IPL 2018

Fleming, Balaji join Hussey in CSK backroom staff

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

(File photo) L Balaji will be CSK's bowling coach © AFP

Chennai Super Kings are leaving no stones unturned in keeping the familiarity alive among its huge fan base. It started with the two-time IPL champions retaining MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja before announcing earlier in the month that Michael Hussey will be the batting coach in what will be CSK's comeback year after they served a two-year suspension. On Friday (January 19), CSK named Stephen Fleming as its head coach while also appointing Lakshmipathy Balaji as the bowling coach.

"We like to retain the core team because of which we are retaining the entire support staff, with Fleming as the head coach and Hussey as the batting coach and Balaji, the local boy, as bowling coach," CSK CEO K S Viswanathan said.

The franchise also got back the services of trainer Gregory King and physio Tommy Simseck, CSK CEO revealed on Friday. After playing for CSK in the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008, the former New Zealand captain Fleming took up coaching duties from the next edition till the suspension kept CSK out for two seasons (2016 and 2017). During that period, Fleming coached Rising Pune Super Giant. Balaji, who coached Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017, too returns to CSK for who he played in the first three editions.

Dhoni, who too was present at the promotional event, mentioned how the challenge would begin now. "The uphill task starts again. You know, (about) who we will get in the auctions. We'll try to get some of the players who have played for us. But this is the time where we can't get too emotional about the fact because a lot of other franchises want players who have played for CSK."

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