After enjoying an excellent first half of the Indian Premier League in the UAE, Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming is happy that selection decisions have paid off and he hoped that the yellow brigade would continue with their winning momentum.
"It is a lot of hard work that goes into it. We have been very lucky with our selections and the players have repaid the faith already," said Fleming on the sidelines of the team's practice session at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
"If you ask (me whether I would take) five wins in six games, I would definitely take it. We are perennially slow starters but this season has been different. To get a start like this has been excellent," he added.
Having featured in five of the six IPL finals, two-time champions CSK have performed like a well-oiled machine under the captaincy of MS Dhoni but Fleming wants to remain cautious due to the unpredictable nature of the format.
"Touch wood, most departments are going well. We have bowled well, the fielding has been excellent and our batting has been good. But we know how fickle form can be in the T20 format.
"We have always been cautious of making statements like that, but at this stage things have been going well in all the departments," said the former New Zealand skipper.
The opening pair of Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum has been super consistent for the Dhoni-led side and Fleming, who has been CSK's coach for six seasons now, admits that a job well begun is half done.
"He (McCullum) has leadership qualities and an energy to him that is quite infectious. His combination with Dwayne and Faf de Plessis along with the Indian fielders has provided some electricity to the fielding. Certainly, his runs and the opening partnership have been the highlights so far this year," said a beaming Fleming.