IPL 2018: 3 Secrets to CSK's success

#1 Depth in the CSK XI

CSK have a great depth in their Playing XI

Many wouldn't have predicted that Chennai Super Kings would be at the top of the table ahead of SRH and other teams, who clearly had better squad depth and variety with both bat and ball, but CSK has proved everyone wrong.

They may not have as much depth as teams like SRH, but their first XI is as flexible as any. Take, for example, in the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, when they replaced a bowler in Imran Tahir with a batsman in Faf du Plessis.

In their top 6, they have dynamic all-rounders like Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, and Suresh Raina, who can bowl a minimum of 4 overs. If any of their main bowlers have a bad day, then even more overs can be expected. In the batting department, a player like Ambati Rayudu can be used as a floater.

Down the order, players like Karn Sharma and Harbhajan Singh can really prove to be more than capable finishers in the death overs. This type of depth is very rare and can set the foundation for another successful campaign.