Chennai: There may have been some doubts about Sanju Samson’s start with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but head coach Stephen Fleming is confident that the star batter will soon regain form. Samson’s performance has come under scrutiny after scoring just 6 and 7 in his first two matches of the Indian Premier League 2026 season.

This dip in form has drawn attention, especially following his high-profile move from Rajasthan Royals and his recent success in India’s T20 World Cup triumph.

Fleming Dismisses Concerns Over Form

Fleming, however, brushed aside concerns, backing Samson’s ability to bounce back strongly.

“He is not going to score every time. It’s T20 cricket and he just nicked one today. But, he is in good form. He is training well. And when he gets going, he is often a match-winner. So, two innings don’t define an area of concern,” Fleming said after CSK’s loss to Punjab Kings.

Samson’s early dismissals—first to Nandre Burger in Guwahati and then to Xavier Bartlett at Chepauk—have limited him to just 13 runs in two innings. Despite this, the CSK camp remains calm, trusting his ability to recover from a slow start.

Bowling Woes Overshadow Batting Concerns

While Samson’s form has been discussed widely, CSK’s bigger concern lies in their bowling performance. Despite posting a strong total of 209/5, they failed to defend it as Punjab Kings chased it down comfortably.

The chase was powered by an explosive start from Priyansh Arya and a composed half-century from Shreyas Iyer. Fleming admitted that the team could have done better with the ball but avoided going into detail about auction decisions, including the absence of experienced pacers.

“I’m trying to think back to the auction process… Trust me, we went over everything. I can’t remember those dynamics,” he said.

Modern T20 Demands Aggressive Batting Throughout

Questions have also been raised about CSK’s squad balance, particularly the lack of traditional finishers. However, Fleming believes the modern T20 format has evolved beyond fixed roles.

“Look, I don’t think there is a thing called finishers anymore. It’s right from ball one, everyone is going at a rate… you’re not really getting the big peaks towards the end,” he explained.

He emphasized the need for consistent aggression throughout the innings, aiming for totals around 240 rather than relying on late surges.

Fleming also pointed out that CSK still have strong options, including MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis, expressing confidence in the team’s batting depth and overall approach moving forward.