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'We have to keep Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar quiet': CSK head coach Stephen Fleming before RCB match
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming commented on the significance of Virat Kohli to RCB before their match in Chennai on Friday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are visiting the M Chidambaram Stadium for a crunch match against the Chennai Super Kings in match 8 of IPL 2025. Both teams are coming off victories in their opening matches from the tournament, and will be looking at this heated rivalry match as an opportunity to set the tone for their seasons ahead.
In focus will be Virat Kohli, who has been RCB’s talismanic batter for nearly two decades and only gone from strength to strength. Kohli won the orange cap in IPL 2024, and kept his strong tournament form going with 59* to guide RCB home against KKR in the opening game.
Given Kohli’s calibre and the threat he possesses, he became the focus of a question directed at CSK coach Stephen Fleming during the lead-up press conference. Fleming was asked whether Kohli’s form and ability meant that the RCB batting was too reliant on him.
The former Kiwi captain was quite diplomatic, and pointed out that these judgements can’t be drawn on paper, or just from one game.
“It's really hard to comment after just one game. The RCB and CSK from last year is quite different. We don't look into past performances,” explained Fleming.
“Certainly, looking at their team, Kohli is a big part of it. But they have strength in their team, like most franchises have,” he continued. “The competition is pretty even this year.”
Fleming reveals key plan vs RCB
However, despite Kohli’s sterling form, CSK will be aware that RCB are full of dangerous batters. Phil Salt is capable of providing lightning starts at the top of the order to give a platform, while captain Rajat Patidar is one of the best players of spin in the middle order. Patidar scored 34(16) in the first match, and will be crucial on a Chepauk pitch and against a CSK team that has access to Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Noor Ahmad.
“If we keep him and Patidar quiet, then it will help us to win," said Fleming matter-of-factly, indicating what he sees as the key to the gameplan.
CSK were also reliant on the performances of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra with the bat, and will be hoping for better contributions from other members of the lineup when the teams face off in Chennai.
