Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has backed MS Dhoni’s decision to give the crucial 19th over to Khaleel Ahmed, despite the pacer conceding 33 runs in the high-pressure phase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their IPL 2025 clash.
Ahmed, who had been one of CSK’s most consistent bowlers, struggled against Romario Shepherd’s explosive batting, allowing RCB to set a target of 214 runs. CSK fell short by just two runs, finishing at 211/5.
Addressing criticism over Dhoni’s call, Fleming stated, “Khaleel has done really well for us this season, so there was no reason for MS to change that. Kamboj is growing into his role nicely and has the ability to bowl in death overs, but there was no justification for replacing Khaleel in this instance.”
Despite the setback, Fleming emphasized that CSK remains focused on team improvement, acknowledging that narrow defeats have been a challenge this season. He also hinted at exploring more bowling options in upcoming matches.
Meanwhile, Shepherd, who smashed an unbeaten 53 off 14 balls, revealed that he sensed confusion in Ahmed’s approach, which allowed him to execute his aggressive hitting strategy effectively.
With CSK looking to bounce back, Fleming assured fans that the team is analyzing key moments and working on tactical adjustments for the remainder of the tournament.
Stay tuned for more IPL 2025 updates.
