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Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentum

Fleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.

“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.

The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.

Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming"> CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: ‘Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well,’ says Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him following the side’s dismal start to the IPL 2026 season was ‘fair’.CSK has been winless in its last three encounters and is currently rooted to the bottom of the table, the same position where the side finished last term. It is not a situation fans of the five-time champion have been familiar with. A section of them have questioned if the Kiwi coach, who has been in charge since 2009, deserves to continue in the hot seat.The coach, however, was quick to respond to suggestions that he hadn’t been up to speed with the exponential changes in the shortest format over the last half-decade.“Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well; that’s part of the position, and the results dictate that. I’m coaching through the year in two other competitions, so it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. I have probably not spent more time studying T20 cricket and players around the world [as much as now],” the head coach said on the eve of the encounter against the Delhi Capitals.“Yes, we were off the pace last year. [Mine will be] the first hand up. We pivoted quickly. Now, we’ve got some younger players, and I’m very confident about this group. We haven’t shown that as yet [this season]. One of the challenges is the number of players we have changed [from last year]. That means there is a bit of a settling-in process which we are trying to accelerate,” he added.MATCH PREVIEW | Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentumFleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.Published on Apr 10, 2026 #CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming
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Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentum

Fleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.

“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.

The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.

Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming">CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: ‘Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well,’ says Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him following the side’s dismal start to the IPL 2026 season was ‘fair’.

CSK has been winless in its last three encounters and is currently rooted to the bottom of the table, the same position where the side finished last term. It is not a situation fans of the five-time champion have been familiar with. A section of them have questioned if the Kiwi coach, who has been in charge since 2009, deserves to continue in the hot seat.

The coach, however, was quick to respond to suggestions that he hadn’t been up to speed with the exponential changes in the shortest format over the last half-decade.

“Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well; that’s part of the position, and the results dictate that. I’m coaching through the year in two other competitions, so it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. I have probably not spent more time studying T20 cricket and players around the world [as much as now],” the head coach said on the eve of the encounter against the Delhi Capitals.

“Yes, we were off the pace last year. [Mine will be] the first hand up. We pivoted quickly. Now, we’ve got some younger players, and I’m very confident about this group. We haven’t shown that as yet [this season]. One of the challenges is the number of players we have changed [from last year]. That means there is a bit of a settling-in process which we are trying to accelerate,” he added.

MATCH PREVIEW | Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentum

Fleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.

“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.

The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.

Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him…

PBKS vs SRH, IPL 2026: Batting units in the spotlight as Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet in afternoon clash

While the batting issues stem from a temporary lack of form, the bowling poses more pertinent questions. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who has taken up the role of the lead overseas pacer after Nathan Ellis’ injury, has looked a shadow of his past self, unable to create any breakthroughs or stem the flow of runs.

Noor Ahmad’s wily wrist spin too has been unable to break the opponent’s resistance, leaving the side short of options to create middle-over incursions. Gaikwad and Co. might be better off playing Akeal Hosein, who can also double up as a PowerPlay wicket-taker, in place of Henry. 

Despite the tight loss on Wednesday, things seem far more settled for DC. Nitish Rana’s lack of returns this season could propel the think tank to bring in Ashutosh Sharma to add some lower-order depth to the team, which was solely dependent on David Miller’s heroics to take it to the cusp of victory against GT, before the decision-making went askew. 

It is still early in the season, but the result at Chepauk on Sunday will push the scales down further for the teams. Another home loss for CSK, the seventh in succession, will plunge it further down the road in the scurry to avoid the wooden spoon – a sight all too familiar from last year. Alternatively, a defeat for DC will result in a multi-team melee in the middle of the table, which the Axar Patel-led side has historically finished on the wrong side of. 

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Wounded #Delhi #Capitals #faces #floundering #Chennai #Super #Kings #search #momentum"> CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentum Two captains. Two contrasting countenances at the post-match interview. Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Axar Patel fronted up to the first question with a wide grin despite the gut-wrenching, last-ball defeat to the Gujarat Titans (GT). Ruturaj Gaikwad wore more of a resigned, nervous smile after Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) lower order managed to cushion the blow against a marauding Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The dissimilar body language reflected how the season has panned out for both sides ahead of their meeting at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. For the Capitals, the loss was a minor blip in an otherwise positive start to the season, which included two wins in two. The mood is far more sombre in the home team’s camp. Sanju Samson, the latest poster boy of the franchise, has failed to get going in yellow after his exploits with the bat in the business end of India’s T20 World Cup win, as has his opening partner Gaikwad.CSK’s triumphant 2023 and 2021 seasons were built on the openers doing most of the heavy lifting. The first-wicket partnerships averaged 56.6 and 47.25 in those campaigns. It is only three games into the season, but Samson and Gaikwad average only 12.33. The expected Yin-Yang of the opening pair is yet to take effect. Against the Capitals, the batting could be bolstered by the return of Dewald Brevis from a side-strain-induced layoff, though coach Stephen Fleming remained non-committal on his return. His potential return, along with Sarfaraz Khan’s aptitude in innovative shots during the middle overs, could force one of the INR 14.20-crore signings in Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer to sit out. The wait to see MS Dhoni in action will also drag on for the CSK faithful, with the former captain still making his way back from a calf problem.ALSO READ: PBKS vs SRH, IPL 2026: Batting units in the spotlight as Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet in afternoon clashWhile the batting issues stem from a temporary lack of form, the bowling poses more pertinent questions. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who has taken up the role of the lead overseas pacer after Nathan Ellis’ injury, has looked a shadow of his past self, unable to create any breakthroughs or stem the flow of runs.Noor Ahmad’s wily wrist spin too has been unable to break the opponent’s resistance, leaving the side short of options to create middle-over incursions. Gaikwad and Co. might be better off playing Akeal Hosein, who can also double up as a PowerPlay wicket-taker, in place of Henry. Despite the tight loss on Wednesday, things seem far more settled for DC. Nitish Rana’s lack of returns this season could propel the think tank to bring in Ashutosh Sharma to add some lower-order depth to the team, which was solely dependent on David Miller’s heroics to take it to the cusp of victory against GT, before the decision-making went askew. It is still early in the season, but the result at Chepauk on Sunday will push the scales down further for the teams. Another home loss for CSK, the seventh in succession, will plunge it further down the road in the scurry to avoid the wooden spoon – a sight all too familiar from last year. Alternatively, a defeat for DC will result in a multi-team melee in the middle of the table, which the Axar Patel-led side has historically finished on the wrong side of. Published on Apr 10, 2026 #CSK #IPL #Wounded #Delhi #Capitals #faces #floundering #Chennai #Super #Kings #search #momentum
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PBKS vs SRH, IPL 2026: Batting units in the spotlight as Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet in afternoon clash

