IPL 2020: Dwayne Bravo Would be Out for a Few Matches, Says CSK Coach Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming has confirmed that the team’s star all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will miss a few more matches of the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Despite the absence of the West Indies veteran, three-time champion CSK began their campaign with a five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

CSK coach Stephen Fleming said that Dwayne would be out for a few more matches. Bravo suffered an injury during the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League and missed the final due to a knee injury.

“Dwayne Bravo is out for a couple of games,” Fleming said in the post-match press conference.

England all-rounder Sam Curran, who replaced Bravo, helped CSK reach the target by smashing 18 runs off 6 balls, while Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis hit half-centuries.

Curran also impressed in the bowling, taking one wicket for 28 runs in four overs.

“Curran’s performance was terrific,” Fleming said.

The team’s head coach also praised Rayudu, who scored 71 off 48 balls. He made a century partnership with Du Plessis, who scored an unbeaten 58, which helped Chennai reach the target of 163 runs with four balls to spare.

“Rayudu has been nothing short of fantastic. He has been pretty emotional and played a great knock,” Fleming said.

The former New Zealand captain further said that the pitch was difficult to score and that the team is looking for ways to find the right balance.

In the press conference after the match, Mumbai Indians fast bowler James Pattinson said that he also wanted to bowl first.

“We were looking to bowl first, with the temperature being high at night time the ground does get a bit wet. So, there is an advantage in bowling first. Both the teams were looking to bowl first”, the Australian fast bowler said.

He said, there was some moisture around the grass. The ball was coming out of the pitch a little faster.

“There’s a little bit of wetness around the grass. It skidded on a little bit. It was a good wicket overall,” the Australian added.

On the batting order of Kieron Pollard, Pattinson said that he expects this West Indies batsman to play higher up the batting order in the future. Pollard went on to bat at number six against CSK.

“I think between him (Pollard) and the two Pandya brothers, it’s just going to float at number 5, 6 and 7 depending on the situation of the game. I’m sure he’ll bat higher at some stage, depending on the situation in the game,” said Pattinson.

Speaking on the absence of spectators in the stadium during the IPL, the fast bowler said, “You just have to make your own noise out there. It’s obviously hard when you don’t have fans cheering behind you, especially the Mumbai Indians fans who are great.

“So, yeah it’s different, it’s different times, we’re just grateful to be playing cricket,” said Pattinson.