Stephen Fleming defended Chennai Super Kings’ auction decisions after their poor start in IPL 2026. He said the team carefully reviewed all options before finalising their bowling attack.

"Trust me, we went over everything," Fleming said when asked about CSK’s strategy.

Bowling Struggles Hurt CSK Early

CSK’s bowling unit has struggled badly this season. The team has conceded 338 runs in just 30.5 overs and taken only seven wickets. Meanwhile, some bowlers they did not pick have performed well. Lungi Ngidi, for example, has impressed with his slower balls.

CSK had a chance to sign him but chose not to. They also tried to buy Ben Dwarshuis and Jason Holder but failed. The franchise had previously used Gerald Coetzee in other leagues but did not include him here. Injured Nathan Ellis was replaced by Spencer Johnson, who has not yet joined the squad.

Weak Bowling a Growing Concern in IPL

The early trend in IPL 2026 shows that teams with weak bowling attacks are struggling to compete. CSK faced this problem again when Punjab Kings chased down 210 with ease. The loss handed CSK their second straight defeat. Fleming admitted the team may have missed out on some bowlers who are now in form.

"I'm trying to think back to the auction process," he said. "Around all those names that you've talked about and mentioned, I don't, I can't remember the dynamics. There was a large list of bowlers that we looked at and missed out on that might have been out of form at the time but are in form now, but trust me, we went over everything."

Gaikwad Points to Missed Momentum

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad felt the match was still within reach during the middle overs.

"[But] just when the over was going really well, we conceded that six or a boundary. The pressure didn't really build. I think there was a point where it [required rate] went to 11 an over. Maybe a couple of good overs from there, it'd have climbed to 12 and 13. That's how you gain momentum. So I think we just didn't get that momentum in the middle."

He believed spin could have made a difference. Based on Yuzvendra Chahal’s performance earlier, CSK brought in Rahul Chahar as an impact substitute and paired him with Noor Ahmad.

However, both struggled on the night. “and that's what cost us,” Gaikwad said.

Impact Player Rule Favors Batters

Fleming highlighted how the Impact Player rule has changed the nature of the game.

"Other tournaments around the world, it's not as frantic as this. I'm not sure how much longer it [the rule] is here for or if it's here to stay. But that certainly changes the dynamic of cricket and probably sways a little bit towards batting power"

He added that bowling units across teams are under pressure.

"Bowling is under pressure in the IPL, especially with the impact [player] rule," he said. "You've seen players who are taking the game on and their skillset is very high. All bowling attacks are under pressure. We need to execute better, there's no doubt about it."

T20 Batting Has Completely Changed

Fleming also pointed out a major shift in T20 batting. "I don't think there is a thing called finishers anymore."

"It's right from ball one, everyone is going at a rate of knots," he said. "It's not build up to the 16th over and then go harder. Everyone is going hard from ball one. So the run rates of 10, 11, 12 all the way through are what's expected. And you're not really getting the big peaks towards the end. It's just a more aggressive approach to get 240."

Despite the struggles, Fleming remains confident about CSK’s batting strength. He mentioned injured players like Dewald Brevis and MS Dhoni as key options.

Challenges in Building a T20 Squad

CSK’s recent struggles have come during the era of the Impact Player rule. The team won the title in 2023 but failed to qualify for playoffs in 2024 and finished last in 2025. Fleming said building a T20 team has become more complex.

"One of the greatest challenges in T20 franchise cricket is securing talent," he said. "And that through competitions is becoming difficult as teams bundle players."

He added that teams must constantly adapt to changing trends.

"So, again, you say how long is the impact player [rule going to be there]? Will allrounders come back into the game? Or will it continue to be dashers, an aggressive batting style? I don't know. But look, I'm constantly with others looking at that and trying to stay as relevant as possible."