Left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh credited former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming for creating a pressure-free environment and said bowling alongside Jamie Overton and the rest of the pace attack helped him grow during his breakthrough Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

In IPL 2026, Gurjapneet played eight times, taking four wickets at an average of 58.25.

“I was with him (Fleming) for two years. He was very calm, very chill, and very easy to talk to because sometimes when we are losing, it’s very difficult to talk to the coach.

Everyone is under pressure. But he is a person who doesn’t put pressure on you,” Gurjapneet said.

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Fleming spent 14 seasons as CSK coach, winning seven trophies, including five IPL titles, before moving on to take on the job of England men’s Test team.

“I think he has an X-factor. That’s why CSK was able to get five trophies (under him).

I think he leaves everything to the player because he finds out the potential from the player. Freedom is there.

“He always told me to keep practising my strengths, gain confidence in practice and then deliver in the match. That’s what I tried to do,” he said on the sidelines of his TNPL franchise Madurai Panthers’ jersey launch event.

The 27-year-old also highlighted the understanding between Fleming and M.S. Dhoni, saying the duo ensured bowlers were used in roles that best suited their strengths.

Discussing CSK’s pace attack, Gurjapneet said Overton’s express pace made life easier for his fellow pacers by allowing them to build sustained pressure.

“Jamie was bowling very quickly from one end, so we were able to build pressure together. When one bowler was creating pressure, the other was getting wickets,” he said.