IPL 2026: Injury-hit CSK look to turn playoff push into top-four surge, face LSG

Head coach Stephen Fleming said Forrester was already on his way to India.

“He’s making the trip to India as we speak,” Fleming said.

Asked about the injuries in the CSK camp, Fleming said the setbacks were unfortunate rather than a result of overloading players.

“It is unlucky. A couple of the boys came into the competition with niggles. Ramakrishna Ghosh was one of those. We were nursing him through and then he had a fall, so that was unfortunate,” he said.

Fleming said Overton’s all-action style naturally came with some risk.

“Jamie plays the game at 100 miles an hour. So bowling 150, batting hard, there is a chance that he is going to have an injury at some stage. It’s just unfortunate that it was for us at this time,” he said.

He also mentioned Ayush Mhatre’s hamstring issue and insisted that CSK were not pushing players beyond reasonable limits.

“We’re not doing anything to put strain on these guys. There may be a little bit more responsibility for how guys come into the tournament that we need to monitor. But they’ve all been playing a lot of cricket. It’s just one of those things,” Fleming said.

“We’re certainly not turning a blind eye to it. We’re working very hard on recovery and we have a very professional staff with us that have been with us for a number of years. So that area is well looked after.”

On Prashant Veer, Fleming said CSK would continue to be patient despite the investment made in him.

“We’ll have a look at him. A price tag doesn’t mean that you’re automatically ready to go. We’ve been working with Prashant really closely. He’s had four or five opportunities and he’s doing well,” Fleming said.

“He’s a player that we’ve identified for the future for CSK and just because we had to pay a lot because others saw the talent in him as well, it doesn’t mean you have to rush him in. We’re working hard with Prashant and Kartik Sharma and they’re both going nicely.”

LSG, meanwhile, are trying to find meaning in a campaign that has already slipped away. Spin coach Carl Crowe said the franchise still had enough to play for despite elimination.

“We have got important games to play still — our pride as cricketers, our pride in the franchise. We are still expecting to win the next three games, that’s our focus,” Crowe said.

“Obviously, to be out of the competition at this stage is disappointing, but we still have lots to play for. Guys are looking to perform for the franchise, so we are still full steam ahead and very focused on the next three games.”

For CSK, this is a chance to convert resurgence into playoff positioning. For LSG, it is an opportunity to disrupt that charge and remind the league that even a side out of contention can still shape the final-four race.