It seems that the new Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Team Pune are on a roll. After roping in MS Dhoni, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin and Faf du Plessis in the IPL Player Draft for the next two seasons, Pune are all set to name Stephen Fleming as their coach.
Fleming and Dhoni have worked together in the previous seasons of the IPL, when they were associated with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). These two formed a formidable partnership during their days in CSK.
Dhoni and Fleming were forced to look for new pastures, after CSK and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) were suspended from playing in the IPL for the next two seasons.
Team Pune officials, while refusing to mention Fleming, stated they have zeroed in on a few names for the post of head coach, and they will be announcing the selected candidate soon.
"We have approached a lot of people and have shortlisted a few. But I don't think it would be right to reveal any names at this stage. We are in the final process of negotiations and you have to wait for a couple of more days for the name," Team Pune owner Sanjeev Goenka told reporters on Wednesday.
Stephen Fleming denied to make any comment on his potential move to Pune. But a tweet from Harsh Goenka, the brother of Sanjeev Goenka, it looks like Dhoni and Fleming will stay together in the IPL.
"#IPLDraft Pune with Dhoni as Captain and Fleming as Coach has built a formidable core team. Winning choices made," Harsh Goenka, brother of Sanjeev Goenka tweeted this right after the player draft.
#IPLDraft Pune with Dhoni as Captain and Fleming as Coach has built a formidable core team. Winning choices made.
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) December 15, 2015
Sanjeev Goenka also insisted that in no way are they looking to involve Sourav Ganguly with Team Pune. Ganguly, who is one of the members of the IPL Governing Council (GC), had mentioned earlier that he has nothing to do with any team in the IPL.
"We are not thinking of getting Sourav on board. It is not even a remote possibility in the future," Goneka added.
Once Team Pune, as expected, get Fleming on board for the next two seasons of the IPL, they will be looking to strengthen their team further during the IPL Player Auction on 6 February, 2016.
