Stephen Fleming on the importance of controlling MS Dhoni’s workload during the 2024 IPL: “So, it’s a delicate balance.”

Stephen Fleming, the current head coach of CSK and a former player for the team, addressed all of the rumours about the CSK emblem during a pre-match press conference in Ahmedabad.

The 11th match of the 2024 Indian Premier League between the Chennai Super Kings and the Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala saw a significant ruckus as the great MS Dhoni unexpectedly took the pitch at number nine.

His dismissal of his performance did not faze the devoted supporters of CSK and Harshal Patel. His batting order position of No. 9 initially caused them concern, though, especially in light of his incredible form—he has scored 110 runs in just 49 balls at an incredible strike rate of 224.48.

Fleming emphasised that the necessity of effectively managing Dhoni’s assignment distribution was what led to the decision. The speaker proceeded to characterise Dhoni’s function as a pure finisher, whose impact on the game extended beyond the gloves.

We are controlling his workload. It is risky, and we have seen early in the season that he can have a minor muscle strain. If he bats too long, we could lose him. Thus, we’re attempting to strike a balance so that he can still influence the game with just sixes and fours, which he’s done really well and kept up with some of the best in the competition, if not the best in the competition,” Fleming said at a news conference held prior to the tournament.

Fleming did, however, clarify that Dhoni’s decision to bat at the positions he now holds and will continue to hold is a well-considered and cautious one, one that the team management and he will make together, keeping the team’s best interests front and centre. He expressed their wish to use all of Dhoni’s experience for the team, being careful not to cause him to go past a point of no return.

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“Therefore, don’t undervalue his impact on the squad merely because he is ranked ninth. Timing is a factor, but we’re cautious about what he can offer and will maximise it, but we don’t want to lose him to the point where we lose him. Thus, it’s a delicate balance,” the CSK head coach continued.

It’s a specific role that we’re using him for: Stephen Fleming on MS Dhoni

Fleming and the team management would argue that Dhoni should never have to charge for difficult runs, but he also knew when to shut it down when it came to wicketkeeping, which he did well given his fuel-efficient activity, hand-eye coordination, and lightning-fast reflexes.

Since he won’t be at bat for very long, finding that spot and keeping are OK. His movement is incredibly economical, allowing him to maintain control over his hands, and his speed and hand-eye coordination are unmatched. So, that is not an issue. We’re merely protecting ourselves from him, needing to run every few balls while batting for five or six overs. We’re utilising him for a certain role,” Fleming said in closing.