“So that’s on the scoreboard the big difference and we were also sloppy in the field compared to Rajasthan who were outstanding. So that would be the two immediate takeaways.”
Reflecting on the key moments, Fleming said: “I think (Riyan) Parag’s catch was the turning point in the match. The Dube match-up was going our way but he (Wanindu Hasaranga) had courage. You can’t deny that and he certainly gave the ball air.”
“Sometimes you give the ball air and in this competition you can go the distance but he had the courage to do that and Gaikwad’s wicket as well was very clever. So he held his nerve and had a good day.”
“Nitish Rana played really well. I thought he combated a bit of bounce and a bit of seam early to get them off to a great start so that catch was big and then classy bowling from Hasaranga to Ruturaj. So probably three pretty good moments.”
I tried to use pace in this wicket: Nitish Promoted to number 3, Nitish Rana’s belligerent 36-ball 81 saw RR post 182 for 9 and then restrict CSK to 176 for 6 to register its first win of the season.
“I got to know yesterday (Saturday) when Rahul sir called me before going to practice. Riyan also told me that I could bat at number 3. I guess, that decision was very good.”
“In the first two matches, I was trying to hit hard. So, my learning from the last two matches was that if I try to use pace on this wicket, how much pace I can use on the new ball, if I try to do that, then my success rate can increase in making runs. And today, I did the same thing.”
It was Riyan Parag’s first win as a captain and Nitish credited his calm demeanour and the atmosphere of the dressing room for the win.
“I think, captaincy is very result-oriented. If your result is in your favor, then everyone says that you are a very good captain. I don’t believe that. I think, there are small battles in a T20 game. How you win those battles, that is important,” he said.
“A player knows that, and Riyan is very calm as a captain. And this dressing room is also very calm. This starts with the coaches, the kind of atmosphere that Sanju and even Rahul sir has created in the dressing room. There was no panic. And we just tried to focus on the process.”
