The Chennai Super Kings do not currently have an Ayush Mhatre substitute, bowling coach Eric Simons said on Wednesday, adding that MS Dhoni’s availability is still pending medical clearance and the former captain’s evaluation of his health.
An in-form Mhatre’s hamstring injury prevented him from playing in the IPL, which was a major blow to CSK. Simons stated that the team intends to exploit its current resources for the time being.
“We haven’t got any replacements in mind at the moment. With what we have in the squad, there’s plenty of time left for a replacement to be made and to be known. But at the moment we’re going to use the resources we have to pull a side,” PTI quoted Simons telling reporters on the eve of their IPL contest against Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on Thursday.
Dhoni spent a significant amount of time in the nets on Wednesday against pacers and throwdown specialists following a complete training session on Tuesday, but it is unclear if the former captain would be eligible for the match.
“(Regarding) MS…that decision will be made once he in particular and the medical staff are completely happy that he is ready to go,” Simons said.
Spencer Johnson has joined the team, Simons said, although he did not specify when the Australian pacer would be eligible to compete.
Anshul Kamboj, an Indian seamer who has taken 13 wickets so far this season, has been somewhat of the “leader of the attack” for CSK, but Simons stated that he would not be asked to cover for Khaleel Ahmed’s departure.
“The important thing is you don’t take away from what he’s done so successfully and make him do someone else. You must replace the role that Khaleel has done,” the former India bowling coach said.
“What we really try and do is have guys understand the four overs that they’re going to bowl, prepare for those tactically, not only in the nets but in the discussions around it.”
“He has been really good for us at the back end of the innings. He is and has been in some ways the leader of the attack. We believe strongly in a structure of the way guys play (and) we would hate to take away a strength to try and fill a gap somewhere else,” Simons added.
Simons voiced confidence in the potential of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has just 82 runs from six games, citing the example of Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Varma, who returned to form with a match-winning century.
“He had been struggling hadn’t he? And then he has gone and played an incredible knock. I think he scored 82 runs of that innings from the 14th over. What was he on? 19 of the 22 balls and no one doubted him,” Simons said.
“We don’t doubt Rutu at all and he doesn’t doubt himself. For us it is just (about) a moment (when) that breakout comes. Maybe it’s a shot, maybe it’s something that gets through a gap and he is away,” he said.
Simons emphasized that the Super Kings’ coaching style emphasizes the value of letting players like Jamie Overton be who they are.
“He has found his way. Every cricketer that comes here, whether it’s a batsman or a bowler, needs to find their way of being successful in these conditions,” he said.
“The danger comes when they try and change and be someone different. I think what’s happened is more than anything he has gone back to being the Jamie Overton that he can be and that has worked particularly well for him. Technically we have used that and worked around it,” Simons added.
