IPL 2023 has been the hardest, says CSK coach Stephen Fleming ahead of final vs Gujarat Titans
IPL 2023: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has said ahead of the final vs Gujarat Titans that the ongoing edition of the tournament has been the hardest. Fleming said that he was nervous before the IPL Final.
In Short
- CSK are set to face GT in the final of the IPL 2023 in Ahmedabad
- CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said that he was nervous before the final
- Fleming said that the 2023 edition of the IPL has been the hardest
Chennai Super Kings are set to face Gujarat Titans in the final of the Indian Premier League 2023. Chennai, four-time IPL winners, will be up for their record-equalling 5th title against Gujarat. They are the most experienced team in the final of the tournament, having participated 9 times already. However. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming has said that he is nervous ahead of the summit clash on Sunday, 28 May.
IPL 2023: Full Coverage | Points Table
Speaking in the pre-final press conference, Fleming said that Gujarat were an excellent side, and CSK could not afford to dream too much.
"We've got to stay very present against Gujarat, one of the most consistent sides in the tournament. They're an excellent side, and we can't afford to dream too much, but this is why we're here. The excitement levels and the nerves of the big stage slowly simmer away, but it's a good thing to have, it's just how you work with them in your system," Fleming said ahead of the final.
The coach admitted to being nervous but said that it was not possible to play at your best without a certain amount of anxiety.
"We've worked very hard at that. We've got some good people around us. We look forward to this challenge, but you have to have a certain level of anxiety and nervousness to be at your best, I guess. It's about how you manage that and how quickly you can sync into the game. That's what we will be looking to do," Fleming said.
The former New Zealand captain said that the margins of victory had got smaller and smaller over the years, and finishing ninth in the league table and finishing higher up might have a very small difference.
"It's just getting closer and closer as teams get smarter about the players they pick or conditions they play in. This year's been no different, it's been the hardest. Each team you come up against it feels like an incredibly difficult challenge. The thing we're really proud of is that when we've had a bad season, we've been able to bounce back," Fleming spoke about the competition in the tournament.
Chennai reached the final of the tournament after winning Qualifier 1 against the defending champions, at home conditions. Dhoni's men will be up against Hardik's GT who have come off a thundering win against Mumbai Indians on Friday, 26 May.