Kolkata: The spot-fixing scandal had “disrupted” Chennai Super Kings’ campaign in the IPL, coach Stephen Fleming said after they finished runners-up to Mumbai Indians in the sixth edition of the tournament.
“We are a very calculated side usually, but it’s really been a very difficult last week. Off the field, we were to experience something we had not been used to. But certainly it (our campaign) was disrupted,” Fleming said at the post-match press conference after CSK lost to MI by 23 runs in the title clash here on Sunday night.
“We had a pretty good IPL. It was trouble free till the last week. There was an element of consistency in a topsy-turvy tournament. We love winning but we are also pretty humble in defeat,” he added.
Chasing a modest 149, CSK, the two-time former champions, were restricted to 125/9 in their fifth final, as Mumbai Indians lifted their maiden IPL title.
Indian cricket was recently thrown into disarray because of the IPL spot-fixing scandal which led to the arrest of three players, including Test pacer S Sreesanth, and several bookies with underworld connections.
The scandal reached the doorstep of BCCI President N Srinivasan with the Mumbai Police arresting his son-in-law and CSK owner Gurunath Meiyappan for alleged involvement in betting.
“We were hoping that our performance (in the final) would reflect the pride and the nature of the side. But it was not to be. We were outplayed,” Fleming said.
“So a disappointing end to what was a good tournament for us. We just came out short (in the final),” he acknowledged. (PTI)
