Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey on Friday confirmed that all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will be out of Indian Premier League action for two weeks due to a grade one hamstring strain.
Chennai Super Kings's batting coach Michael Hussey
Chennai:
“I am sure we will still be able to put a very strong team. We have had these challenges in the past and we have been able to overcome them. I hope we can do that again,” added the 43-year-old. New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn has been drafted in as a replacement for the injured pacer Lungi Ngidi.
The Aussie hinted the Kiwi could be entrusted with the responsibility of closing out the innings with the ball. “I am sure MS (Dhoni) and (Stephen) Fleming will be looking at Scott and assessing his death bowling skills. We have still got Shardul (Thakur) and Mohit (Sharma) who can bowl at the death,” he stated.
The CSK bowlers were carted for boundaries by Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard in the last six overs of the previous game. Super Kings is working on reducing the damage in the final stages, according to Hussey. “Death is a key area and you saw we didn’t get it right in the last game, MI scored a lot of runs in the last 2 or 3 overs. It’s one we are focussing on and trying to execute.”
In CSK’s title-winning campaign last year, opening batters Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu took the onus upon themselves and gave the franchise cracking starts. The duo hasn’t recreated the same magic this year, but Fleming’s deputy isn’t perturbed by it. “I am not concerned at all. They are preparing and hitting the ball really well. I am convinced there is a big score for both of them around the corner,” he asserted.
Kings XI captain Ravichandran Ashwin was part of the CSK franchise for a long period. The former MI batsman admitted the off-spinner would have a lot of inside information and knowledge on the local team. “Those will certainly help it (KXIP). You can have all that you want, but at the end of the day, it is about the execution. He is a key player for KXIP. He will be keen to play on his home patch, he knows these conditions extremely well. It’s going to be a good challenge for us to play against him,” signed off Hussey.
Bravo was in a bit of discomfort during CSK’s clash against Mumbai Indians on Wednesday. The pain added more misery to the Windies man who had a game to forget, in which he picked up a solitary wicket and made eight runs. “It’s a big loss as he offers so much balance to the team. He is a quality player and it is going to cause a little bit of rejigging,” said Hussey ahead of CSK’s home match against Kings XI Punjab.
“I am sure we will still be able to put a very strong team. We have had these challenges in the past and we have been able to overcome them. I hope we can do that again,” added the 43-year-old. New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn has been drafted in as a replacement for the injured pacer Lungi Ngidi.
The Aussie hinted the Kiwi could be entrusted with the responsibility of closing out the innings with the ball. “I am sure MS (Dhoni) and (Stephen) Fleming will be looking at Scott and assessing his death bowling skills. We have still got Shardul (Thakur) and Mohit (Sharma) who can bowl at the death,” he stated.
The CSK bowlers were carted for boundaries by Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard in the last six overs of the previous game. Super Kings is working on reducing the damage in the final stages, according to Hussey. “Death is a key area and you saw we didn’t get it right in the last game, MI scored a lot of runs in the last 2 or 3 overs. It’s one we are focussing on and trying to execute.”
In CSK’s title-winning campaign last year, opening batters Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu took the onus upon themselves and gave the franchise cracking starts. The duo hasn’t recreated the same magic this year, but Fleming’s deputy isn’t perturbed by it. “I am not concerned at all. They are preparing and hitting the ball really well. I am convinced there is a big score for both of them around the corner,” he asserted.
Kings XI captain Ravichandran Ashwin was part of the CSK franchise for a long period. The former MI batsman admitted the off-spinner would have a lot of inside information and knowledge on the local team. “Those will certainly help it (KXIP). You can have all that you want, but at the end of the day, it is about the execution. He is a key player for KXIP. He will be keen to play on his home patch, he knows these conditions extremely well. It’s going to be a good challenge for us to play against him,” signed off Hussey.