IPL 2020 : Chennai Super Kings

Overview : The Chennai super kings (CSK) are one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. Chennai have qualified for the playoffs in every season that they participated in. They have played in eight finals and won the title on three occasions. Led by only one captain right from the start.

Captain : MS Dhoni

Support Staff : Stephen Fleming (head coach), Mike Hussey (batting coach), Lakshmipathy Balaji (bowling coach), Rajiv Kumar (fielding coach).

Squad : –

Strengths : Their biggest positive has to be the captaincy of MS Dhoni. He brings the best out of a player and can make an average looking team on paper a strong side to face. They usually play on a turning track at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai where spinners have a crucial role to play. Conditions here will be similar.

Weaknesses : A lot of their players have not played cricket, actively even prior to the lockdown. Dhoni played his last game in the world cup which was over a year ago, Watson has retired, Jadhav and Vijay have fallen out of the selectors’ radar in all formats and the biggest blow came right before the tournament when experienced campaigner Raina and veteran spinner Harbhajan pulled out of the tournament.

Trivia : Harbhajan is the third highest wicket taker in the history of IPL (150) and Raina is the second highest run scorer in the IPL since the first season.(5368 runs)

Player to watch out for : –

Ruturaj Gaikwad : An aggressive batsman who can play as an opener and at number 3. Gaikwad has scored the most number of list ‘A’ runs for India ‘A’ in the last two years – 843 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 105. Dhoni once said he has a “sharp cricket brain.”

Team combination and probable XI : –

Their batting line – up will consist of all the retained players. Tahir will be a part of their XI and Santner may come in at some stage. Gaikwad would have been a good replacement for Raina but he will have to wait untill he tests negative.

Fans would love to see Dhoni open the innings or bat at three, now that he has no extra baggage and bowling attacks will dread at the sight of MS facing the first ball.

1. Watson 2. Rayudu 3. Faf 4. Dhoni ( c, wk) 5. Jadhav 6. Jadeja 7. Bravo 8. Shardul 9. Chawla 10. Chahar 11. Tahir.