Indian Cricket Team Updates

In his typical calm and casual manner, MS Dhoni walked into the press conference room at Ranchi with a smile on his face. He would be feeling at home, as he gears up to play his first T20 game in front of his home crowd. One can expect a packed stadium when the Men in Yellow, led by the charismatic Dhoni, walk out to face the Titans in the first game of their CLT20 2013 campaign. Dhoni has been in his hometown for a while even as the rest of the members of the CSK squad finally arrived. “I have been in Ranchi for quite some time now, but the team had come a few days back. Some of the members joined yesterday, while the rest have joined today (Wednesday),” Dhoni said. (Also Read:  CLT20 2013 Squad - Chennai Super Kings (CSK ) ) The CSK captain also said that the next few days would be crucial to CSK preparations. “As a team, we would try and make use of the practice sessions that we have before our first game, because we have not had a lot of time to practice. Hopefull...

When Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians take the field at the Eden Gardens on Sunday evening, memories will go back to 2010, at the DY Patil Stadium. That was the last time the two teams met in an IPL final, both eyeing a maiden title. CSK lifted the trophy then and for the next two years while the MI are still searching for their first IPL silverware. On the eve of the IPL 2013 finale, as Stephen Fleming addressed the media, with Michael Hussey and MI coach John Wright, he hoped that CSK’s experience of playing four IPL finals out of five gives them an edge in the ‘big’ game.  The Super Kings coach said having players who can keep their cool in pressure situations will hold the team in good stead. “Right from having Mike (Hussey) at the top, going down, we have some players who are capable of remaining calm under any situation and it is when the leadership quality comes to the fore,” Fleming said. “Your senior players’ experience counts for a lot in suc...

In the quest for their third title the Chennai Super Kings will take on the Mumbai Indians at the Feroze Shah Kotla on Tuesday evening. Table-toppers on the basis of their run-rate in the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013, the MS Dhoni-led side are keen to win the battle and take the field again only on May 26 in the final at the Eden Gardens.  While speaking to the media ahead of the much awaited contest between the top two teams, CSK coach Stephen Fleming said, “CSK have been very good this year. To motivate the players to win another IPL, with a big semi-final against Mumbai Indians, is our main focus.”  “The group of guys that I have got, are focused on playing the best that we can play. And, as I say, hopefully itss two games away - beat Mumbai and then have another final. And really we are trying to let nothing else creep into the dressing room”.  Discussing the importance of the game heading in the final stages of the tournament he said, “It’s a b...

The match in Bengaluru on Saturday night between the Royal Challengers and Chennai Super Kings bears more consequences than being a mere contest between two of the strongest IPL teams.  While the hosts will do anything to end up on the winning side to give themselves a chance in the top-four, CSK would want to end the league phase with a win and a first place on the points table. Super Kings coach, Stephen Fleming, stressed on the importance of ending in the top-two in order to have an advantage in the Playoffs and secure a spot in the Champions League T20. “If Rajasthan Royals don’t win their game (against Sunrisers Hyderabad), we will automatically be in the top two,” Fleming said. “If that happens, we may have the option of giving opportunities to guys who have been on the sidelines for a while. But we’re not going to be throwing games away or do anything stupid because we realise that consistency has always been our key.” According to Fleming, another re...

After a little fumble in the beginning with two home losses, the Chennai Super Kings have brought their IPL 2013 campaign back on track with three wins on the bounce. Now CSK aim to gain a significant leverage of points as they prepare to take on the inspired Sunrisers Hyderabad at home on Thursday. “We have been playing well, especially in the last game (chasing down 185 against RR),” said CSK’s coach Stephen Fleming on the eve of the match. “We were at the top of the table and we know that by winning this game we will get back there and increase the gap in points between us the other teams.” While the wins have been coming, there are areas of concern for the Super Kings to address. Fleming admitted that one of them is death bowling. “Bowling at the death is a very tough skill to master as there are some big hitters batting then who can put even the good balls away. We do want to get better at that and in fact, at our bowling performance on the whole,” he said. W...