Fleming — CSK’s man for all seasons

Stephen Fleming has this piercing gaze that picks out little things. He combines the eye for detail with a mind that comes up with solutions to vexing questions.

His instincts have always been sharp, whether finding those gaps with a surgeon’s precision as a left-handed batsman with elegance, captaining New Zealand with insight and now coaching Chennai Super Kings with tactical acumen.

The 45-year-old from Christchurch brings a lot to the table. He is the classic behind-the-scenes man in the mould of a John Wright or a Gary Kirsten who carries with him a clinical efficiency.

While M.S. Dhoni is the strong, resilient, all-action captain of CSK, Fleming’s invisible hand can be seen at the player auction, preparation, selection and urgent on-field messages to the team.

What drives CSK is the bond between Dhoni and Fleming, a relationship rooted in mutual respect. This formidable skipper-coach combination invariably delivers as it did in CSK’s triumphant campaign this season.

The emphasis is not just on planning, but on getting the execution right.

When CSK needed to reorganise its bowling from a spin-reliant attack — that would have suited the Chepauk surface — to one spearheaded by pace after shifting ‘home’ to Pune, Fleming got the job done with Dhoni.

Returning from a two-year suspension, Fleming comprehended CSK’s need to put the pieces together again and this was done meticulously with the franchise retaining its core, backing experience and making smart picks such as that of the explosive Shane Watson, the mercurial Amabati Rayudu and the incisive Lungi Ngidi.

Much like Dhoni, Fleming is not flustered by challenges, his visage giving little away. He has a sense of calm about him that sends the right message to the side.

Fleming and CSK go back a long way. The southpaw played for the franchise in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008 and then retired as a cricketer the same season.

But then, CSK found his inputs so valuable that it quickly moved to rope in Fleming as coach in 2009. And the Kiwi blended seamlessly with the team.

Fleming’s tough and uncompromising but has a relaxed air about him that complements CSK’s culture. The cricketers are given the opportunity to express themselves.

Having got the rather limited New Zealand side to consistently punch above its weight, Fleming knows how to make the most of a cricketer’s ability. He spends quality time with youngsters at practice sessions.

This strategically flexible coach is CSK’s man for all seasons.