IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings squad analysis

Enter c
Chennai Super Kings won the IPL in 2010 and 2011

The most consistent team of the Indian Premier League and definitely one of the crowd favorites, the Chennai Super Kings, are all set to return to the blockbuster league after facing a suspension for 2 years which raised a lot of eyebrows.

The team, as per tradition, has ensured to retain the core set of players for the coming season. Former Indian Captain MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, who had played for the franchise for 8 years in a row before it was suspended, were all retained by the franchise, prior to the auctions in Bengaluru.

In the auctions, CSK were able to add some more former players to their team and would be happy to have Murali Vijay, Faf Du Plessis and Dwayne Bravo in their squad who know what to expect from the CSK franchise.

CSK also managed to pick players like Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, and Harbhajan Singh all of whom can put up their hands when needed and deliver on the big stage.

Although Harbhajan Singh has not played international cricket recently, he has bowled really well in the Indian Premier League. Even in the last season, when he was representing the Mumbai Indians, he played 11 matches picking up 8 wickets at an economy of under 7 and CSK would want the veteran to continue his good form.

Rayudu too is a smart buy for the Chennai Super Kings. He has been a consistent run-getter in the Indian Premier League (2416 runs from 114 matches in IPL) and can find himself in the middle order straight away. However, Shane Watson’s form (8 matches, scored 71 runs, picked up 5 wickets in IPL 2017) would be an area of concern for CSK as he has not been amidst the runs lately nor has he looked effective with the ball.

From the domestic circuit, the 25-year old Deepak Chahar’s inclusion is a wonderful addition to the yellow brigade. With 29 wickets in 25 T20s, Chahar was an important part of the Rajasthan side that reached the finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The Delhi batsman Dhruv Shorey is another player to watch out for. Shorey came into headlines when he scored a hundred in the Ranji Trophy finals of the 2017-18 season and averages over 55 in 18 First Class Matches.

Chennai Super Kings take on the defending champions Mumbai Indians, to resume one of the great rivalries of IPL, in the season opener on April 7, 2018, at 8:00 pm (IST)

Squad: MS Dhoni (C), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Faf du Plessis, Harbhajan Singh, Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu, Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma, Shardul Thakur, N Jagadeesan, Santner, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Kanishk Seth, Ngidi, Dhruv Shorey, M Vijay, Billings, Mark Wood, Kshitiz Sharma, Monu Kumar, Chaitanya Bishnoi

#1 Batting

Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore - IPL T20
Raina is the all-time highest run scorer in IPL

Murali Vijay and Shane Watson are most likely to open the innings for the Chennai Super Kings when they come out to bat. However, Watson’s run of play in the season will determine how long he will be entrusted to deliver on top of the order for them. Vijay, on the other hand, did not feature in the previous year’s IPL (but made 450 runs in 14 matches for the Kings XI in IPL 2016) and would be itching to go out there and make a mark as an opener in the shortest format of the game.

Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu and somebody like a Dhruv Shorey make up Chennai Super King’s incredible middle order. Had it been 2013 or 2014, this would have been unarguably the best middle order for a team in the IPL, but whether the likes of du Plessis, Dhoni and Raina have the same capability to accelerate and improvise according to the demands of situations in 2018 or not is something that can decide CSK’s fate in the season.

Raina looked good in the T20I series against South Africa but would want a good inning or two in the ongoing Nidahas trophy going into the IPL. A good season in the Indian Premier League can bring his international career on track. It is for Dhoni- the batsman that this season holds a lot of significance. Being the skipper of a familiar franchise and away from the pressure of International Cricket, MS Dhoni can re-discover his quick run-scoring ability and get some valuable time in the middle. An MS Dhoni on fire is a sight you would not like to see as a bowler.

The key players on the side are way above the age of 30 and perhaps in the second half of their careers, which is the biggest challenge for the franchise. Also, Chennai could have gone for another opening batsman especially with Watson not being amidst the runs lately and Vijay being the other opener who is coming after the gap of a season.

#2 All-Rounders

Ent
Bravo revolutionized the way Chennai went about their game

Chennai boast of two of the finest all-rounders in limited overs cricket- Shane Watson and Dwayne Bravo. Along with opening the batting, Watson will be expected to roll his arms on occasions. In his prime, Watson opened the batting as well as the bowling with equal efficiency and grace but after Watson’s dismal run in the previous edition of the IPL, all eyes will scrutinize Watson’s every turn out for the Chennai Super Kings. If Watson the all-rounder clicks, a major chunk of CSK’s concerns is neutralized.

West Indian veteran Dwayne Bravo is the master of the slower ball and during the peak of his career revolutionized the way Chennai went about their game (1238 runs and 122 wickets in IPL career). The franchise would hope that Bravo still has that magic left in him and makes it big both with the bat and ball in the upcoming season.

Ravindra Jadeja (1732 runs and 82 wickets in IPL career) is another all-rounder that the franchise would have high hopes on. Along with his spin bowling, Jadeja is also a decent batsman and his contribution with the bat would make things a lot easier for the 2-time champion team.

#3 Bowling

Ente
CSK have gone for a spin-heavy attack

It almost compliments MS Dhoni’s style of captaincy that Chennai Super Kings have gone for a spin-heavy attack with the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir and Mitchell Santner in their ranks. Tahir has been pretty successful in the previous years in IPL (47 wickets in 32 IPL matches) and would be a fascinating prospect for the franchise, given his subtle variations, that more often than not do the trick for him. Harbhajan Singh’s years of experience behind him will definitely add a lot of depth to the bowling attack. Bhajji has been a match winner for the Mumbai Indians in the previous years.

Mitchell Santner who has had an amazing record against the Indian batsmen is the third spinner in the side and can prove to be the bowler who gives CSK the edge. Karn Sharma, who also features in the Dhoni-led team, is in decent form and can come in handy when he gets a game.

It is the pace attack that is a serious matter of concern for the Chennai Super Kings who do not seem to have a proven match-winning seamer in their ranks. India’s Shardul Thakur and South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi are most likely going to be the torch bearers of the pace attack. Not to take anything away from Mark Wood who is bursting on to the international stage and can be the surprise element. However, CSK fans would really want Deepak Chahar to come good in the IPL. The right arm pacer’s good form in the league can allow Chennai the liberty to have more options.

Another seaming option or two might have been a smarter choice at the auction.

Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table

Quick Links

Edited by Kishan Prasad