IPL 2018: 5 Players who CSK can buy as a replacement for Santner to fill the voids in the team

Chennai Super Kings is the most popular team in IPL and it is making a comeback to the league after a gap of two years.

The team has been the centre of attention ever since the auction took place with experts evaluating the team's chances of winning the title for the 3rd time.

Most experts consider that CSK lacks in two areas-one being the absence of an experienced fast bowler and the other area being the lack of strong finishers if Dhoni was to fail.

The former Indian captain is not the big-hitting player that he once was as now he takes time to settle and it is important for the team to get another quality finisher.

With Mitchell Santner getting injured, the team can use this opportunity to fill one of these voids.

Here's a look at five players CSK can sign as Santner's replacement.

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#5 David Wiese ( Rs 50 Lakhs)

Wiese's death bowling would be a great plus for CSK

David Wiese is a South African all-rounder who played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

He was a great success for the Bangalore team in 2015 though his performances dropped in 2016.

Wiese has a brilliant record in the shortest format of the game as he has scalped 130 wickets in 159 matches across different T20 leagues.

He has the ability to run through batting units and this aspect of his bowling can be seen from the fact that he has three five-wicket hauls and three four-wicket hauls in T20s which is pretty impressive.

The South African All-rounder has scored 1227 runs in 159 T20s at an average of 21 and with the highest score of 71.

He has the ability to hit big shots in the end overs and his strike rate of 148 is an indication of his shot-making abilities.

CSK is in need of a fast bowler and Wiese could provide that in addition to some big hits in the death overs.

#4 Alex Carey (Rs 30 Lakhs)

Carey is a great striker of the ball

Alex Carey is an Australian Wicket-Keeper batsman who has impressed one and all with his performance in the recently concluded Big Bash League.

He is among the finds of BBL and his performance in the league has even earned him an Australian cap.

Carey had a phenomenal BBL scoring 470 runs in 19 T20s at a brilliant average of 47. He also scored a century in a match against Hobart Hurricanes in Adelaide this year.

He has a strike rate of 137 which is an indication of his big-hitting abilities.

The Australian Keeper opened the innings for Adelaide Strikers in BBL but he has the ability to play pace and spin equally well which enables him to drop down the order as well.

He played as the No.8 batsman for Australia in his solitary ODI match and he could be used as a finisher if CSK decides to pick him.

#3 Kusal Perera (Rs 50 Lakhs)

Perera was impressive in the Nidahas Trophy

Kusal Perera is a Srilankan batsman who has a batting style extremely similar to the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya.

He also has the shots which are pretty similar to Jayasuriya and had performed well for the Srilankan team in the Nidahas trophy

Perera has a good record in T20 Internationals scoring 1020 runs in 34 T20s with a decent average of 30. He has an impressive strike rate of 138 which is the most important stat for a T20 batsman.

CSK requires a hard-hitting middle-order batsman and Perera is definitely an option. With Perera, Dhoni can use him both as a middle order batsman as well as a finisher depending on how the CSK captain is hitting the ball himself.

#2 Junior Dala (Rs 20 Lakhs)

Dala was the most impressive South African bowler in the series against India

Junior Dala made his International debut for the South African team in the series against India and was impressive from the word go.

He swung the ball beautifully and was the key bowler for the South African side in that series.

Dala has an impressive record in domestic T20s as he has scalped 49 wickets in 52 matches at an average of 25 and an economy rate of 8.2.

He has a strike rate of 18 and a four-wicket haul to his name.

Dala's accuracy is a great asset which will be immensely useful for the bowler in death overs. CSK requires a bowler who is skillful and accurate and Dala definitely fits the bill. The only disadvantage would be the fact that he is an inexperienced player.

#1 Kevon Cooper (Rs 40 Lakhs)

Cooper was a success at Rajasthan Royals

Kevon Cooper is an All-Rounder from the Carribean Islands and has the previous experience of playing in the best T20 league in the world.

He also tasted success in his stint with Rajasthan Royals and was touted as the next big thing from West Indies.

Cooper is an excellent bowler who has a great record in IPL scalping 33 wickets in 25 matches at a brilliant average of 23 and an economy rate of 7.8.

He also has an impressive Strike rate of 17 which is an indication of his ability to take wickets.

He doesn't have a great batting record in T20s but he has the ability to play the big shots.

CSK doesn't require a batsman who can play the role of a sheet anchor as the team has enough proper batsmen, instead, it needs a finisher to complement Dhoni and Bravo and Cooper would be a quality addition.

CSK requires a quality death bowler and his ability bowl deadly yorkers will come in handy. He is the only player who can fill both the voids of the Chennai team and is, therefore, the ideal choice for Dhoni.