IPL 2018: Rating the Chennai Super Kings squad ahead of the final

#9 Lungi Ngidi - 8.5

Chennai will be wise to hold on to Ngidi for a long time

The star of the CSK bowling show, the South African has made heads turn in his debut season in the IPL. Despite playing only six matches, he has picked up 10 wickets - at a shocking economy of 5.9 and an average of 13.00.

Ngidi looks every bit of the star for the future, and he can become the core around which CSK construct their bowling unit. If he can keep his pace and length, Ngidi has all the potential to become one of the best in the world, and work out wonders as for the Super Kings.

#10 Suresh Raina - 7.0

A season where the runs have come, but the familiar fear has gone

Yet another 400+ run season for the Southpaw, but Raina has not been the epitome of consistency he has been in the past for CSK.

At 32, age has caught up with him and it shows in his batting. His weakness against the short ball is still exploited by the bowlers, and he still has the habit of falling into the familiar trap of the pull short.

However, what matters are the runs - and he has scored 413 of them in 14 innings, at an average of 38 and strike rate of 130. There is something missing though - an oomph factor that he carried in the previous seasons, a sense of confidence he had around him every time he walked out to bat.

#11 Ambati Rayudu - 9.5

Chennai's standout player of the tournament

Undeniably CSK's player of the season, Rayudu has been the primary reason for Chennai's smooth journey into the finals.

Not only destructive but also consistent, Rayudu is their leading run-scorer of the tournament - 586 runs in 15 games, at a strike rate of 150+ and a healthy average of 41.85. His splendid season meant that Murali Vijay had to be relegated to a secondary role, but nobody will be complaining about it now.

Rayudu is fourth on the list in the chase for the orange cap and has been the Super Kings' go-to guy for runs. If only Mumbai had held on to him, they might still be in the hunt for the cup. If only.