New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming admits that the defending champions were put under tremendous pressure by the Delhi Daredevils and has appreciated his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's cool composure after the team's poor performance last night.

After the big loss here Tuesday night, Fleming said Dhoni is never under pressure and knows how to live with it even if he is.

"He never seems to be under any kind of pressure. Obviously, he has pressure but that he has been living with for quite some time now. He has the desire to win like anybody else and it's known that he is talented. He is a key component in this set-up and everyone knows what happens when he performs," said Fleming.

The former New Zealand captain said Daredevils had set the standard right from the first ball.

"The standard was set from the first ball. The more we tried to get out of the pressure, the more we got into it. We tried to break free but it got worse," he said.

Fleming also backed mis-firing opening Murali Vijay and hoped the batsmen would find his form in the long tournament. He also feels that South African all-rounder Faf du Plesis also brings a lot of experience to the team.

"It's only three matches and we have a long way to go. It would be unfair on Vijay to drop him after just three bad games and also he was run-out today. Vijay has been an excellent IPL player.

"As far as Mike Hussey is concerned there can be only one such player. But Faf brings in a lot to the table. He is a fantastic attacking batsman and also a brilliant fielder. For us, he is a great attacking weapon," he said. (IANS)