{ "id": "37721", "author": "1", "cnmid": "0", "title": "The big guys still have a lot to give, says Fleming", "lang": "en", "series": "331", "cup_year": "2018", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Kolkata, May 2 - Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming feels the older guys in his ranks have shown that they still have a lot to give to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and it is their presence in", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Kolkata, May 2 - Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming feels the older guys in his ranks have shown that they still have a lot to give to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and it is their presence in the dressing room that brings about a calmness to the side.
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\r\nTable toppers after eight matches with six wins and just two losses, CSK have so far rode virtuoso performances from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo -- all on the wrong side of their 30s -- to prove the pre-tournament idea that they are a team full of 'oldies' wrong.
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\r\n"Age isn't really a barrier. Watson is a good example, very professional with what he does and prepares himself well. He's playing extremely well, Bravo is another one, MS Dhoni is not a bad one either. I still think the big guys still have a lot to give. The calmness around the group plays a big part," Fleming told reporters on the eve of their game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
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\r\nDhoni has looked like his old self with a match-winning 79 not out against Kings XI Punjab while also smashing a 22-ball 51 in their last outing versus Delhi Daredevils.
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\r\nBravo helped CSK pull off a heist in the IPL opener against Mumbai Indians with a whirlwind 30-ball 68. The West Indian all-rounder has been good with the ball as well in some matches.
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\r\nWatson has given CSK brisk starts while opening the batting, his 106 against Rajasthan Royals being the standout performance.
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\r\nCSK have also been largely grateful to Ambati Rayudu who is the season's highest run-getter so far. Rayudu has opened the innings at times while also batting at No.4. Fleming lavished praise on the 32-year-old, adding that his role was clearly defined to him at the start of their campaign.
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\r\n"He has been massive for us. We did pick him with that role in mind, that there might be a little bit of shuffling. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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"And he has done that before. So the way he was picked at Mumbai and the way he plays interests me a lot. The way he has performed this year, he has been fantastic for us. There are only two spots really, two or four. 
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\r\n"And he has been given a very clear role right from the start. So depending on the combination we play, he knows what type of game to play."
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\r\nCSK's bowling has not been that good as compared to their batting. While the former champions have piled up big totals, their bowling unit have leaked a lot of runs.
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\r\n"We are playing high scoring games. It's got to do with conditions, bad bowling under pressure, and great batsmanship," Fleming said when quizzed if that is a concern.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"If you lose three-four games, you are down in the bottom, we know that but its keeping us on the edge and making us uncomfortable about each game which is a good thing from a coach's point of view," he added.
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\r\nFleming said KKR's spinners are the key and they will have to be careful against the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine.
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\r\n"The spinners are the key weapon for KKR, there is no secret around that. (So we have to) find a way through that. At some point we have to take a risk so just trying to find a way to do that (is the key)."
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\r\nOn young South African pacer Lungi Ngidi, who made his IPL debut against Delhi in the previous game, Fleming said: "we have been excited about him for a while. We were saddened with the loss of his father. But he has come back to the group now and his performance was fantastic. His contribution to the group has been great. 
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\r\n"He is a young talent and is a massive presence. Conditions like the new Kolkata pitch, it would be exciting to see him go."
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\r\nKKR are fourth on the table with four wins and four losses, having eight points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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