Injuries to Deepak Chahar and the absence of key overseas players due to national commitments and visa issues might hamper CSK’s performance in their IPL 2024 journey.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face a tough road to the playoffs in IPL 2024 after a disappointing 7-wicket defeat against the Punjab Kings on Wednesday. Injuries and player absences might significantly impact CSK’s performance in the crucial final stretch of the league stage.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming addressed the team’s struggles at a post-match press conference. A key concern is the injury to star Indian fast bowler Deepak Chahar. “Deepak Chahar’s injury situation isn’t looking good,” Fleming revealed, as quoted by NDTV. However, the team remains hopeful for a positive update after a detailed medical analysis.
Adding to CSK’s woes is the absence of key overseas players due to national commitments and visa formalities. Sri Lankan duo Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana have returned home to secure visas, while Bangladeshi seamer Mustafizur Rahman departed for his country’s duty.
“The Sri Lankan boys are off to get visas. We are hoping for a smooth process to have them back for our next game,” explained Fleming. Even uncapped Indian pacer Tushar Deshpande has been sidelined with the flu.
“We’ve had to make changes due to injuries and illness, which isn’t ideal. We have resources, but the players haven’t had time to settle into their roles, which affects our game plan,” said Fleming.
Despite currently sitting in 4th place in the IPL 2024 points table with 5 wins in 10 games, CSK’s remaining 4 matches will be challenging without several key players. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged the impact of these absences.
“It’s a big problem. The missing players hurt us, especially when we needed wickets. With only two available bowlers and the dew affecting the spinners, it was a tough situation. However, we have four games left, and we’ll fight to get back on track,” Gaikwad told the press in a post-match presentation.
Last Updated on May 2, 2024
