Fleming in but the Aussies out for Super Kings

Wessels felt the bowlers too needed to put up a better show, especially while bowling at death. “Hopefully, our bowling will improve at the death,” he said.

Talking about the road ahead, Wessels said, “Each of the 14 league matches in the preliminary stage is crucial for us. It is too early to say whether this is a big match, but for us each game is crucial. They are all big and tough encounters.” The side would be without the Australian duo of Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey, who would return home on national duties, but Wessels said he had adequate replacements.

“They will be available for our game against Bangalore Royal Challengers next week. Anyway, their absence would be sufficiently filled up with the arrival of South Africans Makhaya Ntini and Albie Morkel.”

Middle order batsmen Subramaniam Badrinath, who was present with Wessels at the press conference, said the team should strive to post 200-plus runs in their allotted 20 overs.

“It is tough to chase a target about 200 runs and that I think is the minimum one must score if one hopes to win a game in the IPL,” Badrinath said.

On his facing Ishant Sharma, the young Knight Riders fast bowler who has been in top form, Badrinath said, “He can bowl only four overs and I will be playing my natural game.”

The 27-year-old’s 14-ball 31 not out in the opening game against Kings XI Punjab at Mohali helped the Super Kings post 240, the tournament’s highest total so far, and it underlined his value to the team.

“I have put in a lot of efforts in my batting and have been trying out difficult shots. I hope to improve further,” Badrinath said.

Chennai Super Kings 16-member: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Matthew Hayden, Parthiv Patel, Mike Hussey, Stephen Fleming, Jacob Oram, Suresh Raina, Muttiah Muralitharan, Joginder Shrama, Subramaniam Badrinath, Joginder Sharma, Palani Amarnath, R.Ashwin, Manpreet Singh Gony, Shadab Jakati and KB Arun Karthik.