CSK coach Stephen Fleming agreed that some of his players were below par and believes these things happen when come after playing a long Test series. “If you try and analyse it, may be this is the first game in IPL 6. Coming from Test series, there may be confidence or over confidence. Mumbai bowled well and they did enough in putting pressure on us,” he explained.
He didn’t blame the defeat on the pitch, which was unusually slow, either. “The pitch was fine. The score was achievable. I must say the batting was below standards, considering the (batsmen’s) experience,” he said. However, he reckons its not time yet for harsh words. “It is a reality check. To be honest, I am not a coach to blow up things but I was disappointed on the nature of the dismissals. We did not deserve to win this game.”
Queried on whether it was a different strategy in continuing with the quicks during the first nine overs, Fleming reasoned: “I think Dhoni had seen bit of movement and was happy as they were taking wickets regularly. In the first nine overs or so we took four wickets, but Pollard turned it around.”