5 Chennai Super Kings players who are in crackling form right before the tournament

The two-year suspension is over for the most consistent IPL team, Chennai Super Kings, and they will be back on the field roaring like lions on the 7th of April at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai against their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians. The Chennai-based IPL team has picked 22 members at the auction after retaining Dhoni, Raina, and Jadeja via the pre-auction retention.

The squad is a well-balanced one with a mix of youngsters and seniors.Though CSK has retained the core group, they had to let go of Ravichandran Ashwin and Brendon McCullum to the other teams. They made some smart buys like Sam Billings, Lungi Ngidi, and Mark Wood, all who can add variety to the CSK attack.

Though the team is formed around certain experienced Indian players, there are few other players who have hit form at the right moment. CSK can use their services to reclaim their lost IPL throne.

Here is the list of five in-form players who will join the CSK unit soon.

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#5 Dwayne Bravo

The West Indian all-rounder is a T20 legend. The 34-year old became the first player in T20 history to take 400 wickets.

Dwayne Bravo can't wait to wear the yellow jersey again after being retained at this year's IPL auction by CSK through the Right To Match card. CSK had matched the highest bid of Rs 6.4 Crore INR from Kings XI in the auction to retain the champion bowler.

Bravo had a scintillating Big Bash League (BBL) season. He was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. The West Indian maestro took 18 wickets from the 11 matches for Melbourne Renegades which included a five-wicket haul (5/28) as well. He averaged 20.16 per match had an impressive strike-rate too. He was taking a wicket every 14.2 balls.

Bravo's abilities to bowl slower balls and yorkers will help Dhoni's men to restrict the opponents' assault in the final overs.

#4 Imran Tahir

Tahir claimed a hat-trick against Quetta Gladiators this season in PSL

The Pakistani-born South African cricketer has been a mainstay in the South African limited overs side. At the age of 39, he was the oldest cricketer in this year's IPL auction. Chennai Super Kings bought him for Rs. 1 Crore INR. Though he started 2018 on a patchy note, he has reacquired his form during the ongoing Pakistan Super League.

His form is of utmost importance to the Chennai based franchise as he will most probably lead CSK's spin department. The leg-spinner has earned a distinction for being able to contain the run flow in the middle overs while also taking crucial wickets with his quicker deliveries.

He is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). He has claimed 12 wickets from 9 matches so far. He has a stunning average of 17.50 with an impressive strike-rate of 14.5.

The CSK unit must be savouring the return of form of their primary bowler.

#3 Shardul Thakur

Thakur claimed his first Man-of-the-match award against Sri Lanka on 13th of March

Shardul Thakur is an aggressive quick bowler who can bowl at a constant speed of 140+ Kmph. He also has the ability to swing the cherry away from the right-hand batsmen. Chennai Super Kings bought him for Rs. 2.60 crores in the IPL auction and he is the only experienced Indian fast bowler in the current CSK squad.

Thakur will play most of the games as there are not many backup options for him. The CSK unit must be breathing a sigh of relief as the fast bowler is hitting a purple patch at the right time. He is currently playing for the Indian Team in the tri-series tournament in Sri Lanka.

Thakur bowled exceedingly well against Sri Lanka in the third T20I of the Nidahas Trophy, which won him his maiden man-of-the-match award for India. He bowled four overs and gave away only 27 runs claiming four crucial wickets. He also bowled impressively against South Africa last month, in the sixth and final ODI, and claimed four wickets.

His impressive form will gain him an automatic place in the playing eleven of the Chennai Super Kings team.

#2 Shane Watson

Shane Watson is in supreme form in PSL this season after an impressive BBL stint

When Shane Watson endured the worst IPL last year, everyone thought its curtains for his IPL career. However, the former Australian all-rounder had other plans.

Watson had an amazing BBL 2017-18 season. The Sydney Thunder all-rounder was the fifth leading run-scorer in the tournament. He played 10 BBL games and scored an impressive 331 runs at an average of 37 with a strike-rate of 139.07.

His impressive BBL form helped him to gain CSK's attention in the auction, who bought him for Rs 4 crore. He continued his form in the PSL as well, his scores in the last 7 T20 games being 37, 90*, 26, 19, 47, 13, 66. He has also taken ten wickets from his eight PSL games so far.

Chennai must be welcoming Watson with open arms.

#1 Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar is the leading T20 wicket-taker in the world in 2018

The young sensation has been a revelation in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. The Agra-born Rajasthan lad took nineteen wickets from just nine T20 matches that included a career-best 5/15.

He is the leading T20 wicket-taker in 2018 across the globe. His nineteen wickets came at a mind-boggling average of 9.9. He is not just a wicket-taker but has taken these wickets at an economy of just 5.58.

Chennai Super Kings did a smart move by bidding for Chahar. They eventually got him for just Rs. 80 Lakhs. Having played with him in the last season for the Rising Pune Supergiant, Dhoni is aware of his talents. The former Indian captain's insistence made the CSK unit go for the 25-year old fast bowler.

Chahar can turn out to be the perfect signing for the men-in-yellow.