IPL 2019: CSK's Best XI for the opening match against RCB

The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off on 23rd March 2019 with a match between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai. While the CSK squad led by MS Dhoni is basically unchanged with the exception of Mohit Sharma coming in for Mark Wood, the RCB team led by Virat Kohli has made a few changes compared to last year.

For RCB, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, and Shivam Dube have come into the team. The opening match between the two teams is expected to be a cracker of a match just like the opening match between CSK and MI in IPL 2018.

In this article, let us discuss the best XI for CSK for the first match against RCB.

The Openers

#1 Shane Watson

Shane Watson - The flamboyant all-rounder

The century that Shane Watson scored in the final of the last IPL is still fresh in everyone’s memory. After failing to score off the first 10 balls of his innings, Watson stormed to an unbeaten 117 in the next 47 balls with 11 fours and 8 sixes at a strike rate of 205.

In IPL 2018, Watson, playing for CSK for the first time, aggregated 555 runs in 15 matches at an average of 40 and strike rate of 155 with 2 hundreds. Though retired from international cricket, Watson has been in exceptional form in the BPL and PSL.

In IPL 2018, Dhoni used Watson sparingly as a bowler and CSK would be a much-balanced team this year if Watson could bowl more overs. He is the automatic choice for CSK as an opener in the opening match of IPL 2019.

#2 Ambati Rayudu

Rayadu - The highest run-scorer for CSK last year

Rayudu was CSK’s highest run-scorer in IPL 2018 with 602 runs in 16 innings at an average of 43 and strike rate of 150. He scored his maiden IPL century against SRH last year and as an opener, he scored 397 runs last year @40.

Though Rayudu has not been in the best of form for India of late, he is a totally different player in the IPL. However, he should open with Shane Watson for CSK.

The Middle-Order

#3 Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina - The Permanent No 3 for CSK

Suresh Raina has been CSK’s permanent No 3 batsman from time immemorial. This year it should be no different. Raina had a moderate IPL season last year by his standards but still managed to score 445 runs in 15 matches.

He has been out of international cricket for quite some now. It remains to be seen how good Raina’s form is going into the IPL. But he has the vast experience behind him having played the most number of IPL matches than anybody else and is the leading run-scorer in IPL.

As always, Raina should be CSK’s No 3 batsman.

# 4 MS Dhoni (Captain and Wicketkeeper)

MS Dhoni - Captain cool

MS Dhoni has been in scintillating form for Team India both with the bat and the glove. In last year’s IPL, Dhoni averaged 75 with the bat at a strike rate of 150. IPL 2018 was by far Dhoni’s best season as a batsman and one could spot the old version of Dhoni in display.

Dhoni should bat at No 4 in the opening match against RCB.

#5 Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav - Another match-winner for CSK

Kedar Jadhav was unfortunate to miss out almost the entire season of last year’s IPL due to a hamstring injury. But this year he is back to play his first full season for CSK. His presence would certainly bolster CSK’s middle-order with him being a proven match-winner.

The All-rounders

#6 Dwayne Bravo

Bravo - The crowd puller

Dwayne Bravo is the leading all-rounder of CSK for a few seasons now. He is terrific at the death both with the bat and the ball. He has played so many cameos for CSK with the bat which eventually won them many matches. He is Dhoni’s go-to-man while on the field.

Bravo had a successful IPL season last year with a batting average of 35 and a total of 14 wickets. The only cause for concern with Bravo of late has been his economy rate, which is on the higher side.

However, Bravo is the automatic choice as the No 1 all-rounder in this team.

#7 Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja delivers his best under Dhoni

Ravindra Jadeja is the Indian all-rounder in the CSK team who has been nurtured by Dhoni since his first season with CSK. Dhoni knows how to extract the best out of Jadeja, the all-rounder. In IPL 2018, Dhoni had plenty of bowling resources at his disposal and hence he used Jadeja only for 41 overs in the entire season.

However, this year, it will be different with CSK scheduled to play 7 matches on their home ground at Chepauk. Jadeja should become a more effective bowler on the slow wickets at Chepauk.

#8 Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner - The fourth all-rounder in the team

Like Kedar Jadhav, Mitchell Santner missed the entire season of IPL 2018 due to injury. This season he would be a welcome addition to the CSK team.

Santner is an all-rounder in the similar mode of Jadeja. He could be handy for CSK both with the bat and the ball. The fact that he is a left-hand batsman lower down the order is an added advantage for CSK.

The Bowlers

#9 Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar - The find of the last season

Deepak Chahar was the find of the season for CSK in IPL 2018. He has been quite impressed with the new ball right through the season.

His 10 wickets last season has come at a decent average of 27.80 and economy of 7.28. His wickets included those of Shikhar Dhawan, Aaron Finch, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson, and Ajinkya Rahane. Besides, Chahar is a useful late-order batsman.

#10 Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma - Welcome return to CSK

Mohit Sharma is back with CSK this season. He was an effective bowler for CSK in the past. 57 of his 90 wickets in IPL came while playing for CSK. He is yet another player who realizes his full potential while playing under Dhoni. Now with the return of Mohit Sharma, CSK has plenty of options in terms of death bowling.

#11 Lungi Ngidi

Lungi Ngidi - The most economical bowler in IPL 2018

Amongst the leading wicket-takers in IPL 2018, Lungi Ngidi had the best economy rate of 6. He had taken 11 wickets in 26 overs at an excellent identical average and strike rate of 14.18. His best bowling effort came against Kings XI, Punjab when he finished with figures of 4-1-10-4.

In the opening match against RCB, Ngidi should open the bowling with Deepak Chahar followed by Mohit Sharma, Shane Watson, and Dwayne Bravo. Then there is Jadeja and Santner to offer spin. Overall, CSK look a formidable all-around team going into IPL 2019.