Billings happy to get CSK's vote of confidence

Chennai Super Kings batsman Sam Billings, on Tuesday, said it was collective effort that resulted in the team's triumph in the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League.

"What stood out for me was that ours was a collective effort," the England cricketer, who made his debut for CSK last  season, was quoted as saying by the freanchise on their official website.

"Of course, there were a couple of standout performances like (Ambati) Rayudu's consistency and (Shane) Watson's brilliance. Although, actually, if you look at the different games that we won, it was different players at different times stepping up," Billings said.

He said it was phenomenal team effort last year and hoped for more of the same this year.

"It was phenomenal how much of a team effort it was. Hopefully, more of the same this year," he added.

Billings is training with the rest of the squad at the M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai ahead of the IPL-12 opener between CSK and Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 23.

The dashing England batsman said continuity helped, adding one grows in confidence knowing that people back you, referring to the CSK's decision to retain 23 members from the  previous season.

"Continuity helps immensely, certainly as individual players, but also as a group, you grow in confidence knowing that people ultimately back you. It allows you to play with freedom and enjoy it," he added.

Billings also spoke about captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's calming influence on the team.

"His clarity of thought the whole time is astonishing, knowing what you need to do at that very moment and not get ahead of yourself. It feeds off to other players," he said.

Meanwhile, CSK players sweated it out at training on Tuesday. Dhoni batted at the nets and went for big shots while coach Stephen Fleming kept a watch on proceedings.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson, who shone in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) and West Indies veteran Dwayne Bravo, who linked up with the squad on Monday, took part in the training session.