Sacking incoming? Stephen Fleming breaks silence on his future as CSK…

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has finally addressed his future with the franchise after another disappointing Indian Premier League season. sport-newz.biz

The five-time champions are once again in danger of missing the playoffs, and the pressure around the coaching staff has intensified following inconsistent performances in the last few years.

Chennai Super Kings’ performance in IPL 2026

IPL 2026 has been a frustrating campaign for the Chennai Super Kings. After 13 matches, they are placed sixth on the points table with six wins and seven defeats, while their net run rate stands at -0.016.

CSK had a poor start to the season as they lost against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in three of their opening four matches. They did recover strongly in the middle phase of the tournament with victories over Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians.

However, consistency remained a massive issue throughout the season. Chennai Super Kings suffered defeats against the Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants, which badly dented their qualification hopes. Their recent loss against SRH at Chepauk has now left them heavily dependent on other teams for a playoff berth.

Also Read: RR vs LSG, 19 May 2026 Match Prediction Today, Indian Premier League Match 64: Who Will Win, Toss Impact & Win Probability

Stephen Fleming breaks silence on his future with CSK

Following the defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Stephen Fleming admitted that Chennai Super Kings have not delivered the kind of performances expected from them.

Stephen Fleming added that the decision regarding his future lies entirely with the management, as everyone is judged based on the results.

“I'd say it's a choice for the management. I know there's been a lot of talk about it, but MS has been around a lot this year, which has been really important for the team, for a lot of young players and continuity," Stephen Fleming said.

“So he's been a big part, he hasn't played, but he's still had a big influence on the team. There's a lot of good things we've done. We've introduced some new players that will be hopefully generation players for CSK. But I know we're judged on results, that's fair. So, yeah, it's the management's call, not mine,” Stephen Fleming added.

Chennai Super Kings’ qualification scenario for IPL 2026 playoffs

Despite sitting sixth on the table, Chennai Super Kings are still mathematically alive in the playoff race. They currently have 12 points from 13 matches and can finish with a maximum of 14 points if they defeat Gujarat Titans in their final league-stage fixture.

However, just winning their final game will not be enough for Chennai Super Kings. They also need multiple results to go in their favour. Rajasthan Royals must lose both their remaining matches, Punjab Kings need to lose against Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders must beat Delhi Capitals but lose their final match against Mumbai Indians.

If all those results fall in place and CSK beat Gujarat Titans, then the fourth playoff spot could be decided on net run rate between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. At the moment, CSK hold a better net run rate advantage over DC.

Also Read: MS Dhoni makes one final Chepauk appearance in 2026 as IPL retirement buzz grows louder

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Croatia are preparing for another emotional World Cup journey, and at the centre of it stands Luka Modric — still leading, still inspiring, and still carrying the hopes of an entire football nation.

Head coach Zlatko Dalic officially unveiled Croatia’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, confirming that the legendary midfielder will captain the side in what could become the final World Cup appearance of his extraordinary career.

At 40, Modric continues to defy age and expectations. The Real Madrid icon has already become one of the most celebrated footballers in Croatian history, guiding the national team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final and a third-place finish in Qatar four years later. Now, he returns for what will remarkably be his fifth World Cup campaign.

There had been concerns surrounding Modric’s fitness after he recently underwent cheekbone surgery following an injury setback. But Dalic expressed confidence that his captain would be fully ready before Croatia begin their campaign in North America next month. Reports suggest Modric has already resumed light training while wearing a protective facial mask.

The squad announced by Dalic reflects a careful blend of experienced leaders and emerging young talent. Alongside Modric, Croatia will rely heavily on familiar names such as Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic — players who have formed the backbone of Croatia’s remarkable consistency in recent major tournaments.

Defensively, Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol returns after recovering from injury, while teenage defender Luka Vuskovic has also earned selection as one of the brightest young prospects in Croatian football. Dalic appears determined to gradually introduce a new generation without sacrificing the experience that has made Croatia such a dangerous tournament side.