While the batting issues stem from a temporary lack of form, the bowling poses more pertinent questions. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who has taken up the role of the lead overseas pacer after Nathan Ellis’ injury, has looked a shadow of his past self, unable to create any breakthroughs or stem the flow of runs.

Noor Ahmad’s wily wrist spin too has been unable to break the opponent’s resistance, leaving the side short of options to create middle-over incursions. Gaikwad and Co. might be better off playing Akeal Hosein, who can also double up as a PowerPlay wicket-taker, in place of Henry. 

Despite the tight loss on Wednesday, things seem far more settled for DC. Nitish Rana’s lack of returns this season could propel the think tank to bring in Ashutosh Sharma to add some lower-order depth to the team, which was solely dependent on David Miller’s heroics to take it to the cusp of victory against GT, before the decision-making went askew. 

It is still early in the season, but the result at Chepauk on Sunday will push the scales down further for the teams. Another home loss for CSK, the seventh in succession, will plunge it further down the road in the scurry to avoid the wooden spoon – a sight all too familiar from last year. Alternatively, a defeat for DC will result in a multi-team melee in the middle of the table, which the Axar Patel-led side has historically finished on the wrong side of. 

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Wounded #Delhi #Capitals #faces #floundering #Chennai #Super #Kings #search #momentum">CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentum

Two captains. Two contrasting countenances at the post-match interview. Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Axar Patel fronted up to the first question with a wide grin despite the gut-wrenching, last-ball defeat to the Gujarat Titans (GT). Ruturaj Gaikwad wore more of a resigned, nervous smile after Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) lower order managed to cushion the blow against a marauding Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

The dissimilar body language reflected how the season has panned out for both sides ahead of their meeting at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. For the Capitals, the loss was a minor blip in an otherwise positive start to the season, which included two wins in two. The mood is far more sombre in the home team’s camp. 

Sanju Samson, the latest poster boy of the franchise, has failed to get going in yellow after his exploits with the bat in the business end of India’s T20 World Cup win, as has his opening partner Gaikwad.

CSK’s triumphant 2023 and 2021 seasons were built on the openers doing most of the heavy lifting. The first-wicket partnerships averaged 56.6 and 47.25 in those campaigns. It is only three games into the season, but Samson and Gaikwad average only 12.33. The expected Yin-Yang of the opening pair is yet to take effect. 

Against the Capitals, the batting could be bolstered by the return of Dewald Brevis from a side-strain-induced layoff, though coach Stephen Fleming remained non-committal on his return. His potential return, along with Sarfaraz Khan’s aptitude in innovative shots during the middle overs, could force one of the INR 14.20-crore signings in Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer to sit out. The wait to see MS Dhoni in action will also drag on for the CSK faithful, with the former captain still making his way back from a calf problem.

ALSO READ: PBKS vs SRH, IPL 2026: Batting units in the spotlight as Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet in afternoon clash

While the batting issues stem from a temporary lack of form, the bowling poses more pertinent questions. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who has taken up the role of the lead overseas pacer after Nathan Ellis’ injury, has looked a shadow of his past self, unable to create any breakthroughs or stem the flow of runs.

Noor Ahmad’s wily wrist spin too has been unable to break the opponent’s resistance, leaving the side short of options to create middle-over incursions. Gaikwad and Co. might be better off playing Akeal Hosein, who can also double up as a PowerPlay wicket-taker, in place of Henry. 

Despite the tight loss on Wednesday, things seem far more settled for DC. Nitish Rana’s lack of returns this season could propel the think tank to bring in Ashutosh Sharma to add some lower-order depth to the team, which was solely dependent on David Miller’s heroics to take it to the cusp of victory against GT, before the decision-making went askew. 

It is still early in the season, but the result at Chepauk on Sunday will push the scales down further for the teams. Another home loss for CSK, the seventh in succession, will plunge it further down the road in the scurry to avoid the wooden spoon – a sight all too familiar from last year. Alternatively, a defeat for DC will result in a multi-team melee in the middle of the table, which the Axar Patel-led side has historically finished on the wrong side of. 

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Wounded #Delhi #Capitals #faces #floundering #Chennai #Super #Kings #search #momentum

Two captains. Two contrasting countenances at the post-match interview. Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Axar Patel fronted…