Chennai, India : Chennai Super Kings are reaping the rewards of investing in young talent, with coach Stephen Fleming praising the resurgence of Kartik Sharma in the Indian Premier League.
The 20-year-old, who endured a difficult start to the season with just 58 runs in his first five matches, bounced back in style with an unbeaten 54 to guide Chennai to an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.
Kartik shared a match-winning partnership with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who remained unbeaten on 67 as Chennai chased down a target of 160 in 18.1 overs.
“It is a big stage… they can have all the talent in the world, but temperament is what we’re looking for,” Fleming said.
The coach highlighted Kartik’s perseverance after a challenging introduction to the tournament, noting that time away and hard work had paid off.
Chennai’s management also supported the youngster in handling the pressure of his high auction price by encouraging interaction with former captain MS Dhoni and mental-skills coach David Reid.
“The mental aspect of staying calm… is reasonably untapped in this competition,” Fleming added, pointing to Dhoni’s composure as a key learning example.
Kartik’s return to form comes at a crucial time for Chennai, who are without teenage standout Ayush Mhatre due to a hamstring injury.
Currently sixth in the standings, Chennai will next face Delhi Capitals as they push for a playoff spot.
