Chennai Super Kings (CSK) assistant bowling coach Sridharan Sriram has revealed that a crucial "long chat" with former captain MS Dhoni significantly influenced spinner Noor Ahmad's match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in an IPL 2026 fixture.
Noor Ahmad's Impactful Performance
Noor Ahmad proved instrumental in CSK's victory, claiming impressive figures of 3 wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs. His spell was pivotal in dismantling KKR's middle order, effectively derailing their chase of 193 runs. Ahmad's key dismissals included Ajinkya Rahane and Cameron Green on consecutive deliveries in the 11th over, reducing Kolkata from 79/3 to 85/5.
Dhoni's Strategic Counsel
Following the match, Sriram detailed the adjustments Ahmad made and highlighted Dhoni's direct involvement. "Even MS had a long chat with him in one of the practice sessions, especially about getting his leg-break going," Sriram stated. He added that this advice proved "very helpful today, and the results were there to see."
The assistant coach also noted that the pitch conditions played a role, offering "a little bit of turn" and being "slower through the air" compared to flatter wickets earlier in the tournament. This allowed for "more side spin on the ball and more drop," which Ahmad capitalized on.
Importance of Spin and Aggression
Sriram further emphasized the strategic importance of spinners actively seeking deviation off the pitch. "To be able to get some deviation off the surface is very important," he explained. He stressed the need for spinners to remain aggressive, "putting revs on the ball and getting the ball to spin" to induce mistakes from batters. He warned that a defensive approach would only allow batters to dominate.
Despite taking four wickets in five matches this season, three of Noor Ahmad's scalps came in this decisive game. The coaching staff attributed his comparatively limited returns in earlier matches to the nature of the pitches encountered, which were less conducive to spin.