Two days shy of 36 years, Ashish Nehra is not getting any younger but he has been a key to Chennai Super Kings charge this season claiming 12 wickets in six games, including a T20 best of 4-10. 

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However, Chennai coach Stephen Fleming believes his top bowler, whose career has been plagued with injuries, needs constant attention and may even sit out a few games to keep him fresh and hungry.

With Chennai playing four games in the next seven days, including back to back matches against Kolkata Knight Riders at home today and at Eden Gardens on Thursday, Fleming is not averse to falling back on the bench strength to protect his top players like Nehra.

“We have to manage our players well in the next eight days with the travel-and-play scenario popping up,” he said. 

“We have identified it as a risky area and we may have to look at our bench strength.

“We are always monitoring Ashish Nehra. He is not in the early days of his career. 

“Currently he is flying high and playing really well. But we will keep monitoring him, especially given his track record with fitness.”

It has taken six years for Nehra to get back into the swing of things in the Indian Premier League.

The left-arm medium-pacer’s best showing was in the 2009 season when he picked up 19 wickets in 13 games for Delhi Daredevils.

This season he is the second best in the wicket-takers list and looks good to  finish with his best haul in the IPL provided he maintains his fitness. 

Chennai hold the edge against Kolkata having won both their games at home this season besides holding a 9-5 overall advantage over the defending champions.

Fleming, however, is not willing to take them lightly. “They are an excellent side and we have had some good battles with them.

“We have played a couple of finals against them, the last one being the CLT20 last year.

“There is a similarity in CSK and KKR in that both the teams identify the brand of cricket they want to play and find players who fit in. They also have a good, aggressive captain.”