IPL 2018: 5 reasons why CSK might not win the title

We are just weeks away from one of the most famous events in the cricketing world, Indian Premier League (IPL). Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are back, replacing Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant. With two titles, Chennai is one of the most successful franchises in IPL cricket.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is back to lead the team. Chennai retained Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja before the auction. They have also made some exciting buys in the auction, with Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir, Shane Watson, Murali Vijay, Mark Wood, and Harbhajan Singh set to play for the CSK in IPL 2018.

However, this team does not exactly look like a champion side. They are a lot of gaps in this current line-up. Stephen Fleming & Co. were not smart enough in the auction and made some poor signings. Also, they missed out on some key players, like Andrew Tye and Chris Woakes.

On that note, let's take a look at the reason why CSK won't win the IPL 2018.

#5 MSD’s diminishing hitting abilities

Dhoni isn’t the same demolisher who instilled fear in bowlers’ minds anymore. In the last few years, the swashbuckling wicket-keeper’s abilities have been questioned a lot as his big hitting seems to be on a downward curve.

The former Indian captain’s strike rate in the Indian Premier League 2017 was a poor 115, considering his strike rate was 163 and 149 in IPL 2013 and 2014 respectively. In IPL 2017, he has scored only 15 boundaries and 16 sixes in 16 matches.

He has a One Day International(ODI) strike rate of 84, which isn't great, given the nature of modern-day limited overs cricket and the position he generally bats.

On quite a few occasions, Dhoni’s inability to win games was exposed at the international arena. He failed to win a low scoring contest in West Indies, when he scored 54 in 114 balls, chasing a paltry 190. He was also slow in the ODIs against South Africa in the recently concluded ODI and T20 series.

This will certainly hamper CSK’s ability to finish games.

#4 Lack of quality Indian pacers

Thakur is the only recognized Indian pacer in the CSK squad

There is an old proverb that says, "batsmen win you games, but bowlers win you championships". This holds good for IPL too. Fast bowlers are an important part of the squad as bowling in powerplays and death overs are the toughest things to do in t20 cricket.

As IPL rule restricts only four foreign players to be played in the eleven, Indian pacers are vital to the success of the team. As we have seen in the past, bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a key role in the success of their respective franchises.

Chennai is weak when it comes to Indian medium pacers. Only Shardul Thakur has some international experience. Other than him, only Deepak Chahar has played a few IPL games. Over-reliance on foreign seemers will affect the balance of the team. Also, CSK's ability to win games in seamer-friendly conditions is also under a big question mark.

#3 Lack of a surprising element or an X-factor

Sunil Narine has played a key role for KKR

T20 is all about unconventional cricket: inventive shots, a lot of different variations in bowling, and crazy filed setting. Surprising the opponents on the field holds the key to the success of a T20 franchise. Mystery factors will win you games.

Bowlers like Lasith Malinga, Sunil Narine, and Rashid Khan can win you titles. On the other hand, batsmen like Chris Gayle, David Waner, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, and Jos Buttler can do the same with the bat.

Chennai has failed to buy a player of that caliber in the auction. Though they possess some good T20 players like Faf du Plessis, Kedar Jadhav, Shane Watson, and Suresh Raina, they lack the X-factor that can win them games.

#2 Over-reliance on spin

CSK has 5 spinners in their squad

Though medium pacers are considered as key bowlers in T20 cricket, over the last few years, the role of spinners in IPL cricket has increased to a great extent.

Chennai Super Kings have five genuine spinners in their team. Ravindra Jadeja, Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, and Mitchell Santner forms their spin bowling department along with the part-timers, Suresh Raina and Kedar Jadhav.

Though spin can win you games, it has to be used cautiously and to a certain extent, CSK's squad shows an over-reliance on the spinners. Though Chepauk can support spin bowling, the Super Kings will struggle in away games, especially when they play in grounds like the Wankhede and Chinnaswamy.

#1 Where is fresh, young talent?

CSK's average age is the highest of all IPL teams this season

Experts say T20 is a game for youngsters. Especially in the IPL, where games come thick and fast, it requires a lot of fitness and stamina to play loads of games in a span of few weeks. Though players like Brad Hodge, Ashish Nehra, Darren Stevens, and Brad Hogg played a lot T20 cricket until the age of 40, a team cannot win games consistently when the average age of the squad is around 30.

10 out of 25 players in the Chennai Super Kings squad are above the age of 30. The list includes key players like Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Kedar Jadhav, and most of them are expected to start every IPL game. With the tournament running close to two months, fitness will play a huge role. CSK team is not well balanced in that aspect.