In the quickest format of the game, small things can make a difference and Kolkata Knight Riders have made a good start to season-three perhaps for this reason only, feels Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming.
In the quickest format of the game, small things can make a difference and Kolkata Knight Riders have made a good start to season-three perhaps for this reason only, feels Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming.
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"There seems to be a different approach. The competition is so tight that little things make a difference. Form, change of attitude, change of the shirt colour. That might be the winning formula," he said about Knight Riders who are on a winning roll with victories over Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL III.
Chennai will take on Kolkata on Tuesday and Fleming is confident of scoring points but knows they have a tough job at hand.
"We respect them, but we also are one of the most consistent sides to play in the IPL. We have to try and maintain that record. To come up well against the in-form teams in the IPL is a challenge. Tomorrow is such a challenge.
"If we come good in every game, hopefully we can make the semis," said the former New Zealand captain.
Disappointed at their 31 run loss to Deccan Chargers in their first match, Fleming said, "We got to improve in some areas. We have to create some pressure on Knight Riders. It's a big game for us now. "We want to be more accurate with our bowling.
"We want to start good with our batting. Our batting has been very strong over the last couple of years. In the last match, we needed it to be at its best. We fell short," he said.
"I think we were under pressure when we were bowling. We did not quite hit the areas we needed to. Those are the key areas we need to improve on. The positive was our fielding which was outstanding," Fleming added.
The Chennai team do not have a good pacer but Fleming is not bothered and says their trump card is Lankan spin ace Muttiah Muralitharan. "Muralitharan is one of the best strike bowlers around. We may not have a bowler with pace of 155-160 kmph pace. But we have one of the greatest spinners in our side. We are more than comfortable."
Asked about their opener Murali Vijay who is best suited to the longer version, Fleming said, "Vijay has done well in the longer version in the game there is no reason why he cannot transform that into Twenty20. He has enough strokeplay in him. There is pressure on him to do well. It's a challenge for all the young players to get exposure in the IPL."
With Shane Bond joining KKR ranks, Fleming said, "He is experienced. Experienced players you have seen already are very important. Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Chaminda Vaas. Bond falls to that category. He is fast. He is excited about being here.
He is a very good buy. Experienced players have no fear because they already have a career behind them."
With two more teams coming in the next edition of the IPL, Fleming said, "The competition can grow. It's exciting. Pretty sure that the organisers are aware of length of the tournament and saturation of cricket. Then it will be a good thing."
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