IPL 2019: 3 key overseas players for Chennai Super Kings

IPL 2019 will begin on March 23, with the first match to be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Chennai Super Kings are undoubtedly the most successful team in IPL history. They won the title in 2010, 2011 and 2018, and were the runners up in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2015. They are the only team to qualify for the playoffs in all the seasons of IPL they have played.

Individual performance-wise, CSK players have won 2 orange caps and 3 purple caps so far.

This year they have retained almost all of their players. They have also bought Mohit Sharma for 5 crore and Ruturaj Gaikwad for 20 Lakh. MS Dhoni will lead the team this year too, and the coach of the team is Stephen Fleming.

CSK will be hoping to continue their good form in IPL this year too.

On that note, here’s a look at 3 key overseas players for CSK in this edition of IPL.

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#3 Shane Watson

Watson is one of the most successful all-rounders in IPL

The 37-year-old Shane Watson is a world-renowned cricketer from Australia. He retired from international cricket in 2016.

Watson is one of the most successful all-rounders in the history of IPL. He has represented Rajasthan Royals (2008-2015), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2016-2017) and Chennai Super Kings (2018-present) so far. Watson was the Most Valuable Player in the 2008 and 2013 seasons.

In 117 IPL matches Watson has scored 3177 runs at an average of 32.41 while striking at 141.20. He has also picked up 92 wickets.

In the recent edition of BBL Watson represented Sydney Thunder and he did well there too, scoring 344 runs from 14 innings at an average of 26.46.

In the ongoing edition of PSL Watson leads the run-scorers' chart with 423 runs from 11 matches. He has already won 4 Man of the Match awards.

Watson is expected to open the batting for CSK this year and he will be hoping to continue his good form in IPL too.

#2 Lungi Ngidi

Ngidi has 11 wickets from 7 IPL matches

The 22-year-old Lungi Ngidi is one of South Africa's most promising young fast bowlers. In 2018, he was named as one of the five best South African Cricketers of the Year.

He made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2017 and a year later he made his Test debut against India. He won Man of the Match award on both occasions.

Ngidi has scalped 15 wickets in 4 Test matches at an average of 19.53, and 32 ODI wickets in 16 matches at an average of 21.81. In the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, he has picked 7 wickets from 4 matches so far.

Ngidi made his IPL debut in 2018 for Chennai Super Kings, and he picked 11 wickets from 7 matches in that season. He usually bowls around 140 kph, and is expected to open the bowling attack for CSK this year.

#1 Dwayne Bravo

Bravo won purple cap in 2013 and 2015

The 35-year-old Dwayne Bravo announced his retirement from international cricket in 2018, but he continues to remain a formidable presence in domestic T20 leagues around the world.

Bravo is one of the cleverest death over specialists around. He is also a powerful hitter who bats in the lower middle order.

Bravo is undoubtedly the most reliable all-rounder for CSK. He has won many matches for CSK single-handedly, with both bat and ball.

He has been a part of the Chennai Super Kings since 2011, although he represented Gujarat Lions in 2016. He won the Purple Cap in 2013 and 2015.

Bravo has 136 wickets from 122 IPL matches and has scored 1379 runs while averaging 23.77 at a strike rate of 128.39.

In the recently-concluded Big Bash league, he had an average outing with just 15 wickets from 14 matches. He also scored 142 runs with the bat.

He is expected to bat at No: 7 for CSK and to bowl in the middle and death.