CSK coach Stephen Fleming has backed big-money signing Daryl Mitchell amid the New Zealand star’s underwhelming run with the bat in the ongoing IPL 2024. CSK had signed New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell for a whopping Rs 14 crore to bolster their squad as they aimed to defend their IPL title. Despite the significant investment, Mitchell’s performance with the bat has been underwhelming so far, scoring only 93 runs across four innings, and struggling to find his rhythm in the middle order.
“He has been contributing without giving star performances,” he said. “We like to back players a lot and it is not always the Man-of-the-Match performance that we value the most.”
Fleming also addressed pacer Deepak Chahar’s involvement against LSG, stating that the top bowler is being monitored by the medical team and is progressing well in his rehabilitation. Chahar was ruled out of CSK’s meeting with MI on April 14 owing to a niggling injury. “He is doing his rehabs well. It was a minor injury nothing to worry about. Shardul Thakur bowled well in the last match against Mumbai so we opted to give time to Chahar to recover well,” said Stephen Fleming in the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
As CSK continues its campaign in IPL 2024, the spotlight remains on Daryl Mitchell, with fans and analysts keen to see if he can translate his potential into performance under the guidance of Stephen Fleming. The coach’s backing in the face of criticism demonstrates a steadfast belief in Mitchell’s abilities and an understanding that success in cricket often requires patience, resilience, and the support of team management.
