IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings' 7-factor analysis 

The Whistle Podu Army have been busy cheering and spreading the 'Yellove' since the start of the tournament. The energy of the fans has galvanized the CSK team into action, winning 2 of their 3 matches till now. Although CSK lost the 3rd match by a whisker, 'Thala' Dhoni's performance won the hearts of entire cricket crazy nation.

When CSK played MI, KKR and the KXIP it was a battle of the exuberance of youth in the 3 opponents versus the endurance of the experienced in the CSK. The biggest concern raised by the experts of the game for CSK was the squad's average age. MS who often included maximum youngsters in the team is now leading a side full of players retired from or on the verge of retiring from international cricket. But it does not seem to have impacted CSK's performance, conversely, the experience is proving to be extremely helpful.

Let us dig deep and see how the Chennai Super Kings have performed in the first 3 matches based on 7 factors.

#1 Powerplay Batting (overs 1 - 6)

The raw power of Shane Watson and timing of Ambati Rayudu combined with years of T20 experience that both possess makes this opening pair of CSK as one of the best in the tournament. But except for the match against DD they have not performed that well in the other 2 matches and have thrown away wickets far too easily.

Rayudu and Watson form a strong opening pair

MS Dhoni and the CSK team management would still believe in the pair and expect it to become more consistent. If both of them keep failing to pile up runs in the powerplay on a regular basis, Faf du Plessis and Murali Vijay can be thought of as alternatives.

Have a look at the CSK powerplay batting stats -

CSK powerplay batting stats

#2 Middle overs batting (overs 7 - 15)

Suresh Raina is the key player for CSK in the middle overs

CSK's batting in the middle overs has been below par. They lost 5 wickets in the first match and then 2 each in the next two matches during this phase which made the chase stiffer.

Kedar Jadhav who was a key member of CSK's middle order, sustained hamstring pull and was ruled out for the rest of IPL. Talismanic middle-order batsman Suresh Raina too had to sit out for the first time in 158 matches (for CSK) due to an injury to the calf muscle in the second match against KKR. Injury concerns continued to haunt the CSK as MS Dhoni too had a back strain in the match against KXIP.

CSK's middle-order found it really difficult to cope with wrist/mystery spin of MI, KKR, and KXIP in the middle overs. Sam Billings was the only one who managed to score well against the KKR in the middle overs.

Fortunately for CSK, the next match is on the 20th of April 2018, which gives Raina and Dhoni enough time to regain fitness and work on batting against the wrist spinners.

The middle overs batting stats are -

CSK middle overs batting stats

#3 Slog overs batting (overs 16 - 20)

MS Dhoni once again proved that he is the best finisher

CSK's slog overs batting was instrumental in the two victories. Stupendous batting by Dwayne Bravo in the first match followed by sublime hitting in the second match by Sam Billings lead CSK to victories in respective matches. In the third match, a gritty knock by MS Dhoni brought CSK painfully close to a victory, reiterating the fact that he is still the best finisher in the game.

Jadeja has looked a bit rusty in the slog overs and sending him above in-form Bravo to maintain the left hand-right hand combination has not reaped fruits. Even in the third match this move backfired as Jadeja scored a paltry 19 of 13.

Overall, CSK's slog overs batting looks powerful. Have a look at the slog overs batting stats -

CSK slog overs batting stats

#4 New ball bowling (overs 1 - 6)

Shane Watson is a useful new ball bowler for CSK

It has been a mixed bag as far as new ball bowling is concerned. The captain-creative has thrown the new ball to Watson, Chahar, Harbhajan, Tahir, Thakur, and Jadeja as well.

In the first two matches, the CSK bowlers were impressive, picking up 2 wickets in the powerplay. However, in the third match, it was Rahul's elegance and Gayle's brute force that lead to a mammoth score of 75 in the powerplay.

Watson has stood out for the CSK picking up 5 wickets in 3 matches. Dhoni's strategy with the new ball is giving Watson at least 2 overs and distributing the remaining overs, in powerplay amongst other pacers or the spinners.

Have a look at the new ball bowling stats -

CSK new ball bowling stats

#5 Middle overs bowling (overs 7 - 15)

Imran Tahir's energy is helping MS Dhoni a lot

Nothing gives more joy to MS Dhoni than operating with spinners. With three quality spinners - Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh, and Ravindra Jadeja in the side, Dhoni has looked in total control during the middle overs - attacking with Tahir and containing with Harbhajan and Jadeja. He slips in a couple of overs of pace as well from Watson and Bravo. The indefatigable leg-spinner Imran Tahir has been the star for CSK in the middle overs picking up 3 wickets in 3 matches.

As a result of this CSK have been able to pick up 2,3 and 4 wickets in the middle overs leaking fewer runs. Have a look at the middle overs bowling stats -

CSK middle overs bowling stats

#6 Death overs (overs 16 - 20)

Dwayne Bravo has been spot on with the variations and yorkers this IPL

Small grounds, quality finishers and dew at certain places make death bowling in the IPL quite burdensome. The amount spent by the franchises during IPL auctions on death bowling specialists is a testimony to the above fact. Chennai Super Kings who were once struggling to find a skillful death bowler in the auctions have found three - Dwayne Bravo, SN Thakur, and Mark Wood.

Except for the match against KKR where Andre Russell took apart the CSK bowlers, the death bowling in the other two matches has been magnificent conceding less than 10 runs an over. The astute West Indian Dwayne Bravo has been spot on with his yorkers and slower deliveries. Shardul Thakur and Mark Wood have also been up to the mark.

Have a look at the death bowling stats -

CSK death bowling stats

#7 Catching and ground fielding

Chennai Super Kings are a great fielding unit

Although the CSK side lacks youngsters, the buoyancy is still intact. Suresh Raina's fielding and catching in the cover and the point region, Bravo's athletism the boundary and Jadeja's accuracy and strength of a throw make CSK a strong fielding side as well. Apart from that Sam Billings and Ambati Rayudu are swift fielders as well.

Imran Tahir who was once considered as a weak link in the field has also improved his fielding by leaps and bounds.