IPL 2019: 3 CSK Players to watch out for

Another edition of the world's biggest T20 festival is just around the corner as it is expected to begin from March 23. The tournament is expected to capture a lot of interest from the viewers.

Defending champions, Chennai Super Kings is one of the only two teams to lift the IPL trophy thrice alongside Mumbai Indians. They will try their best to defend the title and to add yet another trophy to their cabinet.

CSK's side for this season is almost the same as the last season as there have been very few changes in their squad. Last season, their batting won them the tournament. So they will expect their batsmen to replicate the same performances in this season as well.

Here, we will take a look at three CSK players to watch out for in forthcoming edition of IPL.

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#3 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo has a lot of experience of T20 cricket

The Trinidadian all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo is one of those players who plays in various T20 leagues all around the globe. He has a lot of experience of T20 cricket and that makes him a must-have player in the format.

The T20 specialist will be very important for CSK in the upcoming season of IPL as he is someone who is equally good in all the three departments. His bowling in death overs will be very crucial for the franchise.

Bravo's IPL numbers are quite impressive as he has picked 136 wickets from 122 matches at an average of 24.18 and economy rate of 8.44 with 4/22 being his best bowling figures. Considering the fact that he generally bowls in slog overs, his economy rate is quite good.

As far as his batting performance is concerned, he has scored 1403 runs from 93 innings at an average of 23.78 and strike rate of 128.72 with 70 being his highest score.

The 35-year-old recently took retirement from the international cricket and is currently playing in the Big Bash League.

It will be very interesting to see how Bravo performs in the 12th season of the Indian Premier League after bidding goodbye to the international cricket.

#2 Shane Watson

Shane Watson

One of Australia's best limited-overs all-rounders, Shane Watson has been an integral part of the IPL since its inception. He played a huge role in Rajasthan Royals winning the tournament in 2008 and was adjudged the Man of the Tournament in the very first season of IPL. He scored 472 runs and picked 17 wickets in IPL 2008.

10 years after conquering the IPL title with Rajasthan Royals, Watson again won the tournament, but this time with CSK. The veteran scored 555 runs in IPL 2018 and was CSK's second-leading scorer in the tournament. CSK will want Watson to repeat the same in IPL 2019 as well.

So far, Watson has played a total of 117 matches in IPL and has scored 3177 runs at an average of 32.41 and strike rate of 141.20 with 117 being his highest score. Meanwhile, he has hit 16 fifties and 4 centuries. While bowling, he has taken 92 wickets from 105 innings at an average of 29.15 and economy rate of 7.93.

Watson's present form is also very good as he is in tremendous form in the ongoing Big Bash League. He will want to continue his dream run in IPL 2019 as well.

#1 Suresh Raina

Undoubtedly Suresh Raina is one of the finest batsmen in IPL history

One of the best batsmen in IPL history, Suresh Raina has been a consistent performer for his franchises in the last 11 seasons of IPL. He has crossed the 300-run mark in every single season of the tournament. He played a crucial role in CSK winning the tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2018.

The left-handed batsman will be a key player for CSK in IPL 2019. The franchise will be expecting Raina to flourish again in the upcoming season.

The 32-year-old has scored the most number of runs in the 11 seasons of IPL. He has scored 4985 runs from 172 innings at an average of 34.38 and strike rate of 138.43 with 100 being his highest score. He has scored 35 fifties and a hundred in his IPL career. Meanwhile, he has also picked 25 wickets.

Mr. IPL will be looking forward to continuing his purple patch in the approaching season of Indian Premier League as well.