IPL 2018: 3 reasons why CSK might still struggle to win the title

Chennai Super Kings is one of the most consistent franchises in the history of T20 cricket can be testified by multiple IPL and Champions League titles to go with a plethora of appearances in the finals of a marquee event.

Two reasons explain Chennai Super Kings success over the years in T20 cricket, firstly the presence of a strong core in Bravo, Raina, du Plessis who can win games for their team from any situation and secondly the franchise has been blessed with a leader in MS Dhoni whose pristine game sense and penchant for out-of-the-box thinking transformed the unit into world-beaters.

The perennial T20 giants have started their tournament on a superlative note with back-to-back wins over Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.

That said, there are still some factors that may derail Chennai's IPL 2018 campaign. In this blog, let us see the three factors that may derail Chennai's charge in the Vivo IPL 201.

Here's the compilation:

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#3 Over-reliance on spin

Tahir has not been in best of form yet.

That MS Dhoni loves captaining to the spinners is a fact well known. Dhoni is a master tactician when it comes to setting fields for the spinners and has a pristine game sense to second guess as to what the batsman is expecting. It is perhaps this tenet that CSK had followed while selecting their squad for the upcoming season.

While the spinners at their disposal are proven match-winners with too many of them presenting their case to be in the first choice XI, it may seriously hamper the balance of the side especially with just two specialist overseas fast bowlers in Mark Wood and Lungisani Ngidi.

While Tahir has not exactly set the stage on fire in the first two games (1 wicket in 2 games), Harbhajan has been hugely under-utilized by Dhoni, as the vile off-spinner is yet to fulfill his quota of 4-overs.Over-reliance on spinners may come to haunt CSK, especially in away games on small grounds like the Wankhede or the Chinnaswamy.

#2 Lack of death bowlers

Russell tore into Bravo in the death overs

While the Super Kings has loaded their squad with quality spinners Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja and Karn Sharma, it is the pedigree of their fast bowling reserves that could turn out their Achilles heel.

In the first two games, Chennai has leaked a plethora of runs in the death overs, none more evident than Andre's Russell breathtaking assault on Dwayne Bravo at Chepauk, to swell his team's target past 200-mark.

While the Super Kings still managed to win the game thanks to Sam Billings late charge, they'll have to sort out their death-bowling conundrum as soon as possible.

#1 No more matches at their fortress, Chepauk

Chepauk has long been a fortress for CSK

Apart from the above-listed factors, the most pivotal point that could play a massive part in CSK's fortunes is that they will no longer play their home games at Chepauk, a ground that they managed to convert into a fortress over the years.

Home advantage is pivotal for any team's fortunes in the IPL, and now with Chepauk no more their home ground, CSK will have to change their team plans and tactics and most importantly adjust to the new playing conditions of Pune, which has now been announced as their adopted home for the remainder of this season.