Chennai, May 18 (IANS) Spencer Johnson has described his stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as one of the most special experiences of his franchise cricket career, saying the atmosphere around the team, the passionate support from fans, and the togetherness within the dressing room make CSK stand out from other teams around the world.

The Australian left-arm pacer, who joined the CSK setup as a replacement for Nathan Ellis for IPL 2026, admitted that franchise cricket can often feel temporary because players move across leagues and teams regularly. However, Johnson said the environment created at CSK under head coach Stephen Fleming has made him feel genuinely connected to the group.

“Well, you can hear the crowd now. It’s unbelievable. I think it can be a little bit transactional playing for so many different teams, but coming here, Fleming has been awesome. The whole group sticks together, so it’s very special,” Johnson told broadcasters ahead of the SRH clash.

The Australian pacer recently returned to action after recovering physically from his previous outing and said he was pleased with the way his body responded to the demands of competitive cricket. “Yes, it recovered all well, thank you. It was nice to get that extra intensity the other night. It’s a little bit different from bowling in the nets, but no, I recovered well,” Johnson said.

Johnson further revealed that although he was initially unsure about getting opportunities in the playing XI, he always stayed mentally prepared for his chance. “I probably wasn’t expecting to play, but I’m always making sure I am ready to play. And we saw how good Overton was, and I was kind of just trying to follow what he did and how he did it,” he explained.

“Once I got the all clear in Australia to come over here, the handbrake was off, and I’ve been trying to bowl as fast as I can,” Johnson added.

Meanwhile, Johnson has played only one match in IPL 2026, where he took one wicket and gave away 39 runs in four overs.

–IANS

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