‘We are managing Dhoni’s workload’: Fleming

MS Dhoni coming late in the batting order has prompted former players as well as armchair critics to raise questions about his fitness However Chennai Super Kings CSK coach Stephen Fleming has assured that the CSK Thala is fine and continues to have an enormous influence on the teamldquoDonrsquot underestimate his influence on the team just because he comes in at No 9rdquo Fleming said during an interaction with the media ahead of Fridayrsquos crucial tie against Gujarat TitansldquoPut the nation at easehellip hersquos okayrdquo the CSK coach quippedNot only the team but Dhonirsquos influence is also felt across the nation and going by the ticket and Tshirt sales it is obvious that the Narendra Modi Stadium will be full of fans wearing the yellow No 7 jerseylsquoDonrsquot worry about positionrsquoElaborating on Dhonirsquos role so far this season Fleming said that they are avoiding the risk of losing Dhoni while maximising his values On Dhoni batting at No 9 the Kiwi said ldquoYeah donrsquot worry about position Itrsquos the time of the game that wersquore looking at Wersquove said earlier that when he recovered from knee surgery last year which was quite debilitating for him there was going to be a certain workload this year that he could managerdquo he explainedStephen Fleming PicPTIldquoWe want to keep MS Dhoni on the field doing what he does best which is the last two three and four overs with the bat His keeping and ability to share tactical advice with the new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is really importantrdquo Fleming remarkedldquoIf he does bat too long we run the risk of losing him So wersquore trying to find that balance where he can have an impact on the match by just hitting sixes and fours which hersquos done pretty well and keep as well as some of the best in the competition if not the best in the competitionrdquo Fleming addedAlso ReadWest Indies legend Brian Lara reveals what pulls him to IndiaCSK are without three new ball bowlersmdashDeepak Chahar injured Matheesha Pathirana injured and Mustafizur Rahman joined the Bangladesh teammdashin Fridayrsquos match against the Gujarat Titans but Fleming put up a brave front claiming that they have sufficient resources to cover for their absencelsquoWe are missing ShamirsquoThe Titans also have similar worries with their new ball bowlers struggling and spinners not as effective as in the previous two successful seasons The Ahmedabadbased team are also missing the Purple Cap holder of last season Mohammed Shami who was ruled out due to an injuryldquoShami is missedhellip canrsquot replace a worldclass bowler like himrdquo Titansrsquos batting coach and mentor Gary Kirsten said in reply to a question from midday He also said that bowlers from all teams in the tournament have suffered this season ldquoI am a cricket purist I like an even contest between bat and ball There needs to be an even contestrdquo Kirsten said in a disappointing tone about the onesided games this season As expected a full house at the 132000capacity stadium will hope to see Thala whack sixes in his brief batting appearance in the death overs