CSK Always Make Pitches As Per Their Strengths, So It’s Surprising: Cheteshwar Pujara On Stephen Fleming’s Comment

The legend of the Indian test Chetehwar Pujara thinks that Chennai Super Kings is “a franchise” which has always prepared tracks for the chepauk according to his strength and therefore has trouble digesting the head coach Stephen Fleming of “not having any advantages at home”. CSK has undergone their heaviest home defeat while continuing, losing 50 points against the royal challengers led by Rajat Patidar Bengaluru. Pujara, who was in the franchise for a season in 2021, also said that the average order CSK including Deepak Hooda, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran and Mahendra Singh Dhoni could have more responsibility.

“… at CSK, you cannot complain. It is a franchise where they have prepared land according to their strengths. If it is (Fleming) says that [there is no home advantage, they don’t have a say, then I’m quite surprised,” Pujara told ESPNCricinfo.

Pujara said that the legacy franchises like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders always get what they want in terms of conditions.

Incidentally, even KKR management is reportedly unhappy as Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee has refused to provide them with a surface where their main weapon Varun Chakravarthy was clobbered for 43 runs in four overs in the match against RCB.

“If you speak about MI, CSK, KKR – I don’t think that’s the case [them not getting pitches they ask for]. Any other franchise, I can still understand. These (three) franchises ensure that they get what they want. Their strength was when they play at home. “The man who has more than 7000 tests did not beat in the bush when he indicated that the CSK striker may well lack firepower, which could be dangerous in a marathon tournament like IPL.

“There are a lot of concerns in the programming of strikers outside of Rachin Ravira, Ruturaj Gaikwad because their intermediate order will have to click at some point,” said Pujara.

Since the CSK model is to chase the targets of the beach of 150-160 or to defend totals near 170, Pujara believes that a change in the playing philosophy is the need for the time, even if it means marking a faster clip.

“They will have to start scoring quickly. They count strongly on their middle order. Yes, their superior order is their strength, but when they do not work well, this is the moment when the average order must intensify, it does not seem that they are completely ready for this.

“It seems that they will need better surfaces to get back in shape and when they start playing at home again, they will be able to perform well.” Pujara also declared what would harm an unconditional CSK fan, it is the abject surrender.

“There is a lot to learn for CSK,” he said. “I was part of the franchise. If you are a fan of the CSK, you would be really disappointed today. You tend to lose, but the way they lost this game will put a lot of bumps in the locker room,” he added.

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