You have to be kidding if you predicted that the Chennai Super Kings, the three-time IPL winners, would not qualify for the 2020 IPL Playoffs. After all, we are talking about CSK. Thala’s Army – A team that is the second most successful IPL franchise, behind Mumbai Indians. Eight finals, three titles and five runners-up. Where did everything go wrong?
As MS Dhoni mentioned after last season’s last CSK game, simply put, the team needed to leave its warriors of yesteryear behind. The crux, which comprised players in their 30s, was always a gamble. It paid off in 2018 and 2019, but lost steam the following year. With Dhoni announcing his retirement just a month before the 2020 IPL began, the former India captain’s hopes were high, but his own form was a concern and was reflected in his team’s performance.
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However, with certain new recruits, CSK would hope to fine-tune their mix not only for the current season but also for those to come. At the IPL 2021 auction in February, CSK did not bother with heavy purchases, instead relying on quality purchases, acquiring Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, Cheteshwar Pujara, K. Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth , M. Harisankar Reddy. As we mentioned, it’s just a small adjustment, which means that Dhoni is still backing his warriors to get them off the ground … maybe one last time.
Force
CSK’s strength lies in his young blood. Sam Curran, who played his inaugural season for CSL last year, is expected to be his MVP, especially given the kind of form he’s coming out of. You can give Dwayne Bravo a shot for his money on the lineup. Then there’s Ruturaj Gaekwad, who played for CSK in just six matches last year but promises to be in line for much more in the next 14 matches. The likes of Shardul Thakur and Mitchell Santner come from good match practice. Ravindra Jadeja will return from his injury with a point to prove. And who can forget Cheteshwar Pujara, with an altered posture, giving them six powerful in the networks? A song of things to come perhaps?
Soft spot
That CSK still has a plethora of players who have not played games is a concern for the three-time champions. Remember, Suresh Raina just played a handful of T20 matches in the run-up to the tournament and Ambati Rayudu didn’t make much of a splash at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy either. There is no question of Bravo’s usefulness as a player, but at 37 years old and with a history of injuries, it remains to be seen how much value he can bring. New pick Robin Uthappa has expressed his desire to score 1,000 runs this year, but his last two seasons have produced 282 and 196 runs respectively. Dhoni himself has not played cricket since November last year. For many of these players, this could be their last chance at redemption and CSK must be careful not to stack all of these veterans at once.
Opportunities
CSK has the opportunity of a lifetime here to show why they are the most consistent side in IPL history. Remember 2018 … when CSK came back after a two-year ban to win the trophy that year, and follow it up with a second place the year after? That is what this side is capable of. Last year CSK just couldn’t get off the ground and by the time they realized who the right players were, the ship had already set sail. Above all, IPL 2021 is an opportunity for Dhoni to regain the nickname of one of the best hitters. Let’s face it, last season, Dhoni suffered a personal low, scoring just 200 runs without a single fifty. As it is for Raina. Can CSK’s dynamic duo strike a final blow?
Threats
One of CSK’s greatest strengths, its ability to finish close games, waned last season. For years CSK has been made up of energetic hitters or bowlers who, in most cases, would push the team to its limits. But last year, the same tried-and-true artists couldn’t accept what the youngsters from other teams had to offer. An aging CSK has gotten a bit of a make over and needs to find the right balance before it’s too late.
CSK Team: MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, N Jagadeesan, Faf Du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sam Curran, Ravi Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Karn Sharma, KM Asif, Imran Tahir, R. Sai Kishore , Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, Cheteshwar Pujara, K. Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth, M. Harisankar Reddy
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