IPL 2024: CSK coach rues missing Mustafizur, Pathirana after Yellow Army's loss to SRH

Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in match 18 of the IPL 2024 edition on Friday (April 5) in Hyderabad. Being asked to bat first, the Yellow Army only managed 165 for 5, on a sluggish surface, with Shivam Dube (45) being their top-scorer. In reply, Cummins & Co. chased it down with six wickets courtesy of Abhishek Sharma's blazing 12-ball 37 and Aiden Markram's 50.

After the clash, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming reckoned that the five-time winners certainly missed their death-over specialist bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana. The Bangladeshi pacer is back home in Bangladesh due to visa issues whereas Pathirana missed the SRH clash due to a niggle. In their absence, who have shared 11 wickets so far in this edition, Chennai used seven bowlers but couldn't stop SRH from chasing down a moderate 166 on a tricky wicket.

In their run-chase, SRH were 78 for 1 in the first six overs, very much closing the game by then. Only Moeen Ali (3-0-23-2) stood tall and delayed the inevitable for a brief period.

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Fleming agreed that his side missed Mustafizur and Pathirana during the post-match presser, "Without a doubt, it's It's part of the IPL. He's not here, so we can't use him. But having injuries and losing players in an IPL is part of the process."

The New Zealander opined that though they played Mukesh Choudhary -- their find of IPL 2022 -- the young pacer had an off day, with a spell of 1-0-27-0.

"We had a chance to introduce Mukesh Chaudhary today. He was good for us a while back. It wasn't his day. But that's part of the IPL It's managing players, and when you do find yourself a little bit short on firepower, it's finding the new hero," stated Fleming.

Further, he added, "And, it didn't happen today, but we put trust in the players that we introduced and they've been training well and doing the job. Tough baptism. The first five or six overs were the best to bat, and the aggressive way in which they played showed that. So, being able to get a wicket first over and maybe shut down the second, it could have been a competitive score, but maybe 15 short and, not quite accurate enough for first six overs with the ball."

CSK will now face KKR, who are unbeaten so far, at their home ground, i.e. the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on April 8 and hope to return to winning ways. They remain at the third spot, with two wins and equal number of defeats.