The spot-fixing scandal had disrupted Chennai Super Kings’ campaign in the just-concluded IPL, coach Stephen Fleming said.
“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 at the Eden Gardens 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.
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Indian cricket was recently thrown into disarray because of the IPL spot-fixing scandal, which led to the arrest of three players, including India 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 Gurunath Meiyappan for alleged involvement in betting.
“We discussed that (spot-fixing) on Saturday. How much effect it had on them in the final, each player would have to answer that. I acknowledged in my statement yesterday (Saturday) that it had been a tough week,” the CSK coach said.
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“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 played well; we probably had the most consistent tournament. We just came out short (in the final),” he acknowledged.