Michael Hussey finds himself in the middle of an IPL edition gone awry for his team, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). When he talked to the media following CSK’s recent loss, there was something about his tone. He was calm, his words were measured, and there was a whiff of hope in there as well.
CSK, glued to the bottom of the points table and their playoffs chances not a realistic possibility anymore, have decided to focus on one of the very few things that are still in their hands. And that’s scouting and nurturing the young generation, who can make a comeback for ages in the next season. Stephen Fleming said this too, and Hussey agrees as well: CSK could not quite hit the jackpot in the mega-auction this year.
“I think it’s one area that we’ve really identified that we want to improve on is that talent identification side of things,” Hussey said after Chennai’s seventh loss in nine games. “So, we have had different players come in and train with us at various stages, almost on trial a little bit, but also when their names come up for an auction, then at least we’ve seen them, we’ve had eyes on them. I mean, we get sent all the videos, packages and stuff. But to be able to actually watch them in the flesh, it does give you a bit more to go on.”
They have Ayush Mhatre, 17, and Shaik Rasheed, 20. With them is Dewald Brevis, who was celebrating his 22nd as the press conference went on and already bats as if he lulls himself to sleep watching YouTube compilations of AB de Villiers’ batting videos.
CSK used the three youngsters in their recent games and there have been reports of them training at Chennai’s High Performance Academy too. Hussey believes watching these youngsters play in real time under pressure, which has been IPL’s default lately, allows the think tank to know who they want to invest in, in the future.
Mhatre, who they spotted in a mid-season trial at Chepauk, has looked impressive, at least as impressive as a season debutant can. Brevis has played one game so far for CSK. He was an MI boy for ten games across two seasons previously. For CSK, he took his time before producing a blistering 42 off 25 in their last game.
Rasheed averages 15.33 this season in three games, which doesn’t look too glamorous at first sight. But that’s the entire point. This is all data. This is their bid to give experience to those who will carry the team forward without big names. And with that, the dawning that they will still make mistakes. But better mistakes, smarter ones.
“If we can play some practice games, see them [youngsters] under pressure, we can make more informed decisions about the talent that we’re looking at moving forward,” Hussey said. “So, it’s certainly one area that I think they’re putting a lot of time and effort into to make sure that we get the right talent moving forward.
“They’re very important decisions. There’s so much talent in this country and [it’s about] picking the right ones. We’re still going to make mistakes, no question. But if we can make more informed decisions, then I think that will help the franchise moving forward.”
Hussey does understand that this hustle for scouting the best talent isn’t just limited to a few months. They will need to keep this going all year long to come to the auction prepared to bag the best of the lot.
“We’ll keep a close eye on them when they’re playing their domestic stuff as well and keep working with them. It’s not just working with them for this two-and-a-half months, it’s still communicating and working with them throughout the rest of the year as well, and seeing how they’re going, particularly in those pressure situations, seeing what their mentality is like.”
CSK’s campaign might already be over. But they have started something else. It’s time-taking, more patient than it is glamorous. But when it’s time, it might just prove to be more valuable than any trophy.
