CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings bowling consultant Eric Simmons on Sunday backed fast bowler Mukesh Choudhary to step up in the Indian Premier League after he was let down by rival batsmen in the first match of the season.
The 27-year-old left-arm fast bowler played his first match of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled only one over and conceded 27 runs.
"We also focus on execution and not always on the result," Simmons said ahead of his team's match against Kolkata Knight Riders. He didn't bowl bad overs, except on a few occasions when he got the ball, he could have changed his strategy. " ,
“We've had some really positive conversations. When he started with us, he had a rough start, but we stuck with him because we knew what he could do."He has made some strategic changes in his bowling. But trust me, it will be gold dust because he has done it before and he will get a chance to do it again."
After winning the opening two matches, CSK lost the next two, which were tied. The absence of fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Mathisha Pathirana is hurting the team.
Speaking about the Sri Lankan's availability, Simmons said, “The fast bowler's availability for the clash against the touring KKR will be subject to the go-ahead from the team physio.
“It's a long tournament, and we want to be conservative in making decisions around that.The physio will decide whether he will play the next match or not.
"It shouldn't be a case of risking four games to play one, but he's playing very well."
Rutu Gaikwad is a quality player, he will perform well
,
One of the major issues has been CSK's inability to maintain an opening partnership except in the second match.
Simmons said that although the pitch plays a role, the two opening batsmen Rutura Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra are still working on building relationships.
He said, “We had a good start in the first two matches and we did not have a good start in the next two matches. This is the nature of the pitch that we have to face.,
"Also, they need to complement each other, especially in terms of building a relationship, which is still building. It took time for Conway and Rutu to build that relationship."
Additionally, Simmons dismissed any concerns about new captain Gaikwad's slow performance in the season, managing only 88 runs in four matches.
"There are no early concerns about what's happening. He is a quality cricketer, that's the nature of high-octane cricket; you have to go out there and play with confidence and some degree of risk-taking."
“It will come,” Simmons said.He's calm, focused on what he wants to do."
"We are not quick to adapt"
,
In IPL 2024, the fast bowlers have adopted the method of hitting the ball short and reducing the pace, which has caused some trouble to the batsmen.
Analyzing how to deal with it, Simmons stressed that it is up to the players to adapt to the situation as quickly as possible.
Simmons said, "It is interesting to see that some teams lose against a batsman like (Shivam) Dubs while others lose. So, he has to understand what teams are not going to do with him and what to do. Have to think."
"The same applies for bowlers also.At some point, the knuckleball may work, and then the batsman scenario may change."
“So, there is a lot of analysis that happens, and both the batsmen and the bowlers need to understand what the opponent is going to do against them and adapt to it.
"We're not quick to adapt to it. But, that's the nature of the tournament and we need to find a solution on how to do it," Simmons said."
The 27-year-old left-arm fast bowler played his first match of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled only one over and conceded 27 runs.
"We also focus on execution and not always on the result," Simmons said ahead of his team's match against Kolkata Knight Riders. He didn't bowl bad overs, except on a few occasions when he got the ball, he could have changed his strategy. " ,
“We've had some really positive conversations. When he started with us, he had a rough start, but we stuck with him because we knew what he could do."He has made some strategic changes in his bowling. But trust me, it will be gold dust because he has done it before and he will get a chance to do it again."
After winning the opening two matches, CSK lost the next two, which were tied. The absence of fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Mathisha Pathirana is hurting the team.
Speaking about the Sri Lankan's availability, Simmons said, “The fast bowler's availability for the clash against the touring KKR will be subject to the go-ahead from the team physio.
“It's a long tournament, and we want to be conservative in making decisions around that.The physio will decide whether he will play the next match or not.
"It shouldn't be a case of risking four games to play one, but he's playing very well."
Rutu Gaikwad is a quality player, he will perform well
,
One of the major issues has been CSK's inability to maintain an opening partnership except in the second match.
Simmons said that although the pitch plays a role, the two opening batsmen Rutura Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra are still working on building relationships.
He said, “We had a good start in the first two matches and we did not have a good start in the next two matches. This is the nature of the pitch that we have to face.,
"Also, they need to complement each other, especially in terms of building a relationship, which is still building. It took time for Conway and Rutu to build that relationship."
Additionally, Simmons dismissed any concerns about new captain Gaikwad's slow performance in the season, managing only 88 runs in four matches.
"There are no early concerns about what's happening. He is a quality cricketer, that's the nature of high-octane cricket; you have to go out there and play with confidence and some degree of risk-taking."
“It will come,” Simmons said.He's calm, focused on what he wants to do."
"We are not quick to adapt"
,
In IPL 2024, the fast bowlers have adopted the method of hitting the ball short and reducing the pace, which has caused some trouble to the batsmen.
Analyzing how to deal with it, Simmons stressed that it is up to the players to adapt to the situation as quickly as possible.
Simmons said, "It is interesting to see that some teams lose against a batsman like (Shivam) Dubs while others lose. So, he has to understand what teams are not going to do with him and what to do. Have to think."
"The same applies for bowlers also.At some point, the knuckleball may work, and then the batsman scenario may change."
“So, there is a lot of analysis that happens, and both the batsmen and the bowlers need to understand what the opponent is going to do against them and adapt to it.
"We're not quick to adapt to it. But, that's the nature of the tournament and we need to find a solution on how to do it," Simmons said."
