said getting the team combination right was one of the key factors for the five-time winners to get back to winning ways.
"The plans from the bowling and batting groups are going really well which is why we won the last two games. The team combination was good for the last two matches," he said.
Nabi said the nature of the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium makes an off-spinner's job tougher.
"The conditions at Wankhede as a spinner are really tough to bowl as an off-spinner. Leg-spinners have a lot of varieties but as an off-spinner is tougher to bowl here," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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