I've always been impressed with Ravichandran Ashwin: Stephen Fleming

Ravichandran Ashwin

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming admitted that he has always been impressed by Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. He said that Ashwin’s thinking capability makes him a potent bowler.

Ashwin has been one of India's best performers with the ball at the tournament taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of less than 4 with a match against Zimbabwe left.

“Ashwin is a good student of the game”

During a World Cup promotional event, Fleming said, “I have always been impressed with Ashwin as he is such a good student of the game with great work ethic. Look at the manner in which he creates a new delivery. He loves the game, thinks very hard, he is in one way cricket tragic, statistically motivated.

“He needs confidence from the team and he gets that with seam bowlers taking wickets upfront. That enables him to attack.

“It was at Chennai Super Kings, in 2013 that Mohit Sharma's emergence started and no wonder Fleming is happy with his development. India has always had a weakness as far as their third seamer is concerned. They turned it to one of their strengths.

“Ishant Sharma went home, it could have been difficult for India. I have seen Mohit's development closely and his work with Andy Bichel (CSK bowling coach) has been impressive. He started with good performance against Pakistan, he has got confidence. Indian pacers are now all in 140 kmph to 145 kmph mark and they are relishing bowling at that pace,” he said.

“Raina can make short balls his strength”

Fleming also defended Suresh Raina’s ability to play the short ball saying that the Indian comes under unwarranted pressure and that he can make that his strength with a little work.

He said, “I don't think he (Raina) has any problems as such (playing against short balls). If he initially spends some time, he can actually work that to his strength. May be there is an anxiety but it won’t be a problem as far as the smaller grounds of New Zealand is concerned.

“May be a bit of problem if he goes to the big grounds of Australia, as he tends to hook up rather than roll his wrists. He can get better and he knows that. I don't think it's as big a weakness as people make it out to be.”

“Brendon has developed an aggressive side”

Fleming also had opinions on his former team which is performing admirably in the current tournament under the leadership of Brendon McCullum. He was asked to compare the current team to the 1992 squad led by Martin Crowe and he said, “Probably 15 kmph of more pace.

“Well, Martin's team played a different brand of cricket while Brendon has developed a side that plays aggressive cricket. It has taken him two years to build the side. Often you want to create a style but you need a team to back that up. Brendon has created that team."

He was, however, cautious of New Zealand’s chances at lifting their maiden title as he said that the knockout matches are all about who performs better on the day and not who has won all 6 of their group matches en route reaching there.

“When it comes to quarter-final, semi-final and final, it's about one particular individual playing on that particular day. It could be Glenn Maxwell, Chris Gayle or AB de Villiers, anybody who could just turn the game around,” he concluded.