Croatia’s football story has always been built around resilience. Despite being a relatively small nation, they have repeatedly punched above their weight on the world stage. Since their World Cup debut in 1998, Croatia have reached the semifinals three times — including their unforgettable run to the final in Russia under Dalic’s leadership.

That history continues to fuel belief among supporters that another deep tournament run is possible.

Croatia have been placed in Group L alongside England, Ghana and Panama, a challenging group that promises high-pressure football from the very beginning. Their opening fixture against England is already being viewed as one of the standout clashes of the group stage.

For Dalic, this World Cup could also carry special significance. The coach has transformed Croatia into one of international football’s most respected teams since taking charge in 2017, earning praise for his calm leadership and ability to maximise the country’s talent pool.

But inevitably, the emotional spotlight remains fixed on Modric.

Over nearly two decades in international football, the midfield maestro has become the symbol of Croatia’s golden generation. His elegance on the ball, relentless work ethic and composure under pressure have earned admiration across the football world.

Now, as Croatia prepare for another World Cup challenge, fans know this tournament may represent the final chapter of an unforgettable international career.

And if history has shown anything about Luka Modric and Croatia, it is that writing them off too early is usually a mistake.

The post Luka Modric Set for One Last World Cup Mission as Croatia Reveal 26-Man Squad appeared first on SSI FANZINE.

On Monday, former Team India captain and Chennai Super Kings superstar Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wife Sakshi was in the stands to cheer for the team in their IPL 2026 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

However, it’s her reaction that’s going viral on social media.

In the viral clip, Sakshi can be seen reacting to ball not given wide by the umpire while CSK was batting in the first innings. Apparently, CSK all-rounder Shivam Dube was batting when a tennis ball-like bouncer was bowled which he left thinking that it was above his head, and the ball went straight in to the gloves of the wicket-keeper.

Sakshi — shocked by the umpire’s decision — says, “Wide de bhai". However, it is not audible what she said in the video.

Sakshi Dhoni’s raw reaction was worth everything #TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 #CSKvSRH | LIVE NOW https://t.co/1MHhpANXCI pic.twitter.com/3mrqPuj5Rv

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 18, 2026

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB)
Matches: 13, Wickets: 24, Best: 4-23

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is rolling back the years with a tournament to remember and currently leads the race for the Purple Cap with 24 wickets. This season has brought out the absolute best in the right-arm medium pacer, who has anchored his team’s bowling unit, claiming three or more wickets on six occasions in 13 matches. His 3-5 helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru register their biggest victory in terms of balls remaining (81) after rattling Delhi Capitals for just 75 all out, while the 36-year-old’s 3-27 and season’s best 4-23 played major roles in RCB’s victories after restricting Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians to 146 all out and 166-7 respectively.

Kagiso Rabada (GT)
Matches: 13, Wickets: 21, Best: 3-25

Gujarat Titans’s Kagiso Rabada has been the most destructive pacer in the Powerplay this season, putting opponents on the back foot early in the innings. So far, the right-arm pacer has claimed 16 wickets in the first six overs alone — the second-most in the Powerplay in a single IPL edition. Rabada has often single-handedly helped GT win matches by restricting opponents to under 200 in a season that has seen the most 200-plus totals (53). His 3-29 kept Kolkata Knight Riders to just 180 all out, while his season’s best 3-25 helped Chennai Super Kings manage only 158-7. Rabada’s Player-of-the-Match effort also helped GT defend 168-5 as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s big-hitting top-order surrendered to the 30-year-old’s pace, tumbling for just 86 all out in 14.5 overs.

Jofra Archer (RR)
Matches: 12, Wickets: 17, Best: 3-20

Jofra Archer has spearheaded Rajasthan Royals’s pace attack this season after claiming just 12 wickets last year. The right-armer was instrumental in his team’s easy win over RCB, dismissing opener Phil Salt for a duck off the first ball and then accounting for the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal in his next over. Archer’s biggest success this season came during his match-winning spell against LSG, where his 3-20 helped restrict them to just 119 in a chase of RR’s 159-6. In this process, Archer, who has claimed 74 wickets playing for RR, went past Shane Watson (67 wkts) to become the franchise’s all-time leading wicket-taker